Moroke Sekoboto PRIME Minister Sam Matekane’s government’s decision to cut out middlemen from state procurement processes and buy directly from suppliers is “destabilizing” Lesotho’s small businesses. This according to United African Transformation (UAT) leader, Mahali Phamotse, who insists the decision compromised the growth of the private sector, particularly Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMME)s. Dr Phamotse said if […]

Tokelo Khausela THE Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) is making progress in grading local hospitality outfits.  It has so far graded more than 200 guesthouses as well as bed and breakfasts (B&Bs). The LTDC introduced a Qual-star grading program in 2016 for hotels and guest houses. Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week, the LTDC’s Head of Investment […]

…instructs them to uphold respect for human rights …as M700 million water project gets underway Moroke Sekoboto CONTRACTORS engaged in the multimillion maloti Lesotho Lowlands Water Project (LLWP)Phase II have been ordered to respect the human rights of communities within which the project is being implemented. They must adhere to guidelines on sexual harassment in the workplace, […]

Hopolang Mokhopi SIX Basotho women, who were allegedly lured into South Africa on a promise for domestic work, have been rescued by the Ekurhuleni Thatazonke Anti-Crime Unit from a possible human trafficking syndicate. The six and two other South Africans from Kwa-Zulu Natal were allegedly lured to Gauteng province by a woman, Tiisetso Molise, posing […]

Tokelo Khausela CHILD malnutrition remains a critical challenge for Africa requiring African Union (AU) member states to enhance a collective approach to tackle the problem, Prime Minister Sam Matekane has said. The premier spoke at the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this past weekend. The summit focused on economic development, regional […]

Tokelo Khausela THE African Union (AU) has extended King Letsie III‘s term as its  Nutrition Champion for the next two years. The decision was taken at the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit held over the weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. King Letsie III has led the AU’s continental nutrition agenda since 2016. A press statement […]

Tokelo Khausela MINISTER of Health, Selibe Mochoboroane, has welcomed the M3.4 billion allocated to his ministry, saying he was going to prioritise promoting primary healthcare throughout the country. He spoke shortly after the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Retṧelisitsoe Matlanyane, had tabled the national budget for the fiscal year 2024/2025. The Health Ministry was last […]

Moorosi Tsiane A VICTIM of a 2014 shooting incident near Tlali Kamoli’s Ha Leqele, Maseru, residence this week relived a horror incident when he nearly lost his life. Tšepo Jane survived death by a whisker when he and his friend, Lisebo Tang, were brutally shot by soldiers guarding Kamoli’s Ha Leqele residence on 9 May […]

Moroke Sekoboto THE Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project (LLWDP)’s top brass have updated parliament on the multi-million maloti project intended to supply Leribe district with potable water. Members of both the Senate and National Assembly had been invited to meet with the LLWDP’s senior officials last week for the update on the project. Only one […]

Ministers gather to unpack budget speech Leemisa Thuseho BANKING giants, Nedbank Lesotho, in collaboration with the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), hosted a post-budget gala dinner at AVANI Maseru last night to unpack the 2024/25 budget statement. The glamorous event attracted elites from various corporates and economists as well as members of the judiciary. The gala dinner is normally held after the delivery of […]

says funds will help in implementation of agric policies but laments finance ministry’s delays in releasing funds Seithati Motsoeneng and Moroke Sekoboto THE M1.3 billion allocated to the agriculture sector in the 2024/25 fiscal budget   will come in handy in implementing agricultural policies aimed at stimulating Lesotho’s economy. This is according to the Minister of Agriculture Food, […]

…accuses Matlanyane of recycling last year’s budget speech Mohloai Mpesi OPPOSITION parties have slammed the 2024/25 national budget statement saying it had been ‘plagiarised’ from last year’s one. The latest budget statement was not innovative and did not contain concrete steps to rescue Lesotho out of economic squalor, they charged. The opposition described Minister of […]

as recruitment file for new MD ‘disappears’ DCEO asked to investigate Mohalenyane Phakela THE recruitment process of a new boss for the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has been thrown into turmoil. This after a file in which the details of the recruitment process were being collated allegedly disappeared. The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences […]

Seithati Mots’oeneng THE government has banned the importation of tomatoes and apples   to create a market for local farmers whose produce is believed to be enough to sustain local demand. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Thabo Mofosi, this week announced a two months suspension of the importation of apples and tomatoes from Tuesday this week […]

… as court dismisses his bid to quash Victoria Hotel graft charges Mohalenyane Phakela FORMER Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) director general, Mahlomola Manyokole, has been dealt a heavy blow after the High Court threw out his bid to quash money laundering, abuse of office and corruption charges against him. The charges arose […]

as it shapes the future of youth through its LHDA Young Professionals Programme IN an effort to equip youth graduates with practical skills and address the skills and experience gap for youth, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is recruiting and training youth under its LHDA Young Professionals Development Programme. The programme is a skills […]

Mosisili family bravely uses son’s death to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol family says people with alcoholism must be helped instead of being ostracized Hopolang Mokhopi FORMER Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s family, says his late son, Rethabile, battled alcoholism throughout his life. As such, he needed support and understanding, not criticism. People in […]

THE Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA) is in the process of amending the LEWA Act so that the management of the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) and Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) can be held personally liable for various acts of malfeasance to protect the public. For instance, there was a recent outcry over “contaminated” […]

Moorosi Tsiane THE Principal Chief of Tšakholo, Tebang and Ha- Seleso in Mafeteng, Khoabane Mojela, has been found guilty of murdering his commoner, Tšenolo Letsie in June 2020. Justice ‘Mabatṧoeneng Hlaele found Chief Mojela guilty yesterday and revoked his bail, thus remanding him in custody to await his sentencing slated for next Thursday. The trial […]

but minister says law is controversial hence implementation must be gradual Lesotho must also tread carefully lest it spoil relations with other nations Mathatisi Sebusi SOME Basotho businesspeople are calling on the government to operationalise business licensing regulations which disqualify foreigners from operating in areas that are legally preserved for Basotho. They want Prime Minister […]

Staff Reporter THE Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) has partnered with different media houses and social media influencers to roll out its three-year strategic plan, Lesokoana, to ease the dissemination of information regarding tax compliance. Addressing representatives of media houses and social media influencers at Lancer’s Inn in Maseru, RSL Commissioner General, ‘Mathabo Mokoko, said it was important […]

Tokelo Khausela STANDARD Lesotho Bank has expanded its footprint in the country after launching its Cathedral Area Branch in Maseru last week Friday. Speaking at the ceremony, the governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL), Maluke Letete, said it was the responsibility of banks to drive the economy. No economy could ever thrive without […]

Moroke Sekoboto UNITED States ambassador to Lesotho, Maria Brewer, says fostering better security relations between Lesotho and the US has been at the forefront of her mission. Ms Brewer spoke this week during the handover of fingerprints kits to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) at police headquarters. She said the US government was committed to […]

…as 771 897 teen and older women in Lesotho  risk developing cancer at any given time Hopolang Mokhopi CERVICAL cancer ranks as the most ubiquitous cancer among women between 15 to 44 years of age in Lesotho. It is also one of the leading causes of death among women. At least 362 of 541 women […]