Local News
September 24, 2009
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Police boss off the hook

MASERU — Police  Commissioner  ‘Malejaka Letooane escaped jail last week after Chief Justice Mahapela Lehohla granted her the right to appeal at the High Court. The judgement was delivered ex tempore last Wednesday meaning that the written reasons will be given at a later date. Chief Justice Lehohla heard the case after it had ping-ponged […]

Local News
September 24, 2009
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Mining firm, union in tug of war

MORIJA — A mining company based in Morija has accused the leader of a local labour union of trying to push it to violate the law. Moradi Crushers, a quarry mining company said the secretary general of the Construction and Allied Workers Union (CAWULE), Thabo Thelingoane has been harassing them. The company has since asked […]

Local News
September 24, 2009
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‘LDF framed and tortured me’

“It all began on June 14 2007. The LDF Commander had called a meeting strictly attended by officers whose agenda was unknown until it started. It is the norm for the commander to announce his meeting’s agenda on the spot. In the meeting the commander addressed the issue of weaponry allegedly stolen from soldiers guarding […]

Local News
September 24, 2009
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Ex-police officer fabricated torture story, court told

MASERU — The case in which a former police officer is suing the police commissioner for alleged torture suffered at the hands of fellow officers resumed on Tuesday with one of the accused alleging that the officer had made up the story. Bokang Letele who retired from the force six months ago is claiming M3.6 […]

Local News
September 24, 2009
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Higher learning, higher risk

NUL stirs into action to slow spread of HIV among students MASERU — When Lebo (not his real name) enrolled for a course at the National University of Lesotho in 2003 all he wanted was a degree to help him secure a job. He was studying Public Administration and Political Science. The degree would be […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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I’ll step down soon, says Mosisili

  MASERU — Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili (pictured) says he has little time remaining in power as the leader of the government and the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party. Mosisili said this while speaking on Tuesday at a press conference to brief the media about his trip to the African Union Summit in […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Money lenders hit back

MASERU — Three money lending companies being sued for overcharging on interest say they are entitled to charge extra fees over the stipulated 25 percent interest on loans they offer to their clients. This was said during High Court proceedings yesterday in a case in which over 100 civil servants are suing Select Management Services, […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Man commits suicide after botched robbery

MASERU — A man from Sehlabeng yesterday committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in an attempt to escape arrest after he allegedly robbed a sand distributing company, Lehlabatheng. His accomplice is in police custody. According to the police who collected the body the bullet penetrated his skull and got out through the other […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Police officer jailed for twenty years

MASERU — A 27-year-old police officer, Lesia Rakhoba, will serve the next 20 years in jail after he was convicted of fatally shooting his father for calling him a “a pig” last September. Rakhoba in a mad rage also shot and killed his brother, Fusi Rakhoba, and seriously injured another brother, Morake Rakhoba at Likoting […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Custodians or kidnappers?

  MASERU — Villagers in Makhoakhoeng in Butha-Buthe, about 60km north of the capital Maseru, are worried. Since June at least three young men have been allegedly kidnapped and forcibly taken to an initiation school. Kidnapping young boys and sending them to initiation schools has become common in the area, the villagers said. Some parents […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Suspended top cop seeks reinstatement

MASERU — The suspended deputy police commissioner, Motsotuoa Ntaote, has filed a court application to compel commissioner ‘Malejaka Letooane to re-instate him after he was cleared of fraud by the High Court. Ntaote was facing fraud charges in the High Court for allegedly causing the treasury department to pay him and other police officers the […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Driver killed, 28 injured as taxis collide

MASERU — A taxi driver died while 28 people were badly injured after two mini-buses collided head-on in Nazareth last Saturday. The deceased was identified as 33-year-old Eketsang Babeli of Ha Thetsane in Maseru. The 28 injured passengers were admitted at St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. Police spokesperson, Pheello Mphana, […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Court blocks soldiers’ eviction

MASERU — The Lesotho High Court on Tuesday blocked efforts by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Thuso Motanyane to evict two soldiers accused of high treason from the army residence. Motanyane had in June last year ordered Captain Ramabele Mokhantsó and Captain Lehloa Ramotsó to vacate the LDF houses at Ratjomose barracks claiming that their […]

Local News
September 16, 2009
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Vodacom voting: Bantu hold lead

MASERU — Bantu maintained a healthy lead in the latest voting for the 2009 Vodacom Soccer Spectacular tournament this week. The Mafeteng outfit have increased their lead and now boast a whopping       22 789 votes. They are followed by Maseru Naughty Boys with 5 130 votes, Lioli are trailing behind with 4 854 votes while […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Police commissioner fights jail sentence

MASERU — Police Commissioner Malejaka Letooane this week continued her battle to reverse a jail sentence slapped on her for contempt of court three weeks ago. Letooane was on August 18 sentenced to six months in prison after she ignored summonses to appear in court to give evidence in a car theft case. The police […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Workers take wage fight to parliament

MASERU — Textile factory workers have requested parliament to urgently intervene and help improve their miserable working conditions and meagre wages.  Workers from five textile firms wrote to parliament’s portfolio committee responsible for labour issues on Tuesday requesting an urgent intervention. The workers, represented by the Factory Workers Union (FAWU) handed their letter of complaint […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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‘Evil thoughts made me rape granny’

MASERU — A 27-year-old man, Matsoso Lieta, begged for mercy in court last Thursday saying he raped an 80-year-old woman after he had been overcome by “evil thoughts”. “I do not know what to say I was just overcome by evil thoughts,” Lieta told the court. Maseru magistrate, ‘Makampong  Mokhoro, rejected his plea for mercy […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Police raid Soulo home

MASERU –– The police on Sunday stormed the home of an opposition legislator Molobeli Soulo  allegedly looking for arms, the Lesotho Times has learnt. Soulo is a Member of Parliament (MP) and national executive chairman of the main opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) party. The MP was however not at home during the raid. He […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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A mother’s grief

MASERU ––  When ‘Makamohelo Tsietsi bid farewell to her son last Tuesday morning she did not know that by evening he would be lying unconscious on a campus clinic bed. And when she left the clinic on Tuesday night she did not even dream that the next time she would see him he would be […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Be neutral over PR seats issue: Thabane

MOHALE’S HOEK — All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader, Thomas Thabane, last Sunday appealed to church leaders mediating in the proportional representation seats issue to be neutral. “I urge church leaders facilitating dialogue on the proportional representation issue to be neutral and refrain from discriminating against political parties,” Thabane told party supporters. Retired Anglican bishop, Phillip […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Briton found dead

MASERU — A 70-year-old British national, James Charles Thompson, was found dead in his house in Maseru West last Wednesday. A neighbour who spoke to the Lesotho Times said Thompson had been unwell for some time. “I found him vomiting in his house. He said he was unwell but did not disclose the nature of […]

Local News
September 09, 2009
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Bodies repatriated

MASERU — The bodies of two Mozambicans who died during a botched attack at Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s residence in Maseru last April were repatriated home last month. Police spokesman Inspector Pheello Mphana said the bodies of Antonio Pedro Nhacatendu, 34, and Joao Manono Sigauque, 39, were handed over to their relatives on August 31. […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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Soldiers storm mine

MASERU –– A strike called by workers at Lets’eng Diamond Mine collapsed on Monday after heavily armed soldiers stormed the mine. The workers are employed by Matekane Mining Investment Company (MMIC) which provides earthmoving machines and manpower to Lets’eng Diamond Mine. The workers called the strike last week to protest against management’s refusal to endorse […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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Monitor boss dies

MASERU –– The editor-in-chief of the Monitor newspaper, Dr Rakoro Phororo, has died. Phororo died last Thursday during a private visit to London, England. He was 75. “He and his wife, ’Malisemelo Phororo were visiting their children in London. The cause of death is not yet known,” said a family spokesman Mpeake Phororo. He said […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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Moremoholo romps to victory

MASERU –– Libe Moremoholo was last Saturday overwhelmingly elected youth president of the main opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) party. Moremoholo, 33, beat ABC youth league interim president Pitso Maisa to claim the top post. Moremoholo, a Member of Parliament for Likhetlane constituency, was elected at an elective conference held at Lakeside Hotel in Maseru. […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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Top cop appeals conviction

MASERU –– The case in which Police Commissioner ‘Malejaka Letooane is asking the court to set aside or review her conviction on a charge of contempt of court has been set for Monday. Letooane was convicted of contempt of court two weeks ago and was sentenced to six months in prison. The police boss failed […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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Police officer commits suicide

MASERU –– A 29-year-old police officer, Trooper Sehloho Raphael Lepelesana, died last Saturday after he allegedly drank poison. Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Mpota Nthako confirmed the incident saying the police officer was allegedly “deep in debt”. According to the police, Lepelesana had an argument with friends during a beer drink at Ha-Mabote. He later went […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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That shrinking, sinking feeling

MASERU –– ‘Maseteta Mabeta stands next to a heap of maize, all that she harvested this year. Mabeta is from Motloheloa, a farming village in Maseru district about 20 kilometres south of the capital. Maseru is Lesotho’s second biggest maize-producing district, after Thaba-Tseka. But for Mabeta, this year’s maize harvest is the worst in living […]

Local News
September 02, 2009
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137 Basotho ‘miners’ detained in SA

WELKOM — At least 137 Basotho are still locked up in South African jails after they were arrested for illegal mining activities, the Lesotho Times learnt this week. Lesotho’s consul in Welkom, Sethunya Koqo, said the foreign affairs ministry had compiled a report on illegal Basotho miners held in South African prisons.  Koqo said they […]

Local News
August 27, 2009
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ABC youth battle hots up

MASERU –– Pitso Maisa, the interim youth president of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, will have to battle it out with Libe Moremoholo at the youth league’s conference on Saturday if he wants to be elected the substantive president. It’s a battle of two people who all claim they are qualified to lead the […]