THE 2021 version of the historic Moshoeshoe Walk, which traces the route the founder of Basotho, King Moshoeshoe I followed as he led his people to the sanctuary of the Thaba-Bosiu Mountain in the 19th century against the then raging Lifaqane Wars, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual event which is approximately 116 kilometres long, entices both local and international communities.

The three-day show starts from Menkhoaneng in the Leribe district and ends in Thaba-Bosiu, Maseru.

This year’s edition, previously scheduled to take place from March 10-12, was also to be held in remembrance of one of the event’s regular participants and fervent hiker, 'Malipolelo Theko who passed away in December, according to the founder of the initiative, Thabo Maretlane of T-Connexion. 

“COVID-19 kills. Life comes first, the rest follows. I have buried many people who were close to my heart. I will see you next year my friends with a better and bigger Moshoeshoe Walk. We will be celebrating 15 years anniversary. We will do smaller walks along the way this year, as the dust settles,” Maretlane told fellow participants.

However, the news did not come as a devastating blow to loyal participants of the walk, including some who in December engaged in a warm-up show, in preparation for the main event.

Under the title ‘Moshoeshoe Walk Warm-up’, the participants walked from Ha ’Makhoarana to Malimong in the Berea district.

“This is sad but understandable; at least we are hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine will protect several lives against this deadly virus, so we are confident that next year, we are going to be a bunch of healthy hikers,” said Matšeliso Phako who is a regular hiker and participant at the walk.