MINISTER of Trade, Industry and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, has assured Basotho that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will be extended, despite the Bill still awaiting approval and signing by United States President Donald Trump.  Mr Shelile said this during a media briefing in Maseru this week following a visit to the United States by a delegation representing four African countries — Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Tanzania.  He said the delegation met various congressional committees which had given the proposed AGOA extension a green light.  “We are confident the Bill will pass. It has already secured the support of 340 lawmakers in the House of Representatives and is now moving to the Senate,” Mr Shelile said.   “Since it will be tabled together with other Bills, we expect it to be passed by the end of January.”  He said once approved by the Senate, the Bill would be forwarded to President Trump for assent.  “We have no control over the President’s...

  Moroke Sekoboto  THE Roads Directorate has commenced the design phase for the upgrading and construction of a 45-kilometre road from Ha Matlali to Lebakeng in Qacha’s Nek District.  The M1.4 billion project is expected to be completed within four years.  China International Water & Electric Corporation has been awarded the contract and is expected to employ 85 percent of local unskilled labour required for the project.  Speaking at the contract signing ceremony held yesterday at the Roads Directorate headquarters in Maseru, Director General Teboho Mokhoane said the road runs from Ha Matlali through Mosenekeng to Lebakeng, linking the Lebakeng Constituency with Qacha’s Nek town via the A4 Road.  Mr Mokhoane said the road is currently an unengineered gravel road that terminates at the Lebakeng Clinic parking area. He added that the project also includes a 1.4km access road to Melikane Combined School.  “The total road length is approximately 45 kilometres and the project duration is 48 months. The total cost is M1,409,511,553.08, inclusive of VAT and contingencies. The road is classified as a Secondary Connector Road, intended...

  …Lijabatho, Lifofane making waves, finish first round strong …Traditionally top-table teams endure ‘unsteady’ performances …League newbies continue struggle to find their feet Leemisa Thuseho WITH the ongoing Vodacom Premier League (VPL) 2025/26 campaign having completed its first round over the weekend, both the title race and relegation battles are beginning to take shape. At the halfway mark, all 16 teams have played 15 matches, and a clear picture is emerging, particularly with traditionally mid-table clubs such as Lijabatho and Lifofane now positioning themselves as serious contenders for the title, threatening the long-standing dominance of league giants Lioli, Bantu and Matlama. The rise of Lijabatho and Lifofane Following heavy investment in players and the technical team over the past season, Lijabatho are gradually emerging as one of the sides to reckon with in the Premier League. Since gaining promotion from the A Division League in the 2018/19 season, Lijabatho FC have steadily...

  …Secker roped in to save VPL giants  Leemisa Thuseho MASERU-based Vodacom Premier League giants, Matlama FC, have made a coaching shake-up as they seek to turn their fortunes around in the 2025/26 season. The club has taken the bold decision to terminate the contracts of head coach Shalane Lehohla and his assistant, Sello Seholoholo, following the team’s shaky performances in the league. “Coach Shalane Lehohla and his assistant coach Sello Seholoholo have parted ways with the team,” Matlama announced. “They were handed their contract termination letters today (Tuesday).” Shalane was appointed at the beginning of the ongoing campaign, in June last year on a one-year deal. However, his stint proved difficult, with Matlama currently sitting in seventh position with 24 points from 15 matches. While there was still hope that results would improve, a recent four-game winless run forced the club’s management to act. Since losing 2–1 in the hands of...

  Leemisa Thuseho  THE Federation of Lesotho Cycling (FCL) on Friday received 594 bicycles of different types and sizes, along with accessories, from the Bikes for Lesotho Initiative under the US-based charity, Working Bikes.  Working Bikes is a Chicago-based non-profit that collects discarded bicycles, refurbishes them before redistributing them locally and globally as tools for strengthening communities by providing sustainable transportation and biking skills.  Through the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), FCL has so far received a total of 7000 bikes since 2012.  Under the leadership of its president, Dave Gorman, Working Bikes has been delivering bicycles to Lesotho since 2012 when he embarked on the initiative soon after he completed his tour of duty to the country as a US Peace Corps volunteer. Receiving the bicycles, FCL President, Rammotang Makatile, thanked Gorman for the bicycle donation programme for Basotho, especially kids.  He said the delivery of this year’s batch is a milestone in the development of...

  Kabelo Masoabi  A SETHUBATHA village chief has testified in the Leribe Magistrate’s Court in a case involving a pistol allegedly used in a series of armed robberies, casting fresh light on how security agencies handle seized firearms.  Tankiso Sepitika (36) appeared before the court on Monday and Tuesday facing two counts of armed robbery.  The prosecution alleges that in 2014 Sepitika, armed with a pistol, stormed a shop owned by Indian nationals at Mpharane in Leribe, fired a shot into the roof and escaped with M8,900 in cash, cigarettes, airtime vouchers and cellular phones.  Sepitika is further accused of committing another armed robbery at Tsikoane in the same district, where he allegedly stole cigarettes, airtime vouchers and other items at gunpoint.  The court heard that after learning that Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) officers were searching for a pistol suspected to be in his possession, Sepitika surrendered the firearm to his village chief on 16 November 2014.  Under cross-examination, Chief ’Maphosholi Molapo of Sethubatha village in Leribe told the court that Sepitika arrived at her home that...

THE safety of judges and magistrates in this country has once again been thrust into the national spotlight, and the picture it paints is deeply troubling. Recent events, including the shocking robbery of High Court Judge Polo Banyane in broad daylight, have exposed a glaring contradiction in how the state views security: those entrusted with dispensing justice are left largely unprotected, while politicians enjoy the constant presence of heavily armed guards, even though their personal security might not often be at risk. Judges and magistrates occupy the most sensitive and dangerous positions in any democracy. Their decisions affect freedom, property, livelihoods and, in some cases, life itself. They sentence criminals, rule against powerful interests and interpret laws in politically charged environments. By the very nature of their work, they make enemies. Yet in this Kingdom, these custodians of the rule of law are expected to fend for themselves in a...

…as fraud claims surface ahead of AGM Mohloai Mpesi IN a dramatic late-night development ahead of Naledi Funeral Planners (Pty) Ltd’s explosive Annual General Meeting (AGM), a letter calling for the freezing of brothers Thabiso and Khojane Madiba’s shares was circulated among shareholders just before midnight on Thursday. The letter, sent by shareholder Tholo Shea, urged the board to freeze the 45.152 percent stake held by Thabiso Madiba and the 1.243 percent stake held by Khojane Madiba. The six-page letter—signed but bearing no name—called on the AGM to wrest control of the Madibas’ shares, freeze them, and bar the brothers from voting at Friday’s meeting. Titled “freezing of shares pending settlement of liability to the company”, the letter accuses Thabiso Madiba of defrauding Naledi Funeral Planners of more than M12 million. The letter states:“On 3 September 2022 the board of directors convened a special meeting to discuss serious transgressions and allegations...

…teachers accused of assisting students …Cambridge suspends school’s Grade 11 results …principal denies wrongdoing Mathatisi Sebusi TINY Tots International School is under investigation by Cambridge International Education (CIE) following allegations of examination malpractice during the 2025 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. At the centre of the probe are allegations that some teachers at the school could have assisted students to write the internationally acclaimed bridging examinations. The United Kingdom-based CIE has since suspended the school’s final-year examination results pending investigations, a development which has caused distress among the affected students and parents since the rest of the schools which wrote similar examinations in the country received their results on Friday morning. Minister of Education and Training, Professor Ntoi Rapapa, confirmed the probe in an interview with the Sunday Express on Friday. However, he said it would be premature to comment further until the investigation is concluded. “We will speak after receiving...

…As inmates are caught in drug trafficking scheme Kabelo Masoabi THREE inmates at the Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) facilities in Hlotse have been implicated in an alleged drug trafficking operation within the prison. Relebohile Sejakane (30) and Tšolo Ntsobo (53) appeared before Magistrate Mpotla Koaesa,  at the Leribe Magistrate’s Court  this week, charged with illegal possession and trafficking of marijuana. A third suspect, who was arrested together with them, has since turned state witness. According to the charge sheet, Sejakane was allegedly found selling, transporting and distributing marijuana within the prison premises on 17 October 2025, in contravention of the laws and regulations governing LCS facilities. Marijuana was reportedly discovered in his possession and inside his cell. Reading the charge, Magistrate Koaesa stated: “Unauthorised chemicals, marijuana in this case, were found in your possession and in your cell. You failed to produce any legal document permitting you to trade in such a chemical. Hence, you stand...