225 -rejects accusations that he misled gvt in DPP’s impeachment bid Bongiwe Zihlangu/Mohloai Mpesi ATTORNEY GENERAL Rapelang Motsieloa has rejected suggestions that he should not have allowed Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara to confess in an affidavit that she had indeed asked Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Hlalefang Motinyane, to drop treason charges against two prominent politicians. According to Adv Motsieloa, there was nothing unethical about Ms Majara discussing the possibility of dropping treason charges against Movement for Economic Change (MEC) leader Selibe Mochoboroane and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing.  As such, Ms Majara had been right to tell the truth in her affidavit. The two politicians are currently in court over the August 30, 2014, failed coup against former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s government. Mr Metsing was Mr Thabane’s deputy prime minister at the time, while Mr Mochoboroane was the Communications, Science and Technology minister and...

8.5K Moorosi Tsiane  THE axed Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) board of directors will learn in February 2025 whether former Energy Minister, Professor Nqosa Mahao, acted unlawfully in dismissing it on 10 October 2024.  The dismissed board members argued before Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane yesterday that Prof Mahao violated the principle of sub judice when he appointed a new board while a related case was still pending. The sub judice rule prohibits actions on matters under judicial consideration.  On 10 October 2024, Prof Mahao replaced the outgoing board, chaired by Professor Molibeli Taele, with a new one led by Seaja Ntšekhe. The new members include Nati Maphate, Thabo Khasipe, Lebohang Ramaisa, Lerato Mphaka, Batalatsang Kanetsi, Moholisa Fako, and Rethabile Sakoane.  The outgoing board members—Prof Taele, Mathapelo Ramakatane, Mosiea Mapota, Mokhoenene Lehohla, Mokhethi Seithleko, Pesha Shale, and Seretse Mohlouoa—argued that their dismissal was improper since they had already filed a case challenging the legality of Prof Mahao’s 27 August...

8.5K Mohloai Mpesi  MINISTRY of Public Works and Transport Principal Secretary (PS), Tšepang Koele, faced intense questioning from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week over the controversial awarding of the Moshoeshoe I International Airport refurbishment tender.  The PAC alleged that the tender was granted to her boss’s company, Khatleli Tomane Architects, creating a serious conflict of interest.  The PAC claimed that the Public Works and Transport Minister, Matjato Moteane, was a shareholder in Khatleli Tomane Architects despite his protestations to the country. As such, the awarding of a tender under his ministry to a company he has ties with was deemed inappropriate.  PAC members were so incensed that they threatened to have Ms Koele jailed for lying to the committee about the tender.  The Lesotho Times had broken the story about Khatleli Tomane Architects having ties to Mr Moteane earlier this month. This then prompted the PAC to launch an inquiry.  Ms Koele insisted that...

8.5K   …and ensure freedom of Information  Mathatisi Sebusi  THE United States (US) government has called on the Lesotho government to intensify its efforts in combating corruption, bolstering press freedom, and upholding the rule of law.  The Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Maseru, Thomas Hines, stressed the damaging effects of corruption on the economy and society while presentating Lesotho’s 2025 Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) scorecard to the government this week.  In this scorecard, Lesotho’s score on corruption control dropped from 85 percent to 79 percent, raising concerns about the nation’s performance in this critical area.  The MCC scorecard evaluates countries’ performances in key policy areas to determine their eligibility for continued participation in MCC Compacts, which provide funding to qualifying countries to stimulate economic development.  Mr Hines underscored the importance of addressing corruption and strengthening press freedom and rule of law to achieve the Compacts’ goals of improving healthcare access, fostering employment and business development, and boosting investment in high-value...

7.1K Mathatisi Sebusi THE Ha Nosi community in Qacha’s Nek is bracing for severe food insecurity as extreme heat continues to ravage the district and the rest of the country, leading to devastating harvest losses. Ha Nosi residents, who depend on farming for both consumption and income, are grappling with the reality of losing yet another season’s harvest. These concerns were raised during the Improving Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable and Food Insecure Populations in Lesotho (IACOV) outreach program. This four-year, M150 million initiative, funded by the Adaptation Fund, is being executed by the government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Forestry, Range, and Soil Conservation, and the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS), with implementation support from the World Food Programme (WFP). The country has experienced intense heat for months, with temperatures recently spiking to alarming levels. The LMS issued a warning of a heatwave expected to persist from this past Sunday...

3.8K Press release for KFC Lesotho   Summer, what a wonderful time of year… When influencing gets too much When the news cycle gets too much When the endless queues get too much When the shopping chaos gets too much When the unavailable transport gets too much When the holiday work shifts get too much When the lawn mowing gets too much When the loud music gets too much When the traffic gets too much When the relentless schedule gets too much When the heatwaves get too much When the weather warnings get too much When the suntan lines get too much When the ever-growing laundry pile gets too much When the festivities get too much When the 2025 university applications get too much When the guests overstaying their welcome gets too much When the social media mayhem gets too much When the out of sync traffic lights get too...

5.7K Staff Reporter THE Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL), which represents numerous textile workers nationwide, has distanced itself from reports alleging verbal abuse of its members by the management of Presitex Enterprises. IDUL is pursuing disciplinary action against its Deputy Secretary General, Clark Letsie, who is accused of jeopardising over 2000 jobs at Presitex. According to IDUL President ’Manthabiseng Khemane and Secretary General May Rathakane, Mr Letsie acted without authorisation in handling the verbal abuse allegations. They suspect he may have been pursuing other external people’s agendas. “Firstly, we firmly oppose unfair labour practices and are committed to protecting our members,” Mr Rathakane told the Lesotho Times. “When issues arise, we engage employers to seek amicable solutions, resorting to legal action only as a last resort.” Mr Rathakane condemned Mr Letsie’s approach, stating that they never authorised him to speak about that issue. They were not even aware of...

568 Mohloai Mpesi  WHILE the rest of the kingdom rejoiced during this festive season, it was not the case in  Mafeteng district  which  faced a critical shortage of water throughout the festive period.  A local law firm is now threatening legal action against the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) for “denying” local Mafeteng communities access to this vital resource.  A rights group has also jumped onto the bandwagon in solidarity.  Advocate Fusi Sehapi, a renowned human rights lawyer representing Goldman Mustard Inc., and Section II Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution, have called on both the Minister of Health, Selibe Mochoboroane, and his Natural Resources counterpart, Mohlomi Moleko, to swiftly address the severe water crisis affecting the district.  In his letter to Mr Mochoboroane, dated 24 December 2024, Advocate Sehapi said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that all communities were adequately provided with water.  Failure to comply,...

664 THONTṦO Moepi, a police officer stationed at the Makhaleng Police Station in Mohale’s Hoek, believes she is being victimised over her efforts to account for guns that have gone missing at the station.  She is now seeking a High Court interdict to stop her impending transfer to Maseru.  Inspector Moepi wants the High Court to compel Commissioner of Police, Adv Borotho Matsoso, to place the transfer on hold until the issue of the missing guns at her station is resolved.  The case was denied urgency this week by Justice Ts’eliso Mokoko but Insp Moepi, who is being represented by Adv Christopher Lephuthing, is determined to fight on.     Insp Moepi has been transferred to Maseru with effect from the 25th of this month, to become a legal officer at the police headquarters, while also retaining her position as the head of the stock theft division in Makhaleng.   However, the officer is...

313 The admission and enrollment of foreign legal practitioners in South Africa recently came under the judicial spotlight when an advocate who is a Lesotho national challenged certain provisions of the Legal Practice Act which are standing in her way from practising law in South Africa.  Lihaelo Molapo (applicant) turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in her bid against the Minister of Justice and the Legal Practice Council (LPC).  The applicant is a foreign legal practitioner and, in terms of existing law, does not qualify to be admitted as a legal practitioner to practice law in South Africa. She contended that the law, as it stands, is unconstitutional and that the previous dispensation regarding the admission of advocates should be “revived”.  In the alternative, she contended that the Minister of Justice should regulate the admission of foreign practitioners in such a fashion that she (and others in her position)...