MOKHOTLONG — A 27-year-old man was on Saturday found dead near a cliff in Ntsiking in Mokhotlong. Rethabile Motokoa’s body was found naked below the cliff by villagers who alerted the police. The police suspect that he could have fallen from the cliff but they are not ruling out foul play as investigations into the […]
MASERU — In Moruthane village there is a little hut that is falling apart. The roof looks like it’s about to curve in. The walls have huge cracks. The yard looks neglected. Until you knock on a broken wooden door it’s nearly impossible to imagine that such a hovel can be somebody’s home. Yet when […]
AS I SEE IT THE quality of broadcast journalism in this country leaves a lot to be desired. We have pseudo-journalists at various media houses particularly in the broadcasting sector. We have seen these pseudo-journalists trashing media ethics during their radio broadcasts. Chief among these culprits is one Arthur Majara. Majara is a journalist-cum-analyst at […]
MORIJA — The Telecom Econet Morija Arts and Cultural Festival burst into life yesterday with organisers saying all was on course for the biggest festival ever. Max Seifert, one of the organisers, said all billed artists were set to perform at the festival. “Jazz artists such as Letta Mbulu, Thandiswa Mazwai, Solace, Mojo Live, Fatere, […]
DOCTOR’S CORNER SOMETIMES the days seem very long and keeping your energy up in the middle of a long day seems nearly impossible. How can you avoid getting so tired without constantly taking on board huge quantities of sugar and caffeine? How many of us slam countless energy drinks and cups of coffee to […]
Scrutator had a good weekend last week. There were graduation parties happening all over my village. I drank myself numb but I am proud to say that I still behaved well even at those extreme levels of intoxication. The invites haven’t stopped coming. Yet the several shindigs were not without drama. At some point during […]
MASERU — Co-operatives can drive economic development and curb the high levels of unemployment and poverty in Lesotho, a government official has said. Mphamoli Lekoetje, who is a commissioner in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Co-operatives and Marketing, said co-operatives can be a major driver of economic growth. Lekoetje was speaking at a ceremony […]
MASERU — Life is good in Mafeteng at the moment. Two weeks into their return to the Premier League, Bantu are unbeaten and sitting proudly atop the top flight log. Whether their 0-0 home draw with Majantja last Sunday means the beginning of a dip in form remains to be seen — this weekend Bantu […]
MASERU — With the size and passion of its population, Mazenod should really be one of Lesotho’s football hotbeds. There have been brief glimpses of this potential; moments when Mazenod has fermented Swallows’ tiny ground into a theatre of nightmares for visitors — but this has never been consistent. As with all community sides Swallows […]
MASERU — Confusion still reigns over the identity of the sponsor of Lesotho’s Premier League. Vodacom Lesotho has over the past month been widely tipped to become the league’s new official backer, replacing their telecommunications rivals Econet-Telecom Lesotho who have sponsored all the country’s leagues until this season. In a development that lends credence to […]
MASERU — With less than a month to go to the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular, several big sides are in danger of missing out on the showpiece. The most notable of these are LDF, losing finalists in last year’s tournament and runners up in the Premier League last season. MGC Supa 8 champions LMPS are also […]
MASERU — A former captain alleged to have been involved in the 2007 political disturbances has spoken out about his brutal torture at the hands of military police officers who accused him of being linked to the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party. Ramabele Mokhantsó said he was subjected to electric shocks, suffocation and beating by […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
LAST week Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili hinted at retirement, saying he had little time as head of government and the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party. This was the first time that Mosisili, who was elected as prime minister in 1998, had openly discussed his possible retirement. Ironically, Mosisili made the startling announcement […]
AS I SEE IT THE announcement by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili that he was planning to step down is a significant development of our young democracy that deserves praise. Mosisili told a press conference in Maseru last week that he had no intention to hold on to power. The statement was the clearest yet […]
SCRUTATOR this week nearly suffered heart failure after stumbling, while travelling on a public taxi to town, upon a midday news bulletin on one of the local radio stations. In fact, I was lucky to have a friend nearby who had to perform CPR on me after the bogus news bulletin almost sucked the last […]
DOCTOR’S CORNER WINTER is gone and soon summer will be upon us. It gets very hot during summer in Lesotho and we all have plans to enjoy the sun after such a dreadful winter, but there is also something about the “good” sun that we need to know about. A bit of background first. […]
MASERU — The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Council of Ministers convened a two-day meeting to review challenges and to deliberate on the future of the oldest customs union in the world. The conference was held in Swaziland last Thursday. SACU is made up of five countries — Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. […]
MASERU — Vodacom Lesotho has sponsored the Maseru Bazaar, to be held on Sunday at the Maseru Club, to the tune of M100 000. The Bazaar is organised by the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) together with its partners. Announcing the event at a press conference this week, LTDC public relations officer Tšiu Shale said […]
MASERU — The entertainment industry has been robbed of yet another star following the untimely death of DJ Tsidosky last Saturday. Born Retsélisitsoe Chalale, the popular jockey failed to recover from serious injuries sustained in a car accident on September 11 this year. He was 32. DJ Tsidosky was a member of Queens Entertainment, led […]
MASERU — There are many crucial points through the course of a season, and while it may be too early to make predictions Saturday will be a huge marker. With Lesotho’s top four sides — Lioli, LDF, LCS and LMPS — facing each other, it is a “Super Saturday”. Lioli welcome LCS to Teyateyaneng while […]
MASERU — In top level football pressure is the name of the game. But even so, LCS’s faithful would surely not have expected this; one game, no goals and no points. It means just two weeks into the marathon that is the Premier League and the pressure is already on Masheshena. Back-to-back champions in 2006/07 […]
MASERU — Golf has long been a sport that has received very little attention in Lesotho. Last Sunday, the Lesotho Golf Association (LGA) elected a new executive board. The new board will serve until April 2011. This Sunday the Sentebale Golf Classic will be held at the Maseru Golf Club. Speaking to the Lesotho Times […]
MASERU — The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) is expected to unveil a new sponsor after cutting ties with telecommunications giant Econet Telecom Lesotho. The identity of the new sponsor is being kept under wraps, although speculation is rife Vodacom Lesotho is on the verge of taking over from its telecommunications rival. The Premier League started […]
MASERU — Lioli will seek arbitration in their battle with LCS for Lesotho’s one and only spot in next year’s CAF Champions League. After a month long stalemate with the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) Lioli have now decided to pursue legal means. As things stand it will be LCS and not champions Lioli who will […]
Orphans in dire straits
IN this edition we carry a harrowing story about the plight of orphans in Lesotho. Much has been written about the predicament of orphans but it looks like much still needs to be done to mitigate their suffering. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there are well over 160 000 orphans in Lesotho. […]