…as he faces no-confidence motion Rethabile Pitso MASERU councillors have launched a no confidence motion against mayor, Relebohile Sechache, accusing him of disregarding Council resolutions, acting unilaterally and showing little regard for the municipality’s worsening financial position. In a letter addressed to the Town Clerk, Moea Makhakhe, on Thursday, councillors outlined a series of grievances against Mr Sechache, with his current week-long visit to China emerging as the immediate trigger for the move. The trip, undertaken to attend celebrations marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, is said to have been partly funded by the Chinese government with some of the financing coming from the cash strapped Council. Mr Sechache is the councillor for Lithoteng, representing the Movement for Economic Change (MEC). Central to the councillors’ complaints is an alleged decision by the Council on 25 June 2026 opposing Mr Sechache’s participation in the trip because of the...

  THE admission by Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) Director-General Advocate Brigadier-General Mantšo Sello that corruption remains one of Lesotho’s greatest challenges should come as no surprise to anyone. It is, however, refreshing to hear such frank acknowledgement from the country’s chief anti-corruption official rather than the familiar rhetoric that often portrays the fight against graft as progressing better than it actually is. For years, corruption has steadily eaten away at the foundations of Lesotho’s public institutions. It has diverted scarce public resources from essential services, weakened confidence in the government, discouraged investment and left ordinary Basotho questioning whether accountability still exists. The latest Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index score of just 37 out of 100 confirms what citizens already experience daily: corruption remains deeply entrenched in our governance structures. What makes corruption particularly destructive is not simply the money lost through fraudulent tenders, inflated contracts or abuse...

  THE National University of Lesotho’s (NUL) public expression of dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Court of Appeal has handled its legal disputes should not be dismissed as a mere institutional outburst or an attempt to undermine the judiciary. On the contrary, the concerns raised by the university are both legitimate and justifiable because they touch on one of the most sacred principles of any democratic society: public confidence in the administration of justice. At the centre of the dispute is Professor Kananelo Mosito, who serves simultaneously as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of NUL and President of the Court of Appeal. The university has argued that this dual role creates circumstances that could give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias, especially because cases involving Prof Mosito are ultimately being handled by judges who are his peers in the very court that he leads. The issue here is not whether Prof...

  Hopolang Mokhopi TWO South African men have appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court facing charges of money laundering and drug-related offences after they were allegedly found in possession of cash, cocaine and cannabis. Nash Pillah (38), of Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, and Thabiso Ngidi (42), also of Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, appeared before Magistrate Puseletso McPherson on Thursday. Advocate Shebe prosecuted the matter, while Advocate Sentšo Ramochela represented both accused. According to the charge sheet, the pair are accused of committing the offences on 7 July 2026, at or near Maseru District Hospital. The first count alleges that they unlawfully and intentionally acted in concert to acquire or possess M193,000 in cash, knowing or having reason to believe that the money was derived, directly or indirectly, from criminal activities in contravention of the laws of Lesotho. In the second count, the two are charged with unlawful possession of drugs after allegedly being found...

  …with the 50MW expansion to cut electricity imports, create 400 jobs Seithati Motšoeneng PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has launched the second phase of the Ramarothole Solar Energy Project, a M923 million renewable energy investment expected to increase Lesotho’s electricity generation capacity by 50 megawatts (MW) and raise the plant’s total output to 80MW. The project, financed through a concessional loan from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and implemented by Chinese consortium Sinoma-TBEA, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported electricity and strengthen the country’s energy security. Addressing guests at the Friday launch in Mafeteng, Mr Matekane said Lesotho continued to face an electricity generation deficit, forcing the government to spend heavily on importing power from neighbouring countries. “Electricity generated locally is still not enough to meet our needs, and the government continues to purchase electricity from neighbouring countries at a very...

  Seithati Motšoeneng THE government has urged Basotho not to panic over forecasts of an emerging El Niño weather pattern, stressing that while the coming rainy season could bring below-average rainfall, it does not automatically mean Lesotho will experience a drought. Minister of Environment and Forestry, Thabo Mofosi, said the country’s weather outlook points to a high likelihood of El Niño conditions developing ahead of the 2026/27 summer rainfall season. However, he cautioned that Lesotho’s climate was influenced by several weather systems and not El Niño alone. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday on the country’s climate outlook, Mr Mofosi said forecasts indicate an increased probability of below-normal rainfall rather than a complete failure of seasonal rains. “These conditions do not mean Lesotho will receive no rain at all,” Mr Mofosi said. “The forecast indicates a high probability of below-average rainfall rather than a guaranteed drought.” He said the government was encouraging...

Moroke Sekoboto TELECOMMUNICATIONS powerhouse, Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL), in partnership with its subsidiary, Sasai Econet Financial Services (SEFS), has launched ‘Re ‘Moja’, a four-month nationwide customer loyalty campaign that will see more than M7 million worth of prizes awarded to customers across Lesotho. Running from July to October 2026, the campaign is aimed at rewarding loyal customers for using ETL and SEFS products and services in their daily lives. Customers earn points, receive cashback on selected transactions, redeem rewards and qualify for prize draws through qualifying transactions. Unlike traditional promotions that require customers to buy specific products, ‘Re ‘Moja’ rewards everyday usage. Customers accumulate points when they purchase airtime, voice, SMS or data bundles, pay bills through EcoCash, make merchant payments, use Bank-2-Wallet services or pay EcoSure premiums. Prizes on offer include cash rewards, airtime, utility vouchers, Aranda blankets, Econet Prime smartphones, iPhone 17 smartphones, branded merchandise, an exclusive FIFA...

  …as PAC probes M524 million processed outside IFMIS Mohloai Mpesi THE Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) came under intense scrutiny yesterday after lawmakers accused it of processing M524 million in government debt payments outside the government’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the practice may have contributed to the adverse audit opinions repeatedly issued against the government. The issue emerged yesterday during a tense PAC hearing where the CBL and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning were summoned to respond to findings contained in Auditor-General ‘Mathabo Makenete’s reports for the 2023 and 2024 financial years. The CBL delegation was led by Governor Dr Maluke Letete, while the ministry was represented by Principal Secretary Nthoateng Lebona. Proceedings became heated after Deputy Accountant-General ‘Mabakubung Pitso disclosed that M524 million in debt payments had been processed outside IFMIS. “The M524 million are debt payments that...

…as accounts employee resigns after probe into theft begins Moorosi Tsiane A former Scott Hospital accounts employee is under police investigation for allegedly siphoning more than M350,000 from the institution over a three-year period through a scheme involving cash deposits and falsified banking records. The suspect, who has since resigned from the hospital, allegedly stole the money in small amounts between 2023 and 2026 while working in the accounts department, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The alleged fraud only came to light this year after auditors detected irregularities in the hospital’s banking records, prompting an internal investigation that was subsequently referred to the police. Sources said the former employee was responsible for depositing money collected from patients into the hospital’s bank account each week. Instead of depositing the full amount, the suspect allegedly pocketed part of the cash before using self-service bank deposit machines to deposit the remaining balance into the...

Staff Reporter THE Mpulule Political Summit (MPS) has weighed in on the growing plight of Basotho reportedly being expelled or targeted in South Africa, arguing that Lesotho’s own governance failures are largely to blame for forcing citizens to seek livelihoods across the border. In a statement issued this week, MPS leader, Pastor Remaketse Sehlabaka, said while xenophobic violence and the targeting of foreign nationals in South Africa were unacceptable, Lesotho’s leaders must also accept responsibility for creating conditions that drive Basotho to migrate. His comments come amid renewed reports of Basotho being caught up in anti-immigrant operations and growing hostility towards undocumented foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. “The Mpulule Political Summit notes with concern the recent xenophobic violence in parts of the Republic of South Africa,” Mr Sehlabaka said. “While we stand for regional solidarity and the protection of all lives, we cannot speak honestly about migration without...