Cape Town, South Africa — South African President Thabo Mbeki will on Thursday visit Lesotho at the invitation of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Steve Tshwete will accompany the president together with Home Affairs minister Mangosutu Buthelezi, Trade and Industry minister Alec Erwin and Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Penuel Maduna.

The visit will focus on the electoral process in Lesotho and discussions on a new strategic framework for co-operation and development between the two countries.

Mbeki will meet with the Lesotho Interim Political Authority and the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission.

The President will also pay a courtesy call on King Letsie III.

South Africa and Lesotho have a unique relationship in the Southern African regional context. The two countries, aside from a common border, have a shared history and culture, which necessitates close cooperation in all political and socio-economic spheres.

In the multilateral context, South Africa and Lesotho also liaise within the framework of the Southern Africa Development Ccommunity, the Customs Union, the Common Monetary Area, the Regional Tourism Organisation and the Soil Conservation Conference.

In order to make functional liaison possible between the two neighbouring states with regard to the multitude of matters in which official co-operation takes place, a bilateral Intergovernmental Liaison Committee (IGLC) was established in 1973.

This committee of officials, under the leadership of the Directors General of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, has been meeting biannually to revise the operation of its subcommittees and to identify co-operative opportunities.

South Africa and Lesotho will now be entering into a new strategic relationship, which will guide their partnership in various fields.

Lesotho derives a sizeable portion of its income from the remittances of Lesotho migrant workers in South Africa, especially in the mining sector, as well as from the Customs Union Pool and development aid grants.

During 2000, there was a notable increase of South African investors in Lesotho on a partnership basis.

In 2000 the Development Bank of Southern Africa committed 150 million dollars to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project for purposes of infrastructure and resettlement.

Another area of co-operation is the Lesotho Highlands Water Project which is one of the most ambitious multi-purpose water schemes presently being undertaken in the world.

Its sheer magnitude and ingenious engineering concepts have captured the imagination of water authorities and laymen alike the world over.

Lesotho will eventually be able to meet its internal demand while at the same time delivering water to South Africa.