Bereng Mpaki THE Potato Lesotho Association (PLA) has welcomed the government’s move to temporarily ban potato imports to preserve the market for local farmers. The Agriculture, Food Security and Marketing ministry recently announced the temporary ban of the importation of all types of potatoes due to high production by local farmers this year. This is […]
Bereng Mpaki OVER 3000 businesses which applied for Covid-19 relief funds from the government two years ago are still awaiting the disbursement of the money. Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project (PSCEDP) project manager, Chaba Mokuku this week told the media in Maseru that 3168 businesses were still waiting for the funds. Mr Mokuku […]
Bereng Mpaki USAGE and manipulation of big data in modern business has become so important that data is now referred as the new currency or oil. This was said by Standard Lesotho Bank (SLB) chief executive officer (CEO) Anton Nicolaisen, during a Standard Bank Group annual data conference this week. The conference was this year […]
Bereng Mpaki CHAPERONE Ltd is one of only five fintech (financial technology) companies that are licensed to offer mobile money services by the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) in the country. Founded in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chaperone is currently well known for providing the mobile money platform called C- […]
Bereng Mpaki THE Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has appointed Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro’s former economic adviser and head of the accountability unit, Maluke Letete, as its substantive governor. Appointed on Monday, Dr Letete is replacing former governor, Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, whose contract ended on 31 December 2021. Her contract expired along with those of […]
FOR those who are not familiar with her, Palesa Mphunyetsane, the Vodacom Financial Services (VFS) managing director, could easily pass for a middle manager as opposed to the bigwig that she is. All because of her simplicity and humility. But her simplicity exudes elegance. And that, sometimes, sells her out because beneath the coy […]
Bereng Mpaki MOBILE network users who fail to comply with the legal registration of SIM cards will be cut off until they do so, according to a new law. The Communications (Subscriber Identity Module Registration) Regulations, 2021 seeks to enable easy identification of a mobile number user. The new requirement will help curb criminal activities […]
Limpho Sello THE Independent Midwives’ Association of Lesotho (IMAL) has appealed to the government to come up with a policy that allows them help expectant mothers to deliver at home. This would significantly cut costs, especially for expecting women who live far from health centres. IMAL president, Keneuoe Fobo, said that expectant mothers should be […]
Bereng Mpaki | Tsoloane Mohlomi M-PESA users can now pay for online purchases using their mobile money accounts, thanks to the introduction of a new payment service by VCL Financial Services (VFS). Launched in Maseru on Tuesday, the new service, dubbed Patala Ka M-Pesa, allows businesses and organisations to accept M-Pesa payments for […]
Tšoloane Mohlomi MON-TECH Institute has held its first graduation since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ceremony saw 14 students graduating with diplomas in Occupational Health and Safety. Mon-tech executive chairperson, Stephen Monyamane, told guests during the graduation ceremony that he was proud that the graduates were the first batch of students to […]
Staff Reporter ECONET Telecom Lesotho on Saturday launched the Econet Fibre Days campaign exhibitions at its Maseru Mall, LNDC and Masianokeng branches. The exhibitions will for the next three months be held in different areas to market Econet’s products. Econet public relations manager, Puleng Masoabi, told the Lesotho Times this week that the day […]
Bereng Mpaki CERTAIN business enterprises that previously required licensing before operating will no longer need it, thanks to a new law to be implemented soon. The Business Licensing and Registration Act, 2019, allows the government to use a risk-based approach in licensing businesses. Those deemed to be harmful to the public and environment will […]
Bereng Mpaki THE government has set the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA)’s 2022/23 revenue collection target at M8, 6 billion, about M2 billion more than the previous 2021/22 target. The move is meant to help the government meet its increased funding needs, especially after the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the new target appears to be […]
Moroke Sekoboto THE government needs M2, 1 billion to upgrade at least 478 kilometres of paved roads countrywide, the Roads Directorate has said. Of this amount, M296 million is required for light reseals on 182km of tarred roads. The resealing exercise is meant to curb further deterioration. Roads Directorate acting director general, Khasapane Kikine, […]
THE Nedbank Africa Region (NAR) posted an impressive performance in the year ending December 2021 driven by a good performance from its Ecobank Transactional Incorporated (ETI) investment and rebound from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) operations. Headline Earnings (HE) increased by greater than 100 percent to R594m, which is significantly higher than the […]
Tšoloane Mohlomi TRENDGROUP Construction has officially handed over the newly constructed Semonkong Visitor Comfort Facility to the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC). The facility worth M60 million was handed over last Friday. The state-of-the-art facility is overlooking the majestic Maletsunyane Falls, one of the world’s highest waterfalls and one of Lesotho’s best tourist attractions. […]
Bereng Mpaki THE Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has increased the CBL rate by 0, 25 percent from four percent to counter the spiking inflation rate. Inflation shot up to 7, 5 percent in February 2022 up from 6, 8 percent in December 2021. The 6, 8 percent inflation rate was the highest it had […]
Bereng Mpaki FACTORY workers and their employers are deadlocked on the rate by which their 2022/23 wages should be adjusted. Through their trade unions, the workers have asked for a 20 percent wage increase across the board. However, the employers are only offering a three percent increase for the textiles sector and four percent increase […]
Bereng Mpaki CONSTRUCTION workers in the Marakabei to Monontša road project will today suspend their strike to give their employer a chance to address their salary hike demands. The workers downed tools on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest over their unmet grievances including demands for salary increments from their employer, China Geo Engineering Corporation (CGC). […]
Bereng Mpaki THE government must come up with concrete steps to manage its expenditure and live within its means to contain the high national debt level currently sitting at M18,9 billion, analysts have said. Of this amount, M15,5 is borrowed externally while M3,4 billion is local debt. The huge interest payments on this debt had […]
Bereng Mpaki THE small enterprise sector is set to receive a M725 million financial boost courtesy of a World Bank loan to the government, Finance Minister, Thabo Sophonea, has revealed. The minister disclosed this while presenting his 2022/23 budget to the media after failing to present it in parliament last Wednesday. Although it is still […]
Bereng Mpaki THE Nedbank group delivered a strong financial performance during the year ended 31 December 2021 posting a 115 percent headline (operating) earnings to M11, 7 billion. The group revealed in a statement yesterday that factors that influenced the massive headline earnings growth included lower impairments (losses); a higher net interest margin; recovery in […]
Bereng Mpaki FINANCE Minister Thabo Sophonea is currently in the United States (US) for negotiations on a multi-million-dollar second compact under the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC Compact II). Two months ago, in December 2021, the US embassy in Lesotho said the MCC board could approve the compact early this year and a definitive […]
Light pollution is a modern scourge but a concerted effort to bring the darkness to Wales is under way – with the help of astronomy strolls led by experts wielding laser pens.
Light pollution is a modern scourge but a concerted effort to bring the darkness to Wales is under way – with the help of astronomy strolls led by experts wielding laser pens.
Light pollution is a modern scourge but a concerted effort to bring the darkness to Wales is under way – with the help of astronomy strolls led by experts wielding laser pens.
Light pollution is a modern scourge but a concerted effort to bring the darkness to Wales is under way – with the help of astronomy strolls led by experts wielding laser pens.
Light pollution is a modern scourge but a concerted effort to bring the darkness to Wales is under way – with the help of astronomy strolls led by experts wielding laser pens.
