News

…as the Duke of Sussex visits Lesotho  Moroke Sekoboto  PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has commended Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, for his long-standing dedication to Lesotho, particularly through his work with the charity Sentebale.  In a social media statement, Mr Matekane expressed gratitude for Prince Harry’s significant contributions to Lesotho through the Sentebale charity, highlighting the positive impact […]

Seithati Motšoeneng  THE Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) commemorated World Tourism Day with Sani Top herd boys as a way of acknowledging the crucial role they play in the tourism value chain.  The tourism day,  celebrated annually on the 27th of September, was this year held under the theme “Tourism and Peace”.  It saw the LTDC distribute blankets and gumboots, […]

  Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s meeting this week with billionaire, Elon Musk, has thrown Basotho into a frenzy, in anticipation of Starlink’s launch in Lesotho. The launch expected by the end of this year, will shake up Lesotho’s telecommunication sector to the benefit of consumers who will likely see prices of data significantly going down. […]

  Mohalenyane Phakela  A WEB of corruption and fraud, worth a whopping M109 million, involving tenders for the purchase of agricultural inputs has been unearthed by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).  The fraud at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food security and Nutrition involved corrupt officials and their accomplices, including Democratic Congress (DC) legislator for Mechachane […]

Mohloai Mpesi  PRIME Minister Sam Matekane says when he ordered the army to fight and uproot crime in Lesotho, it was not a blank cheque for them to cross the line by torturing and killing civilians.  Instead, Mr Matekane says, his intention was that Basotho should be protected from the escalating murders that have crippled […]

…confirms gvt has cut ties with NIKUV  Mohloai Mpesi  PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has assured the nation that his government is working hard to overcome the passport and identity card crisis that has crippled citizens.  He said the government had contracted a new company to manufacture passports and IDs after terminating its contract with controversial […]

  Staff Reporters  THE government has intervened to halt the redeployment of 16 officers at the National Security Service (NSS) as it seemingly moves to try and resolve the paralysis at the spy agency.  Authoritative sources said Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, Limpho Tau, had convened a meeting with senior officers at the NSS, to […]

…a victim’s harrowing tale of torture  Mohloai Mpesi / Moorosi Tsiane  IN yet another harrowing incident, Mosa Motaung of Ha-Motjoka, Teyateyaneng, in Berea district, narrowly escaped death after allegedly enduring brutal torture by members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) last week.  The term “heartless” barely captures the […]

Mohloai Mpesi  MINISTER of Finance and Development Planning, Retṧelisitsoe Matlanyane, says that Lesotho is “safe” and does not need relief from the burden of external debts.  According to Dr Matlanyane, while Lesotho does have external debts, seeking relief could send negative signals that the country is in financial distress, which she says is not the […]

Herbert Moyo Daily Maverick  NO amount of sugar coating can disguise the fact that the Lesotho Computer Crimes and Cyber Security Bill is designed to suppress free speech and shield those in power from public scrutiny. This is not a matter of cybersecurity — this is a matter of democracy.  In another time and context, […]

Letsatsi Selikoe  THE World Bank has appointed Dinara Djoldosheva as the new Lesotho Country Director mandated to bolster economic development in this Kingdom.  Dr Djoldosheva replaces Yoichiro Ishihara who held the office in Maseru from February 2020 until last month.  The newly appointed Dr Djoldosheva, has already hit the ground running as she met with […]

Seithati Motsoeneng  TELECOMMUNICATIONS powerhouse, Econet Telecom Lesotho, through its social responsibility arm, the HigherLife Foundation, has awarded 10 prestigious Moshoeshoe I Scholarships to young Basotho students.  This marks the third cohort of academically gifted individuals to receive this lifetime opportunity.  The Moshoeshoe I Scholarship programme is aimed at students who have completed their Lesotho General Certificate of […]

Moroke Sekoboto  THE Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) has briefed the media on its border management operations intended to maximise the collection of taxes.  During an inspection at the Maseru border post this week, RSL Manager for Frontier Services Maseru Bridge, Reentseng Mosase, said they were committed to ensuring Lesotho receives its fair share of the […]

Letsatsi Selikoe  THE health insurance leader, Metropolitan Health Lesotho, has reaffirmed their commitment to insure Basotho’s lives at affordable prices.   Therefore, Metropolitan Health introduced Health4Me – a product which covers medical expenses of Basotho.   For a monthly premium ranging from M210 to M603, Metropolitan Health pays up to M1.5 million per year for hospital admissions […]

Letsatsi Selikoe  THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for urgent reforms to Lesotho’s public financial management (PFM) systems to prevent the mismanagement of new revenues.  In its 2024 Article IV Consultation report released last week, the IMF said the windfall transfers from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and renegotiated Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) royalties […]

Moroke Sekoboto  WHOLESALERS, Sefalana Cash and Carry, hosted a dog show to promote proper pet nutrition and give back to loyal customers who purchase the Montego pet food.  Sefalana sponsored the show this past weekend at the Maseru Club to the tune of M30 000.  Hosted under the auspices of the Lesotho Dog Breeders Services Association, the dog show served as both a celebration […]

Moroke Sekoboto  THE 11th edition of the annual Lesotho Wine Festival, the premier wine and tourism event in the country, is set to take place early next month.  The festivities will begin with an exclusive “Oysters and Bubbles” event at Maseru Club on Independence Day (4 October), followed by the main festival on 5 October.  […]

as army confirms killing two civilians in violent raid  while “brutalized” civilians file M50 million maloti civil suits  Mohloai Mpesi  FEAR and anger are now stalking the country as the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) intensifies human rights abuses in its desperation to overcome debilitating crime levels.  The army stands accused of deploying Gestapo style tactics […]

—As South Africa’s top court rules that it paid bribes to get mandate to administer a multi-billion maloti pension fund in that country By Investigations Desk AKANI Fund Administrators, the Johannesburg based company at the centre of serious corruption allegations in Lesotho, has been left bloodied after South Africa’s top court ruled that it bribed […]

…for allegedly torturing civilians  Moorosi Tsiane  THE ongoing Lesotho Defence Force (LDF)’s ‘Operation Hard Fist’ aimed at confiscating illegal firearms across the country has yielded more allegations of torture of civilians by soldiers.  Four civilians claim they were subjected to brutal treatment, with soldiers allegedly demanding the production of firearms. They now demand a joint […]

Mohloai Mpesi  MOVEMENT for Economic Change (MEC) proportional representation (PR) legislator, ‘Mantoetse Mohatonyane, is Lesotho’s new ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.  Ms Mohatonyane presented her credentials to His Majesty King Letsie III at the Royal Palace yesterday morning.  Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lejone Mpotjoane, confirmed Ms Mohatonyane’s appointment in a brief […]

Moorosi Tsiane  PROMINENT lawyer Neil Fraser has condemned former Commissioner of Police, Holomo Molibeli’s, relentless attempts to have the Lesotho Times shut down as a blatant effort to silence the media.  Attorney Fraser, of Webber Newdigate, made these remarks on Tuesday during his submissions before Justice Keketso Moahloli.  In this case Mr Molibeli, represented by his lawyer, Tekane Maqakachane, seeks to have the Lesotho […]

Moroke Sekoboto  THE involvement of the military in civilian law enforcement raises significant human rights concerns, particularly regarding the use of force and the treatment of suspects.    The country has been witnessing the loss of lives at the hands of Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members who allegedly torture civilians suspected of owning illegal firearms.  Just […]

…As gvt re-opens textile giant  Staff Reporter  MINISTER of Trade, Industry, and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, has lauded the reopening of textile giant CGM Group and its subsidiary, Presitex Enterprises, after they were defrauded of nearly M1 billion by former employees.  Mr Shelile said CGM Group is currently rehiring 350 Basotho as it relaunches production.  […]

Mohloai Mpesi  LESOTHO could be facing a new threat of terrorism financing due to endemic corruption and money laundering in the country.   It would, therefore, require collective efforts from law enforcement agencies, to band together to ensure that money laundering activities do not graduate to terrorism financing.    This is according to the Directorate on Corruption […]

Mathatisi Sebusi  FORMER mine workers who contracted silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) while working in South African mines allege that the Tshiamiso Trust, which is mandated to compensate them, is depriving them of their rights.   They are not getting the full amounts they believe they are entitled to after some “inexplicable” deductions by the trust handling […]

Letsatsi Selikoe  IN a significant move towards digitalization of its revenue collection systems, the Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL) launched the Automatic Compliance Project (ACP) yesterday aimed at easing payments of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax strand.  The groundbreaking initiative marks a crucial step in streamlining and modernising tax compliance, particularly for employers, by leveraging advanced technology. […]

Hopolang Mokhopi  IN an effort to enhance cybersecurity, insurance giant, Alliance Insurance Company, has donated 14 desktop computers and 14 laptops to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).  The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the police headquarters in Maseru.  The event was attended by the LMPS command, police officers of various ranks, and staff from Alliance […]

Moroke Sekobato  VITALITY Health Lesotho have marked their decade of existence in the country with the launch of a modernised healthcare facility at Soofia International School in Butha-Buthe.  The medical facility will serve Lesotho’s northern region, offering lifesaving emergency medical services, inter-hospital transfers, chronic illness management, clinical services, pharmaceuticals, and medical insurance.  The launch of […]