Tefo Tefo The Maseru Magistrate’s Court is today expected to set a trial date for former Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs Minister Timothy Thahane and suspended Finance Ministry Principal Secretary Mosito Khethisa, who are facing fraud and bribery charges. The two men are charged alongside Civa Innovations Management (Proprietary) Limited Director Mokhethi Moshoeshoe, for allegedly […]
Billy Ntaote The South African High Commission and American Embassy have allayed fears their respective countries could pull the plug on Lesotho funding due to the current prorogation of parliament. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane prorogued or suspended parliament for nine months early this month following a bitter fallout with the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) […]
impho Sello The Deputy Minister of Health, Nthabiseng Makoae, says the continued “revitalisation” of the nursing profession helps strengthen the country’s healthcare system. Dr Makoae was speaking at a workshop held yesterday for student nurses who will soon graduate from the Maluti Adventist School of Nursing and National Health Training College (NHTC). The workshop, whose […]
Limpho Sello The Maseru City Council (MCC) this week exhumed the body of 80-year-old Adelina Tau from a Motimposo church backyard where it had been buried for the past two weeks, arguing its interment posed serious health hazards to the surrounding community. After the exhumation on Tuesday, the body was reburied at the Lepereng cemetery, […]
Letuka Chafotsa The Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) is calling for a Government of National Unity (GNU) comprising all the major political parties “in order to preserve peace and stability” in the country. Addressing a press conference in Maseru on Monday this week, PFD leader, Lekhetho Rakuoane, said only an all-inclusive GNU could end the […]
Billy Ntaote The decision by Deputy Prime Minister and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing to enter into an alliance with the Democratic Congress (DC) has exposed divisions within the party the leadership has been trying so desperately to conceal. Since forming government with the All Basotho Convention (ABC) and Basotho National Party […]
Keiso Mohloboli QUTHING –– Prime Minister and All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader, Thomas Thabane, has challenged his party to win the 2017 general election with an outright majority that would enable it to govern on its own. Addressing an ABC rally in Tele, Quthing, on Sunday, Dr Thabane said he was “tired” of negotiating with […]
. . . as LCD leader breathes fire Bongiwe Zihlangu/Billy Ntaote A political pact of three political parties that gave birth to Lesotho’s first ever coalition government has effectively collapsed, plunging the Kingdom into a new era of political uncertainty. At a press conference late yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing , who is […]
Keiso Mohloboli THE Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) Commissioner, Napo Sefali, was suspended yesterday for alleged corruption, incompetence and insubordination. According to an LCS source privy to the case, Commissioner Sefali’s suspension is indefinite but with full pay and benefits. “Commissioner Sefali is being accused of failing to obey orders from his superior, the Minister of […]
Billy Ntaote The President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba — who is also chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation — arrives in Lesotho today. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr Pohamba’s visit is a follow-up of last month’s assessment of the country’s […]
Billy Ntaote The High Court on Monday postponed to August 5, a case in which three Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking to stop a proposed no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his government for alleged incompetence. The MPs — Chalane Phori, Matšeliso Tuoane and Tšepo Monethi of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), […]
DC members attend LCD press conference in solidarity Billy Ntaote PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane’s decision to prorogue (suspend) parliament for nine months will adversely affect the approval of laws currently before the august house, his government partner Mothetjoa Metsing said yesterday. Metsing, who is leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), said for […]
Tsitsi Matope The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with various partners, have completed compiling the draft alcohol policy, which seeks to help reduce the abuse use of alcohol and promote healthy lifestyles in Lesotho. The ministries of Education and Training, Public Works and Transport, Tourism, Environment and Culture and Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing were […]
Keiso Mohloboli Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has reiterated his commitment to implement a new salary structure for the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS). In a statement issued this week, Dr Thabane, who is also the Minister of Defence, Police and National Security, said government would increase the police pay and reinstate the two percent deducted […]
…as Lesotho commemorates Day of the African Child Limpho Sello LESOTHO joins the rest of the continent on 16 June in commemorating the International Day of the African Child. Students and other stakeholders — among them the Minister of Education and Training, ‘Makabelo Mosothoane, and Minister of Social Development, ‘Matebatso Doti — are expected […]
Keiso Mohloboli QUTHING — Democratic Congress (DC) leader, Pakalitha Mosisili, has described the coalition government led by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane “an absolute joke”. Addressing a DC rally in Quthing on Sunday, Dr Mosisili — who was succeeded by Dr Thabane on 8 June 2012 after 15 years in power — said the current government […]
Bongiwe Zihlangu This week’s nine-month prorogation of parliament by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is a constitutional prerogative although one used to “avoid a political problem”, analysts say. Last Friday, Dr Thabane wrote a letter to His Majesty King Letsie III, requesting that the 8th Parliament of Lesotho be suspended or prorogued for a period of […]
…LCD leader in bitter fallout with party bigwigs Bongiwe Zihlangu The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader, Mothetjoa Metsing, allegedly threatened to fire his deputy, Motloheloa Phooko, for refusing to preside over the party’s press conference held in Maseru on Monday this week. Highly-placed LCD sources yesterday told the Lesotho Times that Mr Metsing […]
Keiso Mohloboli The police yesterday arrested two senior Ministry of Finance officials for alleged corruption. The Lesotho Times last night established one of the officials was the ministry’s Financial Controller, Tholoana Mapetla, while the other was only said to be a senior accountant in the ministry. The officials were detained at Police Headquarters and it […]
Maseru Bridge Border Post ‘partially’ opened yesterday but commuters still denied crossing into South Africa. ‘Mantoetse Maama The Lesotho Passenger Transport Crossborder Association (LPTCA) members have vowed to continue stopping pedestrians from crossing into South Africa through the Maseru Bridge Border Post until their differences with their South African counterparts have been resolved. The […]
Establish an independent board to probe Maseru bombings or forget about army cooperation Bongiwe Zihlangu The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli has called for the establishment of an independent body to investigate the simultaneous bombing of three Maseru homes on the night of 27 January this year. Unknown assailants attacked […]
. . .as party warns coalition government faces collapse if premier ‘continues making unilateral decisions’ . . .as party warns coalition government faces collapse if premier ‘continues making unilateral decisions’ Billy Ntaote The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) is seeking the intervention of the Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) in a “last ditch effort” […]
Billy Ntaote LERIBE — Prime Minister and All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader, Thomas Thabane, was in Mphosong on Sunday where he launched his party’s campaign for the parliamentary by-election to be soon held in the constituency. The launch took place in the Matlameng village — one of the most underdeveloped and hard-to-reach parts of the […]
Tsitsi Matope The Ministry of Health has come up with various strategies to ensure safe motherhood in Lesotho. According to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2009, maternal mortality has increased to 1 155 per 100 000 live births compared to the DHS 2004, which was 762 deaths per 100 000 live births. According […]
Limpho Sello LSP Construction (Pty) Ltd on Monday officially handed over a recreational park located at the Arrival Centre to the Maseru City Council (MCC). The facility, which has been named Setsoalle Park, is part of the firm’s efforts to beautify the city and give back to the community. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, LSP […]
Limpho Sello The Russian government yesterday donated medical equipment worth M10.7 million to Lesotho to help strengthen the country’s healthcare system. Russian Ambassador, Mikhail Petrakov, handed over the equipment which included 210 laboratory sets, 290 diagnostic sets, 330 surgical equipment, 250 sets of intensive-care equipment, 280 obstetrics and gynaecology sets, 80 sterilisation equipment and 60 […]
Tsitsi Matope Deputy Prime Minister, Mothetjoa Metsing, says lack of funding, access to affordable land in strategic areas and reasonably priced services are some of the challenges hampering the provision of decent housing in Lesotho. Mr Metsing, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs, was speaking at the beginning of the […]
. . .opposition MPs ‘offered’ ministerial posts in a move that has angered the LCD Bongiwe Zihlangu THE Democratic Congress (DC) spokesperson, Serialong Qoo, has said the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) is on a crusade to woo the DC into forming a coalition government. Mr Qoo, who is also the DC Member of […]
Tefo Tefo SOUTH Africa has introduced new stringent immigration regulations, which would see visitors who overstay their allotted days being banned from entering the country again for a minimum of 12 months, instead of paying fines as was previously the case. The new, tough rules are outlined in a circular dispatched to South Africa’s border-posts […]
… as plan to make motorists pay meets stiff resistance Ntsebeng Motsoeli LESOTHO is planning to introduce toll-roads in order to generate more revenue for the management of the country’s road-infrastructure. A toll-road, also known as turnpike or tollway, is a public or private thoroughfare for which a fee (or toll) is assessed for […]
