…as once-thriving business struggles to survive Rethabile Pitso SMALL-scale paraffin traders are bemoaning what they describe as unfair treatment by major fuel distributors, accusing them of sidelining Basotho traders in favour of a small group of mainly Chinese-owned businesses allegedly monopolising the industry. Their woes are worsened by the fact that they do not have the capacity or are not licensed by Petroleum Fund to fetch paraffin from South Africa. One of the affected traders, Phakamile Xingwana – the founder of Stallion Fuel Deliveries, said the paraffin business, once viewed as lucrative, had become increasingly difficult to sustain due to supply challenges and rising operational costs. Mr Xingwana alleged that major suppliers, including Tholo Energy and Engen, were limiting access to paraffin for Basotho-owned resellers while continuing to supply preferred clients. According to him, the situation has left many local operators struggling to survive. “Paraffin is regulated under the Petroleum...

…from Phala Phala to rising xenophobia, South Africa’s domestic crises are becoming regional challenges with profound implications for Lesotho’s political and economic stability… Thuso Donald Mosabala Political Analyst The Republic of South Africa is once again entering a period of political uncertainty; a development the Kingdom of Lesotho cannot afford to ignore. In recent months, renewed attention surrounding the “Phala Phala” scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa, combined with growing anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa, has signalled deeper tensions within the country’s politics and society. The Constitutional Court in South Africa recently reopened the path for impeachment proceedings linked to the “Phala Phala” controversy, a scandal centred on foreign currency hidden at Ramaphosa’s game farm.  At the same time, anti-immigration movements such as “Operation Dudula” and “March and March,” have intensified protests against undocumented migrants, leading to renewed xenophobic attacks. For Lesotho, these developments are not merely South African...

  Bokang Mofoka FOR years, residents of Ha Abia have endured a daily struggle with roads riddled with potholes so severe that motorists are forced to zigzag every few metres to avoid damaging their vehicles. But hope has arrived in the form of one of the village’s own sons. Medical doctor, Dr Mamphiri Ramafikeng, has donated eight truckloads of quarry material to help rehabilitate roads in the Maseru village after being shocked by the deteriorating conditions he found upon returning home earlier this year. Dr Ramafikeng, who spent several years outside Lesotho pursuing his medical studies, said the state of the roads deeply troubled him when he finally came back home. In some places, a vehicle could not even travel 100 metres without swerving around potholes. The poor road network has also made life difficult for commuters, with many 4+1 taxi operators reportedly refusing to use the Ha Abia route...