… as govt lifts SA chicken ban  Moroke Sekoboto THE government has lifted the ban on chicken imports from South Africa (SA) while also announcing measures to empower Basotho to produce chickens locally. From tomorrow, local farmers can import frozen chicken and eggs from the eight provinces of South Africa, save for Gauteng which is […]

Staff Reporter A MAPUTSOE resident, Tankiso Daniel Ramaisa, has emerged as the M100 000 grand prize winner of the Econet Telecom Lesotho’s Hoa Hlamatseha festive campaign at an event held in Maputsoe, Leribe, last Friday. The festive campaign, aptly named Hoa Hlamatseha (there is plenty), allows customers to participate in a series of engaging activities, […]

…as gvt fails to issue passports Mathatisi Sebusi CIVIL society organisations have expressed disappointment at the government’s prolonged failure to issue new passports. They say the jobs of migrant workers, particularly in South Africa, are now at risk.  The failure to produce passports also violated the fundamental rights of Basotho to freely move to other […]

Mohloai Mpesi HUMAN rights organisations have called on the government to establish a commission of inquiry into last week’s “brutal assaults” of inmates by Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) officers after a prison break at one of its facilities. Nine soldiers awaiting trial for a host of crimes, and other civilians booked into the maximum wing […]

Moorosi Tsiane TWO Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) employees have appeared in court facing bribery charges after they were allegedly paid to avoid conducting a search on a  consignment belonging to a foreign businessman. The two, Thabo Matsinyane (52) and Lebopa Monaheng (40),  allegedly took a M2400 bribe from the businessman, Takunda Chiradza, to avoid inspecting […]

Maternal Mortality remains a key issue affecting women of reproductive age across the African Region. The current Maternal Mortality Ratio for Lesotho is 566/100,000 live births. This is categorized as very high and is above the regional average of 545/100,000 live births. To address the high maternal and neonatal mortalities in Lesotho, the technical expert […]

… “it must thus be decriminalised”,  say civic advocates Mathatisi Sebusi For the past five years, Lerato*, aged 39, has been working as a sex worker, sending home at least M1 000 every month. Her family thinks she is working in Maseru as a domestic worker. Lerato says that she left her home, which she […]

…to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries Mathatisi Sebusi/ Tokelo Khausela A HIGH powered Chinese delegation was in Lesotho as part of efforts to strengthen the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Sam Matekane met with the delegation and shared  his plans to venture into climate smart agriculture to increase food […]

…Rwanda also praised for playing a decisive role By Kelvin Jakachira in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique COMMANDER  of the Mozambique Defence Forces, Major General Tiago Alberto Nampele,  says the jihadist insurgency in his country’s northern province has been largely defeated; thanks to efforts of African countries, including Lesotho, that have contributed troops to help in the […]

Moroke Sekoboto The third edition of the Lesotho Gin & Trout Tourism Festival, a premier food and beverage showcase, turned up the fun at Botleng Guest House in Maseru over the weekend. The event featured five different gin houses and six high class food stalls, where trout was prepared in various ways, each with a […]

….as opposition maintains boycott pledge Mohloai Mpesi THE government has vowed to forge ahead with the national reforms process despite the opposition’s resolve to scupper it. Opposition leaders have vowed not to participate in the reforms process unless the government meets a host of their demands including firing heads of security agencies. They have also […]

…but RFP says DC leader shouldn’t be taken seriously Mohloai Mpesi OFFICIAL opposition leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, said it was inevitable that he would become Lesotho’s next Prime Minister regardless of “sequential threats” being meted against the opposition by Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s government. Mr Mokhothu told a rally of his Democratic Congress (DC)  in Hololo […]

—as interbank payments remain stalled Moroke Sekoboto Business in Lesotho has virtually ground to a halt as the country’s banking system remains paralysed after the Central Bank of Lesotho was hacked earlier this week. Banking executives have been locked in meetings to try and find a way forward. It had been suggested the banking sector […]

Hopolang Mokhopi IT was a night of glitz and glamour when the women’s movement, The Black Diamond, marked its fourth anniversary at an event held at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre on Saturday. The event also served to reflect on the milestones which this women empowerment seminar has achieved. The edition was held under the theme: Turn your […]

Mohloai Mpesi FORMER ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) legislator for the Matlakeng constituency, Mahali Phamotse, was on Tuesday this week unveiled as leader of a new political party, United African Transformation (UAT), putting to rest her protracted battles with her previous party’s leadership. Dr Phamotse’s departure from the RFP, happened after more than a year […]

Leemisa Thuseho THE Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is advocating the protection of wetlands within the Polihali Dam and other Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) catchments. And in an effort to mobilise stakeholders and enhance the protection efforts, the LHDA, in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DOE) under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, […]

—proving the old adage that “disability is not inability” Mathatisi Sebusi Disability is certainly not inability. The pupils of Thuso-e-tla-tsoa-kae School bear testament to this age old adage. The name of their school, located in Botha-Bothe District,  literally means “where will help come from”? Perhaps to them, the idiom suggests that unless they help themselves, […]

Seithati Mots’oeneng/Mohloai Mpesi MAIN opposition Democratic Congress (DC) leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, has expressed unhappiness over the prolonged ban on the importation of poultry products from South Africa. Mr Mokhothu told the Lesotho Times from his party’s headquarters on Tuesday this week, that government’s lengthy ban on poultry products from South Africa, was an unnecessary crisis […]

Hopolang Mokhopi THE Lesotho Workcamps Association (LWA) has launched a Sewing Training Centre aimed at combating youth unemployment. The initiative launched this week will offer free tailoring lessons to the youth. It was launched in celebration of the International Volunteer Day, under the theme “If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place.” Addressing the […]

Mathatisi Sebusi FUNDING challenges, policy and regulatory hurdles and capacity constraints have been listed among restrictions preventing communities from being effectively engaged in HIV response initiatives. This concern was raised by the National AIDS Commission (NAC) Programs Manager, Tiisetso Piet, during a media training workshop held this week in Maseru. The seminar was aimed at […]