BEREA, March 07 – The Maime community in the foothills of Mosalemane Constituency has strongly appealed to the government to prioritise the construction of footbridges along the Senqunyane River to ensure safe access to schools for children.
The appeal emerged on Tuesday during interviews conducted by the Lesotho News Agency (LENA) with community members, as schools are set to reopen on Wednesday following the Easter holidays.
According to the Chairperson of the Maime Community Council Child Protection Team (CCCPT), Mrs. Matiisetso Makoko, many pupils face serious challenges crossing the Senqunyane River to reach primary schools such as Maime and Ha-Ramatlali.
Mrs. Makoko said the area has recently experienced persistent rainfall, which has caused the Senqunyane River to swell, making it difficult and often impossible for both children and adults to cross.
She noted that whenever there are signs of impending rain while children are still at school across the river, parents become deeply concerned about their safety.
“Every time we see signs of possible rainfall, we alert teachers to release the children early to ensure their safety,” she said.
She further indicated that even under normal conditions, water levels can reach waist height for children, posing a significant risk…
RM/BM
