…for electricity, skills and nutrition projects Rethabile Pitso THE government and the World Bank have signed financing agreements worth approximately M900 million aimed at expanding electricity access, strengthening skills development and improving nutrition outcomes across the country. The agreements were signed on Friday by Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, and World Bank Country Representative in Lesotho, Dinara Djoldosheva. The largest portion of the package, valued at US$50 million (approximately M820.4 million), will fund the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Lesotho (ASCENT) Project, which seeks to extend reliable and affordable electricity to nearly 147,000 residents and businesses. The project will prioritise peri-urban, rural and highland communities that continue to face challenges in accessing electricity. Additional financing includes a US$1 million (about M16.4 million) grant for preparation of the Lesotho Skills Acceleration Project and a further US$300,000 (approximately M4.9 million) grant for the Lesotho Multisectoral...

Mohloai Mpesi  THE Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Youth Development Programme, popularly known as the Bootcamp, is operating without a legal framework and should be regularised through legislation.  This emerged after the Ministry of Defence was directed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Prime Minister’s Ministries to draft the necessary legal instruments to formalise the programme.  Committee chairperson, Moshe Makotoko, told this publication yesterday that the ministry had been sent back to prepare legal documents that would legalise the initiative.  The LDF Bootcamp was initially introduced as a rehabilitation programme targeting youths from Maseru’s outskirts, including Naleli, Koalabata, Khubetsoana and Mabote, who had become involved in criminal activities.  The youths, commonly referred to as manomoro (gangsters), were linked to offences such as theft, housebreaking, stabbings and other violent crimes that threatened their communities.  Over time, the programme expanded beyond rehabilitation and evolved into a broader initiative aimed at promoting discipline, patriotism, leadership and positive behavioural change among young people.  The Bootcamp now attracts hundreds of participants from Lesotho and neighbouring South Africa. The most recent, 13th edition, held between 14 December 2025 and 2 January 2026,...

  …as four Chinese nationals, Mosotho appear in court over drug factory  Hopolang Mokhopi  THE massive Khubetsoana drug bust has finally made its way to court, with four Chinese nationals and a Mosotho appearing before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court on charges linked to the alleged operation of an illicit drug manufacturing laboratory in Lifariking, Khubetsoana.  The accused appeared before Magistrate Mary Khechane this week, with Advocate Keketso Motiki prosecuting.  The accused are Chen Wu, Chen Minglevu and Yeng Xiong Kang. They are charged alongside their company, Stan Dar (Pty) Ltd, and Kemang Masupha, a senior Industry Development Officer in the Ministry of Trade, Business Development and Industry.  The accused were granted bail of M5 000 each with surety of M50 000 each.  They face charges of manufacturing drugs, unlawful importation of medicines without licences, and discharging hazardous substances and chemicals into the environment.  According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly operated the illegal drug manufacturing enterprise between August 2025 and March 2026.  “Upon or about the...

  INSURANCE giant Alliance Insurance has called for greater uptake of Goods-in-Transit (GIT) and Marine Cargo Insurance, saying proactive risk management is essential for safeguarding valuable cargo and ensuring peace of mind whenever goods are on the move.  Alliance’s GIT and Marine Cargo Insurance products protect goods while they are being transported. GIT insurance covers goods transported by road or rail, while Marine Cargo Insurance protects goods moved by sea, air, or across borders, from the point of departure to the final destination.  In an interview with the Lesotho Times, Alliance Insurance Manager for Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Limakatso Mokobocho, said businesses and individuals move goods daily, both locally and internationally, and face risks that could result in substantial financial losses if their cargo is uninsured.  “Whether goods are being transported within Lesotho or across international borders, they face a variety of risks that can result in significant financial losses,” Mokobocho said.  “Without this...

…over Tšosane dumpsite contract  …as Council attempts to walk back on deal  Seithati Motsoeneng  THE Maseru City Council (MCC) is facing a possible M27 million legal battle after attempting to revisit a contract it had already awarded and signed for the rehabilitation and stabilisation of the Tšosane dumpsite and development of the alternative Tšoeneng sanitary landfill project.  At the centre of the dispute is consulting firm SSL Joint Venture (SSL JV), which says MCC’s latest move to question the legality of the agreement amounts to an unlawful attempt to walk away from a binding contract.  The conflict was triggered by a letter dated 9 June 2026, signed by Acting Town Clerk, Moea Makhakhe, in which MCC informed SSL JV that concerns had emerged over whether the agreement exceeded the Council’s financial jurisdiction.  The letter was written in reference to the contract for the design and supervision of the Tšosane dumpsite stabilisation and rehabilitation, and Tšoeneng sanitary landfill design and long-term environmental design project.  “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the contract above that we signed with you is way above the Maseru City Council monetary ceiling/jurisdiction on works...

…. despite cancellation of its tender award  …. trade ministry fails to explain this tender mystery  Moorosi Tsiane  Fresh controversy has erupted over the construction of the multi-million maloti headquarters of the Lesotho Standards Institute (LSI).  This after allegations that Chinese contractor, QingJian and Founda Construction Joint Venture, has begun implementing the M259.9 million project despite the cancellation of its tender award following objections from rival bidders.  How a company can proceed with implementing a cancelled tender, is inexplicable and only goes to exemplify the depth of the rot in the administration of public procurement processes in Lesotho.  The LSI is expected to become Lesotho’s key product testing and certification facility. The tender for the construction of its HQ should have been refloated after the cancellation of the award to QingJian. But it now seems a re-award was done through the backdoor and QingJian is now on site mysteriously proceeding with the project.  The Lesotho Times visited the construction site at Ha Tikoe and observed that works had already begun.  Supporting the construction works are GWC Consulting Engineers as project manager, Trend Group as architect,...

…As “incompetent” Unik is selected to implement big project  …despite criticism of poor performance and failures in other LHDA projects  …Unik nonetheless denies wrongdoing  …. Insists it has fulfilled all its contractual obligations  A STORM is brewing after controversial construction company, Unik Construction Engineering, emerged as the preferred bidder for a huge tender to build replacement housing for communities displaced by the construction of the multi-billion-dollar Polihali Dam in Mokhotlong, the Lesotho Times can reveal.  The decision by project consultants, Lima-Thaha Joint Venture, to recommend Unik Construction for the M500 million worth Construction of Resettlement Villages and Replacement Housing for the Polihali Inundation Area (6015C) tender, has stunned all and sundry considering the company’s poor performance and failure to timeously complete two other relatively small projects commissioned by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA).  These were Construction of the Katse Village Upgrade (4018E) Lodge and The Construction of the Polihali Commercial Centre (4018B)  Unik’s alleged bungling of these projects resulted in it being levied with contractual penalties by the LHDA.  In one project, the Katse Village upgrade, another local contractor was hired to complete the work requested by the LHDA.  Considering that...

Moorosi Tsiane  A renowned prosecutor handling some of Lesotho’s most politically sensitive and high-profile criminal cases says he fears for his life after being followed home by a suspicious vehicle last month.  Advocate (Adv) Motene Rafoneke, who is leading prosecutions in several cases involving former military figures, politicians and serving soldiers, said he reported the incident to police after a vehicle tailed him from Moshoeshoe II to Ha Mabote late at night in May.  The incident occurred while Adv Rafoneke was actively prosecuting a number of cases linked to members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), including murder, treason and bombing cases that have attracted national attention.  Speaking about the incident, Adv Rafoneke said he first noticed a Honda Fit 4+1 following him while driving home at around 9pm in mid-May.  “It was around mid-May, although I do not recall the exact date. As I was driving home, I noticed a Honda Fit 4+1 following me. When I slowed down, it slowed down too. When...

…convenes stakeholders on National Transport Statistics and Digital Mobility Project Moroke Sekoboto THE Roads Directorate has launched a strategic intervention aimed at modernising Lesotho’s transport network and addressing growing pressure on urban mobility and access to services. As part of this effort, the directorate this week convened key stakeholders to discuss the introduction of the National Transport Statistics Digital Database and the Maseru Urban Mobility Project, initiatives intended to establish a coordinated roadmap to tackle worsening traffic congestion, safety concerns and urban sprawl in the capital. The workshop also sought to replace fragmented transport data systems with a unified repository to support evidence-based investment decisions and advance a key objective of the National Transport Master Plan. Discussions focused on refining the consultant’s scope of work, aligning payment structures and assessing existing data systems across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Speaking during the workshop, Roads Directorate Manager for Road Network Planning,...

…says he never intended to kill “my relative” Moorosi Tsiane A soldier who fatally shot former army commander Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Maaparankoe Mahao in June 2015 has expressed a desire to meet the slain commander’s family, saying the tragedy continues to weigh heavily on him more than a decade later. Testifying in his own defence before Justice Charles Hungwe in the High Court this week, Captain (Capt) Haleo Makara said he hoped to one day sit down with the Mahao family to discuss the painful events of 25 June 2015. He insisted he never intended to kill the former army chief and said there had never been any personal hostility between them. During re-examination by his lawyer, Attorney Qhalehang Letsika, Makara said his family shares the same clan ties as the Mahaos, making the incident even more painful for him. Asked what message he wished to convey to the Mahao family,...