By Thoboloko Ntšonynane

MASERU – The National University of Lesotho’s (NUL) Faculty of Law through its UNDP Human Rights Research Chair had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belgium based University of Antwerp.

These developments transpired at the NUL main campus on Thursday last week following a ‘Prestige Guest Lecture’ by renowned human rights professor, Prof Koen de Feyter who is a member of the United Nations (UN) Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. The theme for the lecture centered around the ‘Drafting of a New Global Human Rights Treaty- The Convention on the Right to Development’.

The MoU seeks collaboration between the two Faculties of Law in areas such as joint research efforts, staff exchange programmes and student exchange programmes. These student visits and exchanges include: joint supervision of the post graduate students, provision of library access and academic assistance. 

For his part, the Dean of NUL’s Faculty of Law Dr Letzadzo Kometsi said it is incumbent on them to implement what is in the MoU lest it “remain on a paper”.

“As a developing countries our resources are limited, so we always look hopefully to Memorandums such as this that of course it is advantage to us to be able to get access to information where it is easily accessible and where it is mostly enabling stored…,” he said.

Dr Kometsi further appealed to the NUL and the Faculty of Law to assist in the implementation of the Memorandum.

He promised that the publications that will be produced out of this MoU will benefit the general public.

“We have to partake in the realization of the common good of our society,” he said.

The agreement will run for five years and may be renewed upon mutual consent between the two universities.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the acting Pro-Vice Chancer Dr ‘Malineo Matšela commented the UNDP Human Rights Research Chair for this feat saying “NUL is committed to promoting engagements of this magnitude and at this level involving not only the academic community but importantly also civil society partners and major national and international stakeholders.

“I trust that the opportunity this event presents, will enable us to continue to build synergies and collaboration across the board as part of the University’s community outreach endeavour.”