Monthly Archives: November 2024

Staff Reporter  CGM Group fraud mastermind, Madhav Vasant Dalvi’s deceit and fraud ran deep.  He is alleged to have funnelled another M24,840,357.59 from Presitex into a South African shell company, Alchemy, during the Covid lockdown period between May 2020 and December 2022.  Alchemy, purportedly owned by Dalvi’s son, Chaitanya Madhav Dalvi, and former finance and administration manager, Sharmala Roya, acted as a […]

Seithati Motšoeneng  THE Ministry of Public Service is developing a new five-year strategic work plan to realign its operations and address longstanding challenges in public service delivery.  The new work plan emphasises adaptation and modernisation as essential steps towards meeting the evolving demands of the public and ensuring efficient service delivery to serve Basotho with professionalism and excellence.  The planning process began with […]

  Moorosi Tsiane  OUTSPOKEN Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Chief Officer (CO), Bokang Ramotena, is challenging her boss, Commissioner Mating Nkakala’s decision to promote 12 LCS officers.  CO Ramotena petitioned the High Court last Wednesday, seeking relief to stay the purported promotions by the LCS Commissioner.  This followed Mr Nkakala’s issuance of an internal circular on […]

Hopolang Mokhopi  LESOTHO is making significant strides in promoting aquaculture in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14 about Life Below Water, which aims to promote fish farming.  Aquaculture in Lesotho is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing economic stability, improving food security, and fostering rural development, making it a vital sector for the country’s future.  […]

Seithati Motsoeneng  DELIGHT Supermarket, a proudly Basotho-owned business in Khubetsoana, is celebrating its first anniversary of exceptional service to the local community and surrounding areas.  With the actual celebrations slated for 28 November 2024, the store is already running specials as a token of appreciation to its customers who have been supportive in the maiden year.  Since its […]

Moroke Sekoboto  THE assessment of Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s first two years in office is a mixed bag and a case of stark contrasts.  While analysts and and human rights defenders who spoke to the Lesotho Times this week praised Premier Matekane’s government in some areas, they also argued that his performance had fallen short in others.  Mr […]

Mathatisi Sebusi  THE government has been accused of driving Basotho men into illegal mining by failing to provide them with opportunities to live with dignity.  The criticism comes from rights group, Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution, commonly known as SECTION 2.  Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week, SECTION 2 Secretary General, Tjatjapa Sekabi, said that had […]

Mathatisi Sebusi / Hopolang Mokhopi  POSTGRADUATE students at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) have petitioned the parliamentary Social Cluster Committee for intervention regarding the conditions for their sponsorships by the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS).  The students, currently enrolled in master’s programs, claim that NMDS requires them to pay 50% of their previous NMDS loans upfront and […]

…says Lesotho crippled by unethical leadership practices  Mohloai Mpesi  Mokhethoaneng constituency legislator and Chair of Chairs of Parliamentary Committees, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, has decried the rise of corruption within government ministries.  The tough-talking Mr Makhalanyane said this at the Lesotho Institute of Accountants (LIA)’s 47th Council Inaugural Dinner held at Lehakoe Recreational and Cultural Centre on Friday.  Mr Makhalanyane urged […]

Leemisa Thuseho  FRESH from winning the 2024 African Bank Soweto Marathon, Olympian, Neheng Khatala, is back on the road this weekend.  She is poised to compete in the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km race in South Africa’s commercial capital.  The race will kick off at Corlett Drive, Illovo, outside Wanderers Cricket Stadium with the finish line at James […]

Leemisa Thuseho  LESOTHO’S first ranked chess player, Lebajoa Tšephe, dominated the 2024 National University of Lesotho (NUL) Open Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship over the weekend.  Tšephe was the top performer, winning both categories: the rapid and blitz sections.  This year’s edition was held at Netherlands Hall on the NUL campus.  The main difference between […]

Mohloai Mpesi  PROMINENT business tycoon and pastor, Thakadu David Ramela, widely known as Bishop Ramela, has been controversially awarded a lucrative fertilizer tender despite his price being double the cost of other bidders for the supply of the Top-Dressing Type I fertilizer.  His company, Ramela and Associates, has been awarded the M10,119,265 million contract using the selective tendering method, a move that has raised eyebrows.  Selective tenders – instead of open […]

—accused of making racial slurs against Indian, Chinese and Pakistanis  Staff Reporter  MEMBERS of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have been accused of xenophobia after they stormed the premises of a prominent businessman of Pakistani descent and harassed his workers and tenants.  The PAC members made the xenophobic attacks on 31 October 2024 against businessman, Saaqib Abdulla, while inspecting […]

Mohloai Mpesi  MAIN opposition leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, has slammed a Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) legislator who has complained about the Ministry of Education and Training’s decision to award school feeding tenders worth a whopping M240 million to four members of the Democratic Congress (DC).  Mr Mokhothu told a press conference yesterday that it was ludicrous […]

Mohloai Mpesi  MINISTER of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Lebona Lephema, has been accused of abusing state resources to advance his political interests.  This after the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week slammed the minister for “issuing a directive” to have the government’s machinery used to develop a new football pitch for Lioli […]

—as one of his schemes which cost CGM US$11 million is outlined  Staff Reporter  ONE of the charges against Madhav Vasant Dalvi – the fugitive former director of textile giant CGM Group – is orchestrating an elaborate scheme to siphon over USD$11 million (about M210 million) from the company.  According to the company’s finance manager, Rodney Esther, one of […]

  Hopolang Mokhopi  MURDER accused Lintle Letima, who allegedly fatally stabbed his “ex-boyfriend”, Motseki Kholotsa, has claimed she never intended to kill the love of her life for whom she is carrying a child.    Contrary to eye witness and police statements, Letima claimed she stabbed Kholotsa mistakenly on 8 November 2024 after he tried […]

Hopolang Mokhopi  THE Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) has raised concerns about the rampant abuse faced by people with disabilities, particularly the rape of minors.  This after a 27-year-old Quthing man, Moshe Sake, was charged by the Quthing Magistrates Court last week for raping a 10-year-old girl with a disability.  Sake appeared […]

Mathatisi Sebusi  IN a continued effort to combat corruption among civil servants, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) has requested that all procurement officers at state-owned organisations declare their assets by the end of this month.  The Lesotho Times has seen a letter from the DCEO’s Director General, Advocate Knorx Molelle, dated 11 November 2024, […]

Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is at odds with the community it relocated to Ha Tsolo in Maseru to pave way for its first water project.  The community was relocated from Ha Katse in Thaba Tseka between 1997 and 1998 to pave way for the construction of Katse Dam under Phase I of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.  […]

Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) has been grilled by the Natural Resource Cluster Committee over its failure to connect water supplies to the Ha Matholoana community and its surrounding villages despite funds being set aside for the project.  Ha Matholoana and the other 19 villages are located along pipelines that transfer water from Metolong Dam to Maseru and Morija, among […]

Hopolang Mokhopi  STANDARD Lesotho Bank (SLB) has held its inaugural Supplier Symposium 2024, celebrating a milestone in collaboration, partnership, and sustainable growth with its suppliers.  The event was themed: “Driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth in partnership with our suppliers, clients, and stakeholders”.  The symposium, which took place this week in Maseru, aimed to foster […]

Staff Reporter  IN a heartfelt plea for greater support for the arts, veteran South African actress, Lillian Dube, has appealed to the Lesotho government to invest in and nurture the country’s rich cultural tapestry.  Speaking at the recent launch of Endurance film, the brainchild of renowned local actress, and communications specialist, Matšeliso Mohale, Ms Dube […]

Seithati Motšoeneng  SENTEBALE GAP Funeral Services has made a significant impact by donating various vegetable seeds to the Butha-Buthe correctional facility.   The donation, which was made on October 29, 2024, stems from a direct appeal by the Commissioner of Prisons, Mating Nkakala, who sought essential seeds to enhance agricultural production within the rehabilitation centre.  Senior […]

Seithati Motsoeneng  THE Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) has equipped its public relations (PR) third-year students with skills to build resilience in navigating the cyber world and operating in the media.   The event, themed “Utilising social media for effective PR and media success,” focused on equipping students with essential skills and knowledge for careers in the media.  It was held yesterday […]

Moroke Sekoboto  MICRO lender, Thusong Financial Services (TFS), has launched a campaign aimed at promoting financial literacy and inclusion among Basotho.  Titled ‘Show Me the Money’, the campaign kicked off on 1 November and will run for three months until 31 January 2025.  The initiative focuses on improving lives, educating the public about financial literacy, and giving back […]

as MP Moshe Makotoko allegedly oversaw temporary staff recruitment  After Minister Lephema removed human resources director out of office  Mohloai Mpesi  Damning revelations have emerged over the “corrupt” recruitment process for 3400 temporary staff at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police.  The process was allegedly led by Moshe Makotoko, the Revolution […]

Mohloai Mpesi  THE National Identity Card (Amendment) Bill 2024, which aims to halt the expiration of identity cards, did not proceed to its second reading in the National Assembly earlier this week.  The Bill, introduced by Thabiso Lekitla, a Democratic Congress (DC) legislator from Mekaling, as a private member’s Bill, seeks to amend the National […]