By Neo Kolane
The European Union Delegation to Lesotho on Tuesday this week winners of the “Imagining a Cleaner Future” photo competition.
One hundred and fifty-nine entries were received across three categories: land, water and people. The winners took home M750, second place winner got M500 while third place received M250.
The photo competition started on October 9 and ended on November 9, 2023 under the theme ‘Imagining a Clearer Future’. It urged contestants to focus their lens on the natural and human landscape of Lesotho, and the impact of waste on pristine environments.
The competition’s aim was to harness the power of photography by capturing the beauty of Lesotho’s landscapes and rivers while imagining a cleaner, plastic-free future.
The ambassador of the EU, Paola Amadei, said she was pleased that so many young people were inspired to enter the competition.
Amadei noted that it was wonderful to see that young people care about the environment and have used their creativity to document Lesotho’s natural beauty and the impact of waste on these pristine environments
The first prize winner was Senate Nkuebe (32) from Ha Ntsie, Seforong Quthing. Her winning photograph, titled “Accessible & Clean Water is Everyone’s Right,” conveyed the significance of ensuring communities throughout the Mountain Kingdom have access to clean and fresh water.
Neo Shoaepane (29) from Maqalika, Maseru, secured second place with her photo titled “Life of the Water.” The image highlighted crucial facets of Lesotho’s water, emphasising the vital role of clean and fresh water in the lives of communities across the country.
Third place went to Thandiwe Tumo (23) from Ha-Tšiu, Maseru for her photo titled “The Body as Land”. This evocative image illustrated the impact of pollution on the land, portraying the land’s expression of frustration as if it were human. The image also creatively depicted litter scattered across the body and conveyed the body’s reaction to this environmental challenge.
Amamdei said Lesotho is endowed with breath-taking landscapes, which were captured in the competition.
She pointed out that the photos not only highlight the natural beauty of the country but also address the challenges it faces in terms of land and water degradation.
“We believe that these images serve as a valuable record of the current state of Lesotho’s landscapes and can inspire Basotho to take action to protect their water and land resources,” Amadei said.
The competition was inspired by the #EUBeachCleanUp that ran parallel to the Orange-Senqu River #SourcetoMouth clean-up campaign implemented by the EU together with the Government of Lesotho, the ReNOKA movement and the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM).
The clean-up action of the Mohokare River, a tributary of the Orange-Senqu River at Ha Thetsane Lesia, united partners, volunteers, and 200 students from four schools in Maseru and Berea on September 22, 2023.
