King Letsie III to Receive Global Water Changemakers Award in Maseru

King Letsie III will officially accept the Global Partnership (GWP) Presidential Global Water Changemakers Award at a ceremony in Maseru on Friday. The award was originally received by the Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, on behalf of the King at the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit held in Cape Town from 13 to 15 August. It recognises high-level political commitment to water security.

A government statement highlighted that the award honours the King’s leadership in championing the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) as a model of transboundary cooperation for peace, resilience, and sustainable development. The recognition underscores Lesotho’s commitment to upstream-downstream cooperation with South Africa, which has served as a continental example of peacebuilding and shared responsibility.

The Maseru ceremony will include representation from GWP and dignitaries involved in the 2025 awards process. Attendees include King Mswati, President Duma Boko, Chairperson of the GWP Steering Committee, Pablo Bereciartua, CEO of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), and Executive Secretary of GWP, Alex Simalabwi.

The event will also coincide with the 39th anniversary of the signing of the LHWP in 1986, marking a historic milestone in regional cooperation and sustainable development. The award and ceremony celebrate both the King’s leadership and Lesotho’s ongoing dedication to water security and collaborative progress in the region.