Pageant bemoans lack of funds

By Matṧeliso Phulane

The Miss Keep Lesotho Clean beauty pageant has blamed inadequate funding for its inability to see through its mandate to raise awareness on environment preservation.

As a result, it is appealing for financial support from the government and the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP).

This was revealed after a five-day meeting last week in Maseru.

The pageant had approached UNEP for both technical and financial support to address the escalating waste management problem in the country.

Miss Keep Lesotho Clean along with its three winners being Miss Keep Lesotho Clean 2024, 1^st and 2^nd runners- up as well as other stakeholders, were invited to make presentations to the head to the International Environmental Technology Center at UNEP, Takehiro Nakamura.

Miss Keep Lesotho Clean was founded in 2021 with the aim of using the entertainment industry as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness and sustainability.

The organisation was established after studies established that Lesotho is facing a serious solid waste problem.

The Maseru Baseline Study of 2006 indicates that Maseru district only generates 105 000 tonnes of solid waste per year.

It is against this backdrop that director, Khunong Lefeela decided to launch Miss Keep Lesotho Clean pageant.

During his presentation Lefeela said: “The main challenge we have is lack of funds because we are unable to reach our full potential and we don’t have the necessary equipment to implement our projects.

“The other challenge is that we do most clean-up campaigns but after a couple of days we still find the places we had cleaned dirty.

 “We invite our audience to join the conversation, share your eco-friendly tips, pledge to make sustainable changes and be part of the global movement. Your actions, no matter how small, contribute to the collective impact,” Lefeela noted.

He told theReporter in an interview this week that their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals is forging a pollution-free future. To this effect they are working with the prime minister’s Operation Boloka Lesotho Le Hloekile Campaign by talking to communities about the importance of cleanliness in the country.

 “To achieve the SDGs, we first have to work on the triple planetary crisis which are: nature and Bio-diversity loss, climate change, pollution and waste.

“UNEP’s contribution to the SDGs includes forging a pollution-free future and fostering climate stability.

“We also share the same contributions, as we are currently working with the prime minister’s Boloka Lesotho Le Hloekile campaign by making sure that communities understand the importance of cleanliness, even though we don’t have enough funding to reach most areas,” Lefeela explained.

He added that Miss Keep Lesotho Clean has ongoing projects and those that are still in the pipeline, which include community clean-up projects – educational programmes showcasing that their influence extends beyond the stage, leaving a lasting impact on communities.

 “Lesotho is celebrating 200 years of Basotho nation cleanliness; therefore, cleanliness has to be one of our top priorities.

“As for the government of Lesotho, I would suggest they support initiatives like Miss Keep Lesotho Clean and encourage the private sector to support us as well, in order to spread the awareness.

“In conclusion, I strongly advise Basotho to unite and help us spread the word of cleanliness as it contributes heavily to the three planetary crises. If nothing is done it will only get worse since as a country we are already suffering because of it,” Lefeela observed.