Pascalinah Kabi

PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro has again reshuffled his cabinet. The premier yesterday moved Agriculture and Food Security Minister Likopo Mahase to a new portfolio as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr Mahase’s previous post has been given to Mr Nkaku Kabi who was Water Affairs minister. Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Kemiso Mosenene, takes over as Water Affairs minister.

Dr Majoro’s press attaché, Buta Moseme, said in a statement the latest appointments were with effect from yesterday. The premier has reshuffled his cabinet and principal secretaries on several occasions since taking over from  former incumbent Thomas Thabane in May 2020.

His last reshuffle was on 4 June 2020. It  saw the likes of former Public Service Minister Samuel Rapapa being moved to the Communications, Science and Technology portfolio. He swapped portfolios with Mr Keketso Sello whose tenure had been blighted by sexual abuse allegations levelled against him by the now suspended Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) CEO, Mamarame Matela.

In the latest reshuffle, Mr Mahase’s reassignment is widely viewed as a demotion in the wake of last week’s sensational allegations that 4000 bags of fertiliser had disappeared from the agriculture ministry’s warehouse at Ha-Foso, Berea. The fertiliser is part of the government subsidised inputs to farmers for the recently commenced 2021/22 summer cropping season.

It is believed that the fertiliser was released by ministry officials to politicians and other well-connected individuals for resale on the black market at inflated prices.  This is to the detriment of ordinary farmers who rely on government subsidised fertiliser and other inputs to plant crops every farming season.

The fertiliser is procured by the government and sold at a subsidised price of M144 to approved retailers. These retailers are in turn expected to resell a bag for M181 to ordinary farmers. The fertiliser is supposed to be sold on a first-come-first-served basis to the approved dealers.

However, government sources and ordinary farmers have alleged that some cabinet ministers, legislators and politically connected individuals jumped the queue and purchased the fertiliser through the back door. They allege that these powerful people are short-changing ordinary farmers by hoarding the fertiliser and reselling it at exorbitant prices of as much as M600 per bag.

In addition, some of the fertiliser is allegedly being smuggled across the border to farms in the neighbouring Free State province and other parts of South Africa where it is resold for huge profits.

Mr Mahase addressed a hastily arranged weekend press conference where he denied that fertiliser was missing from the Ha-Foso depot.

Despite his denials, Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli confirmed that they were investigating the allegations. He said he could not comment on the claims that senior politicians were involved in the looting of fertiliser for resale at inflated prices locally and in South Africa. He said they would only issue a full comment once they had completed their investigations.

Limpho Sello

BEGINNING next month, Lesotho will introduce Covid-19 passports under which sporting events, social activities and some services will only be accessed by people who have been fully vaccinated.

This was said by Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro in a televised address on the Covid-19 situation in the country over the weekend. He also announced further relaxations to the lockdown including the resumption of contact sporting activities like football. In the more relaxed blue colour code of restrictions, premier league stadia will be allowed to host spectators at 50 percent of their capacity while A Division soccer matches will be allowed a maximum of 2500 fully vaccinated spectators.

Social gatherings are now permitted with much bigger crowds of up to 500 people while restaurants and night clubs are now permitted to host sit-in customers at 50 percent capacity provided they have been fully vaccinated.

Covid-19 passports are digital or paper documents that show that a person has been vaccinated against the virus. They could also help the holders to get into other countries and places where proof that one has been vaccinated is required. For instance, the United Kingdom has now removed virtually all African countries from its red list which stipulated a 14-day quarantine period for visitors into its territory at huge cost of more than M40 000. But valid vaccination certificates would now be required for anyone wanting to enter the UK.

Dr Majoro said the passports would help protect the nation against the deadly pandemic which had by yesterday infected a cumulative total of 21 481 people and caused 653 deaths.

“Last month, the government said it was contemplating the introduction of vaccination cards before people can access some services,” Dr Majoro said.

“The government has now identified some of these services that will require the vaccination cards.  These include attending sporting events, political gatherings, entertainment, creative and cultural industries, entering liquor stores, restaurants, night clubs, gymnasiums, parks and other public recreational areas. This means that from 1 November, one will need a vaccination card to access these services.”

Dr Majoro said service providers had a responsibility to ensure that they only served fully vaccinated people upon production of the Covid-19 passports.

However, Lesotho Liquor and Restaurant Owners Association president, Motseki Nkaeane, feels that the government has acted hastily without consulting them.

Mr Nkaeane said the government should have consulted them to draw up a plan for the gradual implementation of the Covid-19 passports.

“While we are not against the introduction of the Covid-19 passports, we feel that the passports should have come into effect by January 2022 earliest. 1 November is too soon because the mass vaccination programme is ongoing and has not reached all the people in all districts.

“Implementing the measures by 1 November will certainly lead to the loss of business by our members. When customers come in and we demand the vaccine cards, they will simply go to illegal traders who do not comply with the laws of the country.

“This is really bad for our businesses. After all, we are still trying to recover from the restrictions which have negatively impacted on us over several months. We are not against the implementation of the vaccine cards because we know that this is for the good of our country. But it would be better if these measures were introduced early next year,” Mr Nkaeane said.

. . . as three more soldiers file M10, 9 million damages claim against army boss

Mohalenyane Phakela

LESOTHO Defence Force (LDF) commander, Mojalefa Letsoela, has been slapped with three fresh lawsuits for a combined total of M10, 9 million damages. The claims are by three more soldiers who were allegedly subjected to unlawful arrest and torture in 2015.

The three are Thoriso Mareka, Seabata Chaka and Motlatsi Mokhobo. Their ranks are not given in the three separate applications they filed this week in the High Court. The trio are demanding a whooping M10 950 000 as damages for the unlawful arrests, detention and torture they allegedly suffered at the hands of their colleagues including the late Captain Tefo Hashatsi and Major Bulane Sechele.

Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Letsoela is already facing another staggering M57 million lawsuit from other serving and former soldiers for their alleged torture and unlawful arrests by fellow soldiers in 2014.

The soldiers allege that they were subjected to torture and degrading treatment by their army colleagues during and after the 30 August 2014 attempted coup against the first government of former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.

Lt-Gen Letsoela is only being sued in his capacity as army commander for the atrocities which were allegedly committed by soldiers then under the command of former LDF chief, Tlali Kamoli.

Lt-Gen Letsoela and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa are the first and second respondents respectively in the applications.

Mareka is demanding a total of M5 110 000, Chaka wants M2 930 000 and Mokhobo wants M2 910 000.

Mareka’s claim is broken down as follows: M2, 4 million for unlawful arrest and detention, M180 000 for medical expenses, 580 000 for contumelia, M750 000 for pain and suffering, M300 000 for malicious prosecution before the Court Martial and M900 000 for travelling expenses.

“The plaintiff was arrested by his juniors, the late Captain Hashatsi, Retired Colonel (Thato) Phaila and some agents or employees of the Lesotho Defence Force on or around 5 June 2015,” Mareka states in his application.

“They handed him over to the LDF personnel who in turn took him to Setibing Military Base for what they styled as ‘interviews’ and or ‘investigations’.

“The plaintiff was brutally assaulted and tortured by the officers of the LDF at Setibing and he could not see them as he has a sight problem. He was interrogated about his relationship with the late (LDF) commander, Lt-Gen (Maaparankoe) Mahao, and the freezing of a loan facility for the soldiers by the management of the LDF.”

Mareka states that his wife subsequently filed a High Court application to compel the LDF to produce him dead or alive. The application was duly granted by the now retired Justice Teboho Moiloa, who ordered that he be placed under open arrest, on 1 July 2015. He further alleges that the then LDF command delayed to release him as they initially questioned the authenticity of Justice Moiloa’s order.

“In view of the attitude they displayed towards the court order, this suggests the military then had a blank cheque to do whatever it wished with detained soldiers. The plaintiff maintains that his original arrest was illegal. He had been abducted and captured for the reasons which motivated his wife to launch the habeas corpus proceedings (to compel the army to produce him dead or alive).

“The plaintiff maintains that he had been taken into military custody unlawfully and he had been charged for mutiny maliciously. The plaintiff maintains that the torture he endured at Setibing and the defamation he suffered due to the charge of mutiny where the LDF had failed to furnish him with the remand warrant and signed written reports in reports in respect of allegations which led to his imprisonment were antithetical to the rule of law and due process.

“As a result of the unacceptable treatment by his juniors and the torture, the plaintiff has suffered damages in the sums categorised (totalling M5 110 000) for which he holds the defendants liable to pay,” Mareka states.

Chaka’s M2 930 000 claim is broken down as follows: M2 million for unlawful arrest and detention, M200 000 for hospitalisation, M180 000 for contumelia, M250 000 for pain and suffering, payment of M300 000.

He also alleges he was arrested on 1 June 2015 and taken to Setibing Military Base where he was tortured by his fellow colleagues.

“This group (of soldiers) tortured the plaintiff by assaulting him and in the scope of their assignment to torture him brutally. They told him that ‘he must know that Setibing was a hell’. They forced him to confess to the crime of mutiny which the plaintiff did not know about and when he failed to do so they continued to attack him in turns with hard objects. This has resulted in his permanent disability as he thereafter had to undergo a hip replacement operation.

“The unshakable duty of these LDF officers to inflict pain continued even after they had been ordered to produce the body of the plaintiff in the habeas corpus proceedings. They were so indifferent to the required need of the plaintiff to undergo the hip operation until they were compelled by the order of this court to allow him to be operated. Notwithstanding that, the living and health conditions of prison were not conducive to his ailment.

“The actions and decisions of the subordinates of the first defendant (army commander) were unlawful and wrong. The defendants remain jointly and severally liable. The plaintiff avers that the decisions to place him under close arrest and prosecute him before the Court Martial had no merit. The jurisdictional facts for the imposition of a closed arrest were absent; hence he contends that he must be compensated,” Chaka states in his court papers.

Mokhobo’s M2 910 000 claim is broken down as follows: M2 million for unlawful arrest and detention, M180 000 for hospital expenses, M180 000 for contumelia, M250 000 for pain and suffering and M300 000 for general damages. He claims he was arrested at Ha Ratjomose Barracks on 17 May 2015 and also taken to Setibing Military Base.

“The arresting team handed over the plaintiff to another callous LDF group that consisted of Captain Makoae, Major Sechele and Lieutenant Colonel Mochesane and Sergeant Ramoepane on 18 May 2015. This group had been assigned to torture the plaintiff at Setibing Military Base and kicked his testicles, suffocated him with a tube and caused him to roll in the water.

“The above-mentioned LDF officers and their colleagues assaulted and insulted the plaintiff and during the course of this ordeal, told him that he was going to die and they were going to sleep with his wife. These atrocities were carried out to elicit confessions and incriminating evidence meant to connect the plaintiff with an imaginary mutiny plot.

“The plaintiff would be tortured by being beaten up, drowned in the cold water and be made to dry himself by sitting on a hot corrugated iron sheet. This took two days of serious torture and the plaintiff’s wife launched the habeas corpus proceedings which served before the now retired Justice Semapo Peete. It was in response to the orders of this court that the plaintiff was brought before court in a very bad shape. This court ordered that he be taken to doctors and be attended to urgently as private parts of his anatomy had clearly been rendered dysfunctional owing to the tortures he suffered. He routinely attends to medical treatment.

“The plaintiff avers that the investigations into the alleged mutiny plot could have been conducted without torture and death threats. He was placed in closed arrest and solitary confinement only to be acquitted after some years of suffering in 2017. He avers that the LDF command exercised undue influence on the prosecuting authority to conjure up spurious charges against him before the Court Martial in a covert campaign such that he could be considered a fascist and mutineer. The verdict of acquittals talks to the malicious prosecution and unlawful arrest and detention,” Mokhobo states.

The trio’s damages claim follow those of six other soldiers who are demanding a combined M57 million from Lt-Gen Letsoela for the same alleged unlawful arrests and torture during the Kamoli era.

Of the six, Lieutenant Colonel Mojalefa Mosakeng, Sergeant Selebalo Sejake Sergeant Lintle Rantuba and Corporal Sello Lefoka are demanding M11 million each.

Corporal Litšitso Mahase is demanding M7 million while Corporal Lehlohonolo Bolofo wants M6 350 000.

Save for Corporal Lefoka, the six soldiers are among 16 plaintiffs who originally filed the M32 million lawsuit against Lt-Gen Letsoela this June on the same grounds of torture and unlawful arrest.

However, 12 of the 16 plaintiffs, who are still serving soldiers, were subsequently suspended from the army to pave way for a Board of Inquiry to probe them for mutiny in connection with the lawsuit.

Lt-Gen Letsoela set up by the Board of Inquiry to probe what he saw as mutinous behaviour after the soldiers teamed up with their retired colleagues to sue him for the damages over their 2014 ordeal. Lt-Gen Letsoela characterises the soldiers’ decision to sue him as amounting to a mutiny.

All these civil claims are still pending before the High Court.

• says he and Majoro are leading antagonistic party factions,
• as SG Hlaele blasts Majoro and other party figures for snubbing gig at Thabane’s home,
• says their behaviour is “unacceptable” and amounts to ill-discipline

Pascalinah Kabi

ALL Basotho Convention (ABC) leader and former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has for the first time publicly admitted that he and Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro are leading two party factions which are locked in a messy leadership war.

However, Mr Thabane insists that he remains the “legitimate leader elected by the majority of ABC members and not just a small clique”. He says he does not have any plans of relinquishing the post anytime soon.

Dr Majoro is also the ABC’s deputy leader, having been coopted into the national executive committee (NEC) to replace the former incumbent, Nqosa Mahao, who jumped ship in April this year after falling out with the prime minister and other ABC bigwigs.

So serious is the bad blood and infighting within the ABC that Dr Majoro, chairperson Samuel Rapapa and three other senior NEC members are said to have snubbed an invitation to celebrate the party’s 15^th anniversary celebrations with Mr Thabane at his home over the weekend. Dr Majoro has however, denied snubbing the event. The premier said he was on official government business in Mokhotlong on the day. In any event, the ceremony was not communicated through the official party channels, the premier said.

The other three who did not turn up for the event which was held at Mr Thabane’s Makhoakhoeng home in Ha Abia, Maseru, are deputy secretary general Nkaku Kabi, spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa and his deputy ‘Matebatso Doti.

ABC secretary general Lebohang Hlaele described the quintet’s no-show as “unacceptable”.

Of the five, Dr Majoro and Mr Rapapa are known to harbour ambitions of replacing Mr Thabane and leading the party in next year’s eagerly anticipated elections. It is not clear whether Messrs Kabi, Masoetsa and Ms Doti have any ambitions of their own. Nor is it clear if they are supporting any of the leadership hopefuls, though Mr Kabi is said to have drifted from Mr Thabane into Dr Majoro’s camp.

Mr Thabane was premier from June 2017 until he was forced out by his own party in May 2020. At the time, NEC members who included the now opposition Basotho Action Party (BAP) leader, Prof Mahao, and Mr Hlaele said he was no longer fit to be prime minister due to his failure to rein in his wife, ‘Maesaiah, who was accused of meddling in government and party business.

The NEC also said he had to clear his name after being accused alongside Maesaiah of the June 2017 murder of his ex-wife, Lipolelo. There is still no indication as to when the Thabanes’ murder trial will eventually begin in the High Court, if at all.

Until the weekend, Mr Thabane had refrained from publicly commenting about his relationship with the man who succeeded him as premier in May 2020.

But Dr Majoro and others’ absence from the party’s 15^th anniversary celebrations finally jolted him into speaking out. He admitted that he and his ABC deputy are leading factions in the troubled party.

He however, reminded all and sundry that he remained the legitimate leader of the party.

“We were 17 when we crossed the floor in parliament (to form the ABC in 2006),” Mr Thabane said.

“I thank all Makobotata (ABC members) for the role each of you has played in the ABC since its formation, particularly the committees that lead the party at a national level. I thank you my fellow men and women.

“However, I am not happy at all because you have formed factions. There are now people belonging to the Majoro and Thabane camps. Fellow men and women, let us stand firm on our project. Tell me men and women of the ABC, what should I do? Should I step down to free you?”.

He then requested Mr Hlaele to urgently organise meetings between him and the party’s constituency committees, saying that he had since realised that some people had “forgotten” that he was still the legitimate ABC leader.

“I realise that you have forgotten that I am the legitimate leader of this party. I was not appointed by a clique of people but I was voted in by the majority of the Kobotata members,” Mr Thabane said.

His remarks were seemingly a jibe at Dr Majoro who only became prime minister after being endorsed by the ABC parliamentary caucus. He then got the backing of the Democratic Congress and other opposition parties to become premier after Mr Thabane’s ousting. Dr Majoro had also originally lost the deputy leadership contest to Professor Mahao in 2019. He was only coopted into the post by fellow NEC members after Prof Mahao’s acrimonious April 2021 departure from the party to form his own BAP.

At the time, Prof Mahao claimed that he had jumped ship after discovering a plot by Messrs Thabane, Hlaele and Dr Majoro to oust him from the party.

It had then looked like the ABC’s factional battles were over as Mr Thabane and Dr Majoro appeared to have smoked the peace pipe, resulting in the former endorsing the premier’s cooption into the NEC to replace  Prof Mahao.

But the past few months have shown that Prof Mahao’s departure only got rid of just one of the leadership hopefuls and the infighting is likely to continue until the 82-year-old Mr Thabane is replaced as party leader.

The octogenarian founding ABC leader nonetheless seem determined to cling on. Some top sources close to Mr Thabane have hinted that he is even contemplating a comeback and might seed a return to the premiership.

“Fellow ABC members, remember where you come from and how you got to where you are today,” Mr Thabane said in probable reference to Dr Majoro.

“There is no way that anyone should be raising questions regarding who the leader of the party is. The leader remains the leader. There is no government which does not draw its mandate and power from its supporters,” he added.

All along, some NEC members, particularly Mr Masoetsa had publicly spoken out against Dr Majoro’s alleged propensity to ignore the NEC whenever it came to decision-making in government.

Mr Masoetsa had said although the premier had the prerogative to make executive appointments, he was still obliged to consult the NEC as he was a party deployee to government.

He recently said that the fed-up NEC was in the process of issuing circulars to the constituency committees to advise on the appropriate measures to take against Dr Majoro for repeatedly snubbing the NEC even though he had been coopted to the deputy leader’s post to facilitate ease of communication between the party and the government.

Mr Thabane’s weekend remarks seemingly confirm that despite his previous silence on the issue, he too is against Dr Majoro’s way of operating.

Mr Hlaele spoke to the Anglican Church of Lesotho (ACL) radio station on the sidelines of the weekend celebration and condemned what he said was the “unacceptable” behaviour by Dr Majoro and other NEC members who snubbed the celebratory event.

He said he had informed all NEC members of the celebration in the committee’s WhatsApp group but only the party’s minutes secretary, Likhapha Masopha, had bothered to communicate that she would not be able to attend.

“Those who are not here today (Saturday) all knew about the event because we have an NEC group. I informed all of them in that group that the leader, Ntate Motsoahae Thabane, had requested that they come and celebrate the ABC anniversary with him. Only one person, the minutes secretary, issued an apology. I expected to see everyone else here celebrating with the leader.

“Even the honourable deputy leader (Majoro) of the party is part of that group that did not attend but I don’t know his reasons for not showing up. He did not want us to know why he is not coming. It is only Mme Likhapha Masopha who issued an apology, all the others were expected to be here.

“I cannot speak on behalf of those who did not come but I can say that their behaviour is unacceptable. When the leader of the party has spoken and given an order, his word is final. Those who did not come are ill-disciplined and their behavior is unacceptable.

“We have also heard the leader (Thabane) saying there are cliques in the party and I can say that this is another clique that does not align itself with the call of the leader for their own reasons,”  said Mr Hlaele in reference to the group of senior party officials who did not pitch up.

He was later to change tack in an interview with the Lesotho Times this week, saying the unnamed ABC individuals who organised the celebrations had belatedly informed him of the event on Friday night.

“I only received the message from the organisers of the event on Friday night. I immediately informed fellow NEC members, requesting those who could to come and celebrate with the leader (Thabane). As the NEC, we were not involved in organising the event. We were just celebrating with him (Thabane) by showing up for the event organised by people from two constituencies in Maseru.

“I dispatched the message to attend the celebrations to NEC members between 8 and 9pm on Friday in our NEC WhatsApp group. I clearly indicated that those who were available may come to celebrate with the leader.

“The spokesperson (Masoetsa) also issued an apology (for not attending). But I cannot speak on behalf of him (Majoro). But I heard from his official speech (on Sunday) that he had been in a cabinet meeting on Saturday to address Covid-19 issues,” Mr Hlaele said.

In separate interviews with this publication, Mr Masoetsa said he did not attend the celebrations because he was in South Africa while Mr Rapapa said he had not been invited.

Dr Majoro’s press attaché, Buta Moseme, denied allegations that the premier had snubbed the party celebrations. He said the premier could not make it to the event because he was out on a well-known official assignment in Mokhotlong, a task that his “esteemed leader (Thabane) knew about- service delivery to Basotho”.

“Secondly, the NEC had not sat and decided upon that celebration. The very same allegation was addressed during the sitting of the NEC on Monday this week where all sides agreed that no proper communication regarding the celebration was done as an invitation was posted in a WhatsApp group, not via a circular, which is an official communication to all members of the party. Therefore, the failure to make it to the festivity shouldn’t be seen or described as a snub,” Mr Moseme said on behalf of the premier.

At the time of going to print, Mr Kabi and Ms Doti and had not responded to messages sent to them on the issue.

Authoritative ABC figures said Mr Thabane’s decision to cling to power might cost the ABC dearly in next year’s general elections.

“What we need is a complete renewal of the party but the old man does not seem to get it…He has developed this unfortunate sense of entitlement wherein he believes he must remain leader because the ABC is his project,” said a senior ABC figure who spoke on condition of anonymity citing the sensitivity of the matter.

“As long as he clings on, there is no chance of re-uniting the party because there is a clique that remains loyal to him and that is very disruptive.”

Bereng Mpaki

EIGHTEEN farmers will today complete a five-day capacitation training on Global G.A.P (good agricultural practices) standards under the training of livestock farm assurers.

Farm assurers are independent, on-site advisors and consultants who help producers navigate the steps necessary for implementing good agricultural practices and obtaining Global GAP certification.

Global GAP is a brand of smart farm assurance solutions developed in Germany with cooperation from producers, retailers, and other stakeholders from across the food industry.

The partnership includes the Standard Lesotho Bank (SLB), the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), FinMark Trust, and the Agriculture, Food Security and Marketing Ministry.

Speaking during the farm assurers’ training launch yesterday, director of marketing in the Agriculture ministry, Lekhooe Makhate, said the trained farm assurers would be expected to train other farmers on market standards compliance.

“These trainees are the nucleus which will train others towards ensuring their production facilities conform to international market standards and also that agriculture lives up to the expectation of being a key economic driver,” Mr Makhate said.

On her part, Mabula Tšoene from the UNDP, said they were happy to be part of the partnership as they were aware that agriculture was one of the resilient sectors that would be critical in the post Covid-19 economic recovery.

Overall, a Global GAP expert will train 50 farm assurers who have already been selected. Following completion of today’s training, the next training will target two groups of 20 candidates each. These will be trained to become consultants in the fruit and vegetable production subsectors.

Once certified, the major responsibility of farm assurers will be to train farmers in the designated value chains to help them implement the agreed farming practices and meet the set standards.

The programme is meant to promote the agriculture into becoming a viable venture that can develop the economy as one of the key sectors identified to drive economic development under the second National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).

Local farmers have in the past been constrained by lack of recognised production standards which kept them out of formal markets. But through the partnership of the Green Value Chains (GVC) and the Supplier Development Programme (LSDP) initiatives, this could soon be a thing of the past.

GVC seeks to contribute to the national recovery agenda, by promoting the green economy through value chains. The project is meant to build capacity and resilience of the local agricultural sector to produce and supply the local market through sustainable production, processing, and marketing processes.

Staff Reporter

THE Vodacom Lesotho Foundation this week delivered 1000 reusable menstrual towels to 10 schools in Mafeteng and Quthing in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

The towels worth M250 000 were donated under the foundation’s Dignity Campaign, which aims to provide girls with reusable sanitary towels with a five-year life span.

Vodacom Lesotho yesterday the towels were a sustainable resource.

“The towels are a sustainable resource, which allows girls to wash and reuse them, rather than having to buy disposable sanitary towels every month,” Vodacom Lesotho said in a statement yesterday.

“In addition, they are inexpensive and environmentally friendly, with a social benefit that stands to greatly mitigate the disadvantages many disempowered girls endure during their process of maturing.”

Vodacom Lesotho executive head of legal, regulatory and external affairs, Tšepo Ntaopane, said the move was meant to ensure that girls do not have to skip school during their menstrual cycles.

“Through this campaign, we aim to ensure that girls have access to safe and hygienic-sanitary products, as well as raise awareness around women’s health.

“We look to help girls reclaim the dignity that poverty denies them; enable them to make a lasting and positive impact on the communities they live in and society as a whole.

“We believe that when girls and women have health and education it means our communities and the world are stronger.”

He added that Vodacom Lesotho was committed to addressing social ills that Basotho were going through.

“This initiative is cross-cutting; it ensures the dignity and health of our adolescents is preserved; it also ensures that we keep them in schools.

“It is also in line with our mandate to invest and support initiatives that are aimed at helping alleviate some of Lesotho’s most pressing social challenges.

“We support this through our focused social investment activities aimed at using ICT to improve access to education, address community health challenges, combat gender-based violence, and advance economic empowerment. We achieve this through partnerships with reputable organisations, government, industry leaders, and other technology partners,” Mr Ntaopane said.

Among others, the pads were donated to Bereng, Matsepe, Hope, Mafeteng, St. John’s Hermitage, Eagles Peak Qacha’s Nek and Mohlapiso high schools in Mafeteng and Quthing districts.

The Day of the Girl Child is a brainchild of the World Conference on Women. During the conference’s 1995 edition in Beijing, it was decided that 11 October annually be dedicated to the growth of girls around the world.

The day focuses on the rights, safety and education of girls. The core objective is to make girls an active part of the progress of the world.

This year, the day was celebrated under the theme: “Digital generation, our generation,” in acknowledgement of the growing digital world and how a digital gap can also widen the gender gap. The theme was focussed on bridging the digital divide.

Moorosi Tsiane

AFRICAN Union Sports Council (AUSC) regional organising committee chairperson, Stanley Mutoya, is confident that Lesotho will successfully host the upcoming Region 5 Games.

The Region 5 Games are penned in for 3 to 12 December 2021 in Maseru.

Mutoya said this in when addressing the media in Maseru on the side lines of a three-day workshop with the games’ clusters this week.

He said they have inspected all the facilities to be used for the games and they were satisfied with the progress.

“This is a critical phase of the preparations because it is our last meeting before the games,” Mutoya said.

“We are confident that Lesotho is ready to host the games after this week’s infrastructure inspection.

“We are happy with the facilities and are aware that there are some touch ups that must be be done but nothing major. We are operating in the difficult times of Covid-19, so we cannot expect the country to channel all its funds to the construction of stadiums while the government must fulfil other obligations.”

Lesotho is expecting 2000 athletes and officials from 13 countries in 11 sporting codes namely athletics, boxing, basketball, gymnastics, netball, football, judo, tennis, swimming, taekwondo and volleyball.

“This year we will have 13 countries participating because Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar have been invited for the games and will participate in football. We have 1997 athletes accredited but the number might be trimmed when we finalise the lists.

“Lehakoe is also ready for basketball games, Maseru Club will be hosting netball while tennis will be played at the national tennis courts. The Rapokolana facility will be used for swimming and it also needs a few touches. Taekwondo and judo will be hosted at the Lesotho High School hall which is also ready. Our games villages will be at the National University of Lesotho and the Lesotho College of Education.”

He said the games will be held under strict Covid-19 protocols and all participants are expected to be vaccinated.

The draw for the team sports be conducted tomorrow.

The post “Lesotho is ready for Region 5 Games” appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

THE Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) run Business Plan Competition (BPC) is set to make a return following its successful pilot in 2019.

The competition is meant to incentivise young and innovative people who have credible business ideas with access the financial support they need to build sustainable enterprises that can create employment.

The BPC is part of the broad African Development Bank (AfDB) supported Economic Diversification Support Project (EDSP) being championed by the government. The BPC is being implemented by BEDCO.

Commenting on the scheduled return of the competition, EDSP project manager, Chaba Mokuku, said the plan was to empower youths to participate meaningfully in job creation, which is a serious challenge for Lesotho.

While the date for the submission of applications is yet to be announced, the competition will return with an improved monetary prize of M10 million up from the initial M1 million.

In the pilot phase, 10 winners each walked away with M100 000 but the new competition will now see 50 winners each pocketing M100 000 for the next two years.

The BPC also includes equipping participants with business skills training and incubation services.

“The idea is to scale up the competition so that we can have more youths and women starting their own companies and creating jobs,” Mr Mokuku said.

“This is part of our effort to diversify the economy by empowering the youth and women to engage in business and participate in existing value chains in the economy.”

He said the pilot phase of the BPC revealed that business skills were just as important as access to finance for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) development.

“The pilot project of the competition showed clearly that apart from the need for financing, young business people also require capacitation with the skills to start, sustain and grow their businesses. Our call now is for large enterprises to support young businesses by engaging them in their value chains as well as buying their products and using their services.”

Under EDSP is a project targeting development of SMEs called Promoting Enterprise Development (PED). PED supports development of SMEs through distinct work streams namely, assessing the current business development service providers’ market and developing an appropriate market growth strategy for them.

The project also nurtures start-up businesses and entrepreneurs through development of a strategy and implementation plan for business incubation.

Another stream is concerned with designing and launching the BPC to incentivise young and innovative people with credible business ideas to access support.

The post Business Plan Competition returns appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

LETŠENG Diamond mine has recovered two massive stones weighing 245 and 102 carats on the same day.

The recovery of the two gems, one a high-quality 245-carat Type II, white diamond and the other a high-quality 102-carat Type II, white diamond was announced by majority shareholder, Gem Diamonds.

A leading global diamond producer of high-value diamonds, Gem Diamonds owns 70 percent of the Letšeng mine while the government holds the remaining 30 percent.

“Gem Diamonds Limited is pleased to announce the recovery of a high quality 245 carat Type II, white diamond,” Gem said in a statement this week.

“On the same day, the company also recovered a high-quality 102-carat Type II, white diamond, from the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.”

The Letšeng mine is famous for the production of large, top colour, exceptional white diamonds, making it the highest dollar- per-carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.

In May this year, the mine recovered two massive diamonds weighing 370 and 255 carats. Both stones were Type II, white diamonds.

The mine also seen the prices of its rough diamonds increasing during the first half of 2021 despite the Covid-19-induced global economic slowdown.

According to Gem Diamond’s half-year report published on 2 September 2021, Letšeng mine achieved an average price of US$1886 per carat during the period under review, as compared to US$1707 per carat achieved during the first half of 2020.

The report further said that the highest price achieved during the period was US$119 886 per carat for a 3, 35-carat pink diamond.

Commenting on the performance, Gem diamonds chief executive officer (CEO) Clifford Elphick said they were pleased with the market resilience demonstrated by Letseng’s diamonds.

“We are pleased with the results achieved during the period and to see a continued strong demand for Letšeng’s high-quality diamonds and the positive impact on prices achieved,” Mr Elphick said.

The report said Gem Diamonds would continue stringently applying a wide range of Covid-19 protocols, health and safety measures and other precautions to protect its employees and contractors at its operations.

Meanwhile, Gem Diamonds said it will this month release a trading update for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021. The update will be released on 28 October 2021.

The post Letšeng recovers two massive diamonds appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

LESOTHO’S recurrent financial challenges since 2017 could soon lead to insolvency if the situation is not urgently addressed, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

This could also lead to depletion of the country’s international reserves if the government does not take concrete measures.

The IMF highlighted this after its latest mission in Lesotho from 7 September to 15 October 2021. Discussions during the virtual engagements centred on Lesotho’s economic and financial programmes and its financial support request from the IMF.

In its engagements, the mission spoke to Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro, Finance Minister Thabo Sophonea, the Central Bank of Lesotho Governor Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, and other senior government officials. The team also met with representatives of the diplomatic community, private sector, civil society, and multilateral development partners.

Although the IMF said Lesotho’s situation could lead to insolvency, the country has been failing to pay its debtors for several years. As of December 2018, the government owed its debtors in excess of M1, 1 million.

In his end of mission report, the IMF’s head of the mission, Aqib Aslam, said Lesotho has been struggling with the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and a sharp decline in revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

“Lesotho has been experiencing twin economic shocks resulting from the pandemic and a decline in revenues from SACU that have proved to be highly volatile,” Mr Aslam said.

Lesotho’s public expenditure has been increasing in recent years but there has been no attempt to adapt to its declining SACU revenues with limited growth in other revenue sources compounding the situation, Mr Aslam said.

“The economy has been in recession since 2017. The resulting fiscal and external imbalances, if left unaddressed, would continue to put pressure on international reserves and lead to government payment arrears.”

Mr Aslam said his team held productive discussions on policies that could be supportive to the post-pandemic recovery of the country.

“Discussions emphasised the need to support a robust and inclusive post-pandemic recovery. To this end, the mission discussed with the authorities a number of options for containing the fiscal deficit to a level that is sustainable and can be fully financed.

“The team noted that the adjustment should be focused on expenditure measures while boosting poverty-reducing social spending to protect the most vulnerable. Complementary actions include efforts to broaden financial access and inclusion; strengthen financial supervision; modernise the legal frameworks for bank lending, business rescue, and restructuring, and digitalise payment systems.”

He added that the government must make efforts to address the public sector wage bill, which is one of the largest in the world compared to the small size of the economy. The government must also cut down on public sector and officials’ allowances while targeting education loans, streamlining the capital budget and initiating gender-responsive budgeting.

“Discussions also considered measures to modernise tax policy and improve domestic revenue mobilisation. The mission noted the need to address long-standing public finance management issues to ensure the provision of reliable fiscal data, the integrity of government systems, and the sound use of public resources.

“The authorities and the mission held productive discussions on policies that could be supported by the IMF under a financial arrangement. The programme under discussion would aim to support a durable post-pandemic recovery, restore fiscal sustainability, strengthen public financial management, and ensure the protection of the most vulnerable.

“Other key structural reforms to be implemented include strengthening governance and fostering private sector investment to spur inclusive growth and employment over the medium term.”

He said they also deliberated on the proposed financial support which Lesotho intends to request from the IMF. Cabinet in July this year decided to request for financial assistance from the IMF. However, the request is still being drafted. It is not yet known how much Lesotho will request from the IMF.

Mr Aslam said more discussions would on the possibility of the IMF financing Lesotho’s programmes would continue in the future.

“If agreement is reached on policy measures in support of the reform programme, an arrangement to support Lesotho’s economic programme would be proposed for the IMF executive board’s consideration,” Mr Aslam said.

The post Economic recession could render Lesotho insolvent — IMF appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Staff writer

HIS Majesty King Letsie III is impressed with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO’s) assistance to Basotho.

The King, who is also the FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition, said this after touring the Strengthening Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation through Support to Integrated Watershed Management in Lesotho project sites in Mafeteng and Thaba-Tseka this week.

The project was funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) through the Least Developed Countries Fund. The project has strengthened climate change adaptation through improving watershed management since 2015.

In the said sites, FAO is implementing activities to restore land and water resources to improve food and nutrition security.

“I am happy with the work of FAO in the communities,” His Majetsy said.

“I see change in the lives of the people where the project was implemented, and the testimonies from the farmers themselves is a confirmation. Better nutrition has improved relations in households. I wish the achievements of the project could spread to the whole country. I am proud to have a special relationship with FAO.”

During the visit, the King unveiled water storage tanks and animal drinking points constructed under the project to facilitate access to water for communities and their livestock.

He commended FAO’s work in improving the lives of the communities and urged the villagers to sustain the gains.

It has seen the promotion and protection of land and water resources through an integrated approach in strengthening and diversifying the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people so that they can better respond to climate change impacts.

It has benefited vulnerable local communities by rehabilitating their rangelands and water sources and making them realise notable and progressive improvement in their production systems.

As a result, communities are now producing adequate vegetables and fodder and have access to water both for their livestock and household use. Nutrition has improved, and they have been supported to engage in other income-generating activities to diversify their livelihoods due to the project, the villagers said.

Serobanyane Matete, the area chief of Linakeng in Thaba-Tseka, said the programme had positively changed the villagers’ lives.

“Conserving rangelands has helped water recharge and catchments have enough water for livestock and households. We now have healthy springs. We were trained to manage the rangeland including removing invasive shrubs that outcompeted the growth of desirable and palatable grass species,” Mr Matete said.

At inception of the project in 2015, households received chickens, rabbits, pigs, and assorted vegetable varieties to improve the household’s dietary composition.

‘Mamokeretla Sebeta of Matlatseng village in Thaba-Tseka who benefited from the project said that the project helped her add a variety of meat to her family’s diet.

“We were trained to grow diverse varieties of vegetables in keyhole gardens and under shade net covers all year round. Our families now eat a balanced diet – eggs, meat, and vegetables. Conflict in households has reduced drastically.

“Men and youth in our village no longer want to move to urban areas to look for work because the project introduced us to income-generating activities that are more profitable,” Ms Sebeta said.

To reduce the burden on the environment, farmers were equipped with skills to engage in other income generating activities such as beekeeping.

Beekeepers received beehives, protective gear, swarm catchers with telescopic handles, bee smokers, draining sieves, bee brushes and honey extractors.

The project also strengthened the technical capacity of national and district level staff and institutions on sustainable land and water management and climate-resilient livelihood strategies.

FAO worked with different partners including the Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation Ministry, the Agriculture, Food Security and Marketing ministry and the National University of Lesotho (NUL) among others.

The post King praises FAO appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

FRAZER Solar has accused Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro of fraudulently submitting an affidavit to the Lesotho High Court in his quest to overturn a South African arbitrator’s award of £50 million (M856 million) damages to the German company.

The damages are for the government’s alleged breach of a 2018 contract the German company claims to have entered into with the previous Thomas Thabane-led coalition for the supply of solar power for four years.

Earlier this year, Frazer Solar successfully petitioned the Gauteng High Court to endorse the award. However, Dr Majoro is challenging the endorsement of the award in the same court and in Lesotho’s High Court.

The premier was finance minister at the time of the deal. He had refused to sign the financing agreement for the implementation of the project.

However, Frazer Solar insists it had a valid agreement that was signed on behalf of the Lesotho government by then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Temeki Tšolo.

In the latest exchange of blows this week, Frazer Solar has alleged that Dr Majoro’s September 2021 application in the Lesotho High Court is premised on falsehoods bordering on criminality. The company alleges that the premier misled the Lesotho High Court by claiming that he deposed his affidavit, which summarises his case against Frazer Solar, before a commissioner of oaths in Maseru on 20 September 2021 before submitting it to the court.

The company claims Dr Majoro was not in the country on the day in question and therefore could not have deposed the affidavit as he claims.

“In September 2021, the Government of Lesotho (GOL) submitted a petition to the High Court of Lesotho requesting that the court nullify a Supply Agreement signed between Frazer Solar GmbH (‘FSG’) and the GOL. The supply agreement in question was signed between the GOL and FSG, and was breached by the GOL in 2019. The dispute was referred to an independent arbitrator, and FSG was awarded £50million (M856 million) in damages in 2020.

“In the months since, the award has been enforced against a number of Lesotho’s overseas assets. The GOL’s submission to the High Court of Lesotho included an affidavit signed by Dr Moeketsi Majoro, Prime Minister of Lesotho. Dr Majoro purportedly undertook his deposition in Maseru in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths, on 20 September 2021. However, according to an official press release issued by the Government of Lesotho, Dr Majoro left the Kingdom of Lesotho on 19 September 2021 to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. It is therefore impossible for Dr Majoro to have deposed the affidavit as claimed,” Frazer Solar said in its statement this week.

Therefore, Dr Majoro committed perjury, the company contends.

“FSG’s lawyers contend that Dr Majoro’s conduct is perjurious and it is a clear criminal offence which can lead to imprisonment.

“A pattern is emerging in Dr Majoro’s attitude to these legal proceedings. He appears to think himself, his government, and his decisions to be above the law. “Having first ignored legal proceedings for more than two years, he has now perjured himself in formal legal paperwork by a total disregard for truth and for due process. The unifying theme here is contempt not only for these proceedings, not only for the judiciary itself, but for the people whose interests he has been elected to represent,” Frazer Solar states.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Dr Majoro’s press attaché, Buta Moseme, said the premier and his lawyers had denied Frazer Solar’s allegations.

The post Frazer Solar accuses Majoro of perjury appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

SUSPENDED Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) Director General, Mahlomola Manyokole, wants retired High Court Judge Teboho Moiloa to recuse himself from chairing the tribunal that was set up to probe his fitness to remain in office.

Advocate Manyokole argues that prior to his suspension, he was investigating several corruption cases in which Justice Moiloa was implicated. The investigations irked Justice Moiloa and several other influential people who then sought his removal from the DCEO, Adv Manyokole states in his recusal application. He therefore argues that the former judge is highly unlikely to be impartial towards him and should therefore recuse himself. The recusal application will be heard today by the tribunal.

The tribunal was set up in December 2020 by Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro to probe him for alleged incompetence. It is headed by Justice Moiloa, who is assisted by High Court Judge Polo Banyane and retired judge, Semapo Peete.

In his recusal application yesterday, Adv Manyokole said, “I aver that the chairperson of the tribunal, Justice Joseph Moiloa is in law required to recuse himself from participating in the proceedings for the following reasons:

“Before my appointment as the DG of the DCEO, the DCEO investigated the rental scheme involving Justice Moiloa’s house which was rented to the former Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara without following public procurement regulations. At the time, Justice Majara was entitled to about M4000 per month as housing allowance. But the court rented and paid around M27 000 monthly as rentals out of the judiciary funds for the occupation of Justice Moiloa’s house, a scheme which benefited Justice Moiloa’s estate and caused the DCEO to investigate the alleged scheme.”

Adv Manyokole said it was even reported in the local media that the former DCEO boss, Borotho Matsoso, had said he was investigating the alleged housing scandal. He said he took on the case after replacing Adv Matsoso in July 2019 and this had led to the ‘trumped-up’ charges to remove him from office.

“My decision to reopen the case, reached Justice Moiloa and some politicians, and this is the real reason and cause for my removal from the post of DG,” Adv Manyokole states in his papers.

He adds that there were several other cases including money laundering allegations that he was probing against Justice Moiloa.

However, the state is opposing the recusal application. Acting DCEO director general, Sefako Seema, is supporting the state. He argued that the DCEO had already investigated some of the cases that Adv Manyokole was referring to and found that the allegations were just a “red herring”.

“Even assuming that there are such investigations pending, which I dispute, the mere fact that the chairperson of the tribunal is a subject of investigation by the DCEO does not bar him from performing his statutory mandate hereunder.

“I am saying this because, such investigations if any, are conducted by the institution of the DCEO and not by a suspended individual or agent of the DCEO. It is therefore patently disingenuous for the applicant (Manyokole) to personally attribute to himself institutional imperatives as though he is the institution even in circumstances where he is under suspension as in the instant case,” Adv Seema said.

Earlier this week, Adv Manyokole had also accused the DCEO of intimidating and threatening some of the DCEO staffers he had requested to testify in his defence.

He said due to the alleged threats the staffers had resolved not to testify on his behalf. However, the state lawyer, Mohaneng Rasekoai, denied Adv Manyokole’s claims. He instead accused him of seeking to frustrate the tribunal proceedings.

The post Manyokole seeks Justice Moiloa’s recusal appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

THE Agriculture, Food Security and Marketing Ministry has resolved to settle outstanding wool farmers’ payments using cash since the said farmers do not have bank accounts.

The ministry said it was finalising logistical arrangements for payments to be made and would soon announce when it was ready to travel around the country to hand out cash to the owed farmers.

In March this year, the government set aside M10 million to pay the 2711 wool and mohair farmers whose payments have been outstanding since 2018. The farmers were supposed to be have been paid by the Lesotho’s then only licensed broker, Maseru Dawning. The broker has been battling to settle the payments since then and the government has now resorted to paying the farmers.

This after the government introduced a new policy localising the trading of fabric ostensibly to improve farmers’ financial benefit from their products while also improving tax revenue for government.

This was done through introduction of the Agricultural Marketing (Wool and Mohair) Regulations, 2018 which prevented anyone from trading in wool and mohair without a licence from the Ministry of Small Business, Cooperatives and Marketing.

The regulations also stipulated that all transactions should be done locally. Prior to that law, Basotho farmers had been selling their fabric through South African brokers such as BKB among others.

But after being bitterly opposed by many farmers, the regulations were eventually amended to allow farmers trade their fabric with brokers of their choice.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Agriculture minister Nkaku Kabi said his ministry had already paid M8, 1 million of the total M10 million to an undisclosed number of farmers.

The government has been unable to pay the remaining M1, 9 million as the affected farmers did not have bank accounts. He said they were also struggling to track down some farmers.

The ministry has therefore resolved to disburse the remaining M1, 9 million to the owed famers from Quthing, Qacha’s Nek, Maseru, Thaba Tseka, and Berea in cash.

They have decided against using mobile money platforms as some farmers cannot even be tracked meaning they have no known cellphones.

“We have resolved to pay the outstanding farmers in cash,” Mr Kabi said.

“We will soon announce when we will be travelling around the country handing cash to the farmers. Some of them do not have active bank accounts while we are failing to track down others.”

He said they would team up with farmers’ associations and the Ministry of Small Business Cooperatives and Marketing to verify the farmers’ records.

Mr Kabi said the cash payment process will be done under heavy security to ensure the safety of the funds.

On his part, the Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) spokesperson, Khotsang Moshoeshoe, said he was unconvinced of the government’s sincerity.

He said the LNWMGA believes that Maseru Dawning owes farmers over M100 million and not M10 million as claimed by the government.

“We believe Maseru Dawning owes farmers way over the M10 million stated by the government. We believe the figure is above M100 million as we have some farmers whose sale statements show for instance that their fabric is worth M70 000 yet the actual funds deposited into their bank accounts would be just M30 000. This means that such a farmer would be owed M40 000 and there are lots of them,” Mr Moshoeshoe said.

Asked why they were not asking the broker to rectify the discrepancies, Mr Moshoeshoe said they would do so when the time was right.

“When the time is right, we will demand accountability for those who are responsible for the farmers’ suffering with regards to the non-payment,” Mr Moshoeshoe said.

The post Govt to pay wool farmers in cash appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

A MASERU woman has suffered the double jeopardy of being raped and turned away by police officers who refused to attend to her at Maseru Central Police Station.

The 36-year-old Ha-Abia woman said she was allegedly raped in broad daylight by two men on Saturday morning and later turned away by unsympathetic policemen who said her story was unbelievable. They also accused her of violating lockdown regulations.

Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said he was unaware of the alleged rape case and the behaviour of the police officers. He, however, said such behaviour was unacceptable and called on the woman to take the matter up with the police complaints desk.

Narrating her ordeal to the Lesotho Times this week, the woman said she had gone to visit her friend in Tšenola before taking a 4+1 taxi back to town on the fateful day.

She said there were already three passengers- two men and a woman when she boarded the taxi.

However, the female passenger dropped off soon afterwards, leaving her with the driver and the two male passengers.

“Instead of driving towards the central business district, the driver took the direction of Ha-Tšosane and stopped the vehicle somewhere near a dumpsite,” the woman said.

“At first I thought the driver was going to drop off the other two passengers but when we got to the dumpsite, the driver and the passenger who was sitting in front disembarked and started talking outside.”

The other male passenger who had been sitting next to her then pulled out a knife and ordered her to take off her trousers.

“He ordered me to put off my trousers because he wanted to have sex with me and I refused. At this point, he flashed his knife in my face and ordered me to sit on his lap. Shaken and scared, I obliged. But as I was moving onto his lap, he was then reprimanded by the driver and the other passenger who had returned to the car.”

They then drove off towards the CBD and the man blindfolded her with a hat and forced her to lie on his lap so that she could not see where they were going.

“After a while, the car stopped and I was dragged into a bushy area by the two men. The vehicle then drove off leaving me with the two men. They said they would each rape me thrice and if I caused any trouble, they would kill me.

“At this point I asked them to put away the knife and they did. They proceeded to rape me three times each as they had said. While one was raping me, the other would stand guard to watch out for passers-by as this was happening in broad daylight,” she narrated in between sobs.

When they were done, the rapists simply walked away leaving her in the bushy area. On realising that the rapists had left, she said she walked towards the main road and asked for assistance from motorists who were parked at Setsoalle Park near the Maseru Golf Club.

Two men took her to Maseru Central Police Station.

“On arrival, I narrated the story and one of the police officers immediately started accusing me of lying. He said I was lying because what I was saying did not make sense. He also said that I was raped because I was on the streets too early in the morning in contravention of the Covid-19 regulations.

“I am still failing to understand the accusation because when I arrived at the station, it was around 8am and the curfew had ended at 4am. I left my friend’s house slightly before 7am, therefore the accusation of contravening lockdown regulations is ridiculous. Even then, does that mean all women who are suspected of contravening lockdown regulations must be raped?”

Noticing she was not going to be assisted, she walked out but was immediately called back by another officer who told her that she could not be assisted because the station did not have stationery. The officer asked her to return on Monday.

She subsequently reported the case at Pitso Ground Police Station.

“At Pitso Ground I felt safe and welcome. I was asked to wait for female officers who handle rape cases by a sympathetic male officer. I waited patiently and I was referred to a doctor at Queen II Hospital,” she said.

While she was happy with the treatment at Pitso Ground, she said she still cannot believe the cold treatment she received at Maseru Central Police Station.

She said she was now finding it difficult to feel safe even in a police station.

“I don’t feel safe in my home, on the street and not even in a police station. I also don’t understand why the taxi driver helped my attackers. I am wondering how much they paid him and how he would have felt if they had killed me,” she said.

While the rape was unbearable it is the treatment at the hands of the police which is hurting her the most. For her, such treatment is the reason why many women do not bother to report when they are raped.

“After my ordeal, so many women have shared their rape stories and the numbers are alarming because I don’t recall hearing or reading of so many rape stories in the media. This means that women who have been raped have decided to keep their harrowing experiences to themselves for fear of being judged and humiliated.

“I therefore, encourage all rape victims to open up about their experiences as this will help them in the healing process. In as much as I am pained by the rape, I feel better because I am speaking about it,” she said.

The post Police officers turn away rape victim appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro says he is unhappy with deputy army commander, Matela Matobakele, for saying “Lesotho has no police force to speak about”.

Dr Majoro said Major Gen Matobakele was out of line and he had undermined the police force with his comments. Therefore, he should retract his statements and apologise to Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli, the premier said yesterday.

Dr Majoro said this while fielding questions from senators on various issues including the rampant killings that have earned Lesotho the dubious accolade of being Africa’s top-ranked homicidal nation.

Thaba Bosiu principal chief, Khoabane Theko, had said the time had come for the police and army to join forces to combat the high murder rates.

Even though this was the best thing to do, Chief Theko said such a collaboration was highly unlikely after Major Gen Matobakele last week said the army had been forced to take on policing duties due to the incompetence of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).

Addressing a Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) parade at Makoanyane Barracks last week, Major Gen Matobakele said, “our commander (Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela) has given us instructions to perform duties everywhere because we honestly don’t have a police force.

“I say this with my head held high, we don’t have it (police force). If we had it, you (soldiers) would not be involving yourselves with the public in this country. A few days ago, the commander instructed me to go to the police on a certain assignment. I shared my views with them (police) that we don’t have the police in this country,” Major Gen Matobakele said.

Chief Theko alluded to Major Gen Matobakele’s remarks during the premier’s question time in the Senate yesterday.

In reply, Dr Majoro said he was unhappy with the deputy army chief and he had ordered him to apologise to Commissioner Molibeli.

“I have had a word with the deputy army commander after he made comments that have undermined the police. We have directed him to withdraw that statement and apologise to the commissioner of police,” Dr Majoro said.

During the Senate session, opposition Basotho Action Party (BAP) leader and former cabinet minister, Nqosa Mahao, also asked what was fuelling the high homicide rates. He also wanted to know what measures the Majoro administration had implemented to stem the tide of murders.

In response, Dr Majoro said the government was gravely worried by the rampant killings and it was taking steps to address the situation.

“We are shocked by these killings that have been happening around the country,” Dr Majoro said, adding, “some of these cases are yet to be resolved as the police are yet to finalise investigations and arrest suspects”.

“Our preliminary investigations have revealed that some of the killings emanate from conflicts among rival famo music groups.”

Dr Majoro said extra marital affairs, ritual killings and retributive killings also contributed to the high murder rates.

He said they had begun recruiting new judges such as Justices Realeboha Mathaba and Fumane Khabo to reduce the huge backlog of cases in the courts. The two judges were sworn in last week.

The premier also said 1058 serious criminal offences had been reported to the police since last month and 328 arrests had been made so far.

He said 89 suspects had been tried and released after being found not guilty. Another 29 suspects are out on bail while another 140 were in remand prison awaiting trial. Another 76 suspects were currently in police custody ahead of their court appearances, the premier added.

He said they were working on several initiatives including training over 2 000 people in community policing at Ha-Ramabanta, Maseru.

“We are in the process of establishing new crime prevention committees. We are training and offering support to the existing ones,” he said.

He said the government had collaborated with Vodacom Lesotho to establish a toll-free emergency line to alert the police on possible criminal activities or emergency situations.

“In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we are also going to introduce a cellphone-based alarm system that will alert different authorities like the police and chiefs on possible crimes and emergencies. The system will be piloted tomorrow (today) in Tšakholo (Mafeteng).”

Dr Majoro said the government had also set aside M1, 5 million for a DNA test machine to aid investigations of suspected crimes. Lesotho currently relies on South Africa for DNA-based investigations.

On his part, the principal chief of Matšekheng, Lesaoana Peete, blamed the under-resourcing of the police force for the high crime rates.

He said successive governments had failed to provide enough vehicles to the force to enable it to do its job.

“Why have the governments allowed this (vehicle) problem to continue for such a long time,” Chief Lesaoana asked.

An unidentified senator called on the government to implement the death penalty to deter criminals.

In reply, Dr Majoro said the death penalty still existed on the country’s statutes and it was up to the judiciary to hand down death sentences.

The post Matobakele should apologise over police comments: Majoro appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mohalenyane Phakela

SUSPENDED Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) CEO, ‘Mamarame Matela, will know on 12 November 2021 if her Court of Appeal application to compel the Labour Appeal Court to hear appeal against her suspension succeeds.

This after her appeal was heard to finality on Tuesday by the apex court bench comprising of Justices Petrus Damaseb (presiding), Johann Van Der Westhuizen and Moses Chinhengo who reserved judgement to 12 November 2021.

Ms Matela was suspended in June 2021 by then Communications, Science and Technology Minister Keketso Sello. She was suspended for alleged corruption in the awarding of a M500 million tender to South African company, Global Voices Group (GVG) to supply the LCA with a Compliance Monitoring and Revenue Assurance system.

She approached the Court of Appeal after Judge Polo Banyane declined to her appeal against her suspension on 7 July 2021.

Justice Banyane ruled that the Labour Appeal Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter as it was not a court of first instance in labour disputes.

Ms Matela was represented in the apex court on Tuesday by Advocate Christopher Lephuthing who argued that Justice Banyane had erred in declining to hear her appeal.

Adv Lephuthing argued that Section 38A of the Labour Code empowered the Labour Appeal Court to hear cases challenging suspensions from work.

“The (suspension) decision cannot be divorced from section 38A of the Labour Code which allows the court to review suspensions,” Adv Lephuthing argued.

“Therefore, the Labour Appeal Court can hear this review application.  Her Ladyship (Banyane) was wrong to have declined jurisdiction.

“In her judgement, she concedes that the minister exercised public power. However, she does not tell us why she deviated from 38A. Her reasoning is confusing as to what should happen to this case after she declined jurisdiction.”

The LCA, the LCA Board, the Minister of Communications, the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Offences, Global Voices Group SA, Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli, Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa are the respondents in the matter.

They are represented by Attorneys Qhalehang Letsika and Kuili Ndebele.

Mr Letsika argued that Justice Banyane was correct to have declined jurisdiction and the matter should have been filed in the Labour Court.

“The appropriate forum is the Labour Court because the minister was exercising powers of an employer. It is sufficient to say the Labour Appeal Court was correct to say it does not have jurisdiction. As to what the applicant does from there, it is her own business,” Mr Letsika argued.

Mr Ndebele also argued that Ms Matela had failed to demonstrate any special circumstances which warranted the Labour Appeal Court to hear the matter as court of first instance.

“The Labour Appeal Court can only exercise powers as a court of first instance under section 38A of the Labour Code. A good cause must be shown by the applicant as to why the court should assume such jurisdiction. However, there is no application in terms of 38A by the applicant to show the cause and therefore the Labour Appeal Court could not exercise jurisdiction as a court of first instance,” Mr Ndebele argued.

After hearing both sides’ arguments, Justice Damaseb reserved judgement to 12 November 2021. On that day, the apex court will also deliver judgements in all other cases before it.

Ms Matela was suspended to pave way for the establishment of a tribunal to impeach her.

The tribunal was supposed to start work on 20 August 2021 but this did not happen after she obtained an interim order in the Labour Court. Last week, the same court dismissed her application for a final order to stop the tribunal pending the finalisation of her appeal in the apex court. It remains to be seen whether the tribunal will now sit or wait for the outcome of Ms Matela’s apex court appeal on 12 November 2021.

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Mohalenyane Phakela

SIX members of the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) have taken their battle for the control of the party’s Qeme constituency committee to the High Court.

The six are Samuel Lethe, Matokelo Ramatobo, Matala Mochochokoane, Matsokolo Mochochokoane, Lesoiti Kobile and Nkina Nthabi.

They want the court to declare them as the legitimate committee on the grounds that they were elected in February 2018.

The ABC’s national executive committee (NEC), the ABC, Messrs Thabiso Tsasane, Sekonyela Lekau and Lisema Maselela are the first to fifth respondents respectively in the application.

Messrs Tsasane, Lekau and Maselela are currently in the Qeme Constituency Committee.

However, the applicants want the court to order them to “desist from holding themselves as the legitimate members of the Qeme Constituency Committee”.

They also want the ABC and the NEC to be “interdicted and restrained from working with the Qeme Constituency Committee constituting of the third to fifth respondents (Messrs Tsasane, Lekau and Maselela) in relation to the affairs of the ABC.

“That the ABC’s NEC be interdicted and restrained from sidelining the party’s legitimate Qeme Constituency Committee constituting of the applicants herein. “That the ABC NEC be interdicted and restrained from involving itself in the internal affairs of the Qeme Constituency Committee,” the applicants state in their court papers.

One of the applicants, Mr Nthabi states in his founding affidavit that they are the legitimate committee as they were “elected” on 11 February 2018.

He says he obtained 152 out of the 169 votes cast to become the constituency’s secretary. He said his co-applicants also won the posts they competed for including the chairperson and treasurer’s posts.

“The third to fifth respondents (Messrs Tsasane, Lekau and Maselela) were dissatisfied with our nomination and election and took turns to challenge the same by holding another meeting on 18 February 2018 at which they were purported to have been nominated and elected as members of the Qeme Constituency Committee.

“The NEC indicated to them that it did not recognise their committee as the legitimate one and that it only recognised the Qeme Constituency Committee which was elected on 11 February 2018. After being rejected by the NEC, they went further to challenge our nomination and election by instituting an application before this court. The matter was scheduled to proceed on 3 June 2021. The matter did not proceed as scheduled because they withdrew their application,” Mr Nthabi states.

He says the withdrawal of the trio’s June 2021 litigation gave them the impression that Messrs Tsasane, Lekau and Maselela had conceded that they were the legitimate committee of the Qeme constituency.

He said to their surprise, the NEC had started working with Messrs Tsasane, Lekau and Maselela despite that they were not the legitimate constituency committee.

This has not only prejudiced them but also caused confusion among party members in Qeme, Mr Nthabi argues.

“As a direct consequence of the foregoing, our members who wish to renew their party membership are very much sceptical about whether we are indeed the proper authority to receive and process their applications. If this problem is not addressed urgently, then the party stands to suffer prejudice in that some members will end up leaving our party due to instability and join other rival political parties in pursuit of stability,” Mr Nthabi further argues.

The factionalism in Qeme mirrors the bigger infighting in the party pitting ABC leader Thomas Thabane against his deputy, Moeketsi Majoro. (See story above).

The post ABC war spills into the courts appeared first on Lesotho Times.

. . . as SG Hlaele threatens action against Majoro faction.   

Pascalinah Kabi

THE bruising fight between the Thomas Thabane and Moeketsi Majoro-led factions for the control of the main ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) ahead of next year’s general elections is fasting descending into the proverbial theatre of the absurd.

Such is the pettiness of the antagonists that last week, the factions had a go at each other over the decision to hold the party’s 15^th anniversary commemorations at Mr Thabane’s Makhoakhoeng, Ha-Abia, home.

Little-known ABC national executive committee (NEC) member, Keketso Lepheane, is said to have angered ABC secretary general, Lebohang Hlaele, after he questioned why the celebrations were held at Mr Thabane’s private residence.

Mr Hlaele, a Thabane loyalist and son-in-law to the former prime minister, did not take kindly to Mr Lepheane’s utterances. He subsequently sent an audio recording to fellow NEC members questioning why Mr Lepheane had issues with the staging of the event at Mr Thabane’s residence when he was always running to Prime Minister Majoro’s official State House residence to discuss party issues.

In the same audio, which was leaked to the Lesotho Times this week, Mr Hlaele also threatens disciplinary measures against Mr Lepheane and anyone else fomenting divisions in the party he claims to be working very hard to re-unite after the messy April 2021 split which saw former deputy leader Nqosa Mahao leave to form his own Basotho Action Party (BAP). Mokhotlong legislator and former cabinet minister, Tefo Mapesela, also dumped the ABC to form his own Basotho Patriotic Party (BPP).

It had been hoped that the departures of Professor Mahao, Mr Mapesela and their allies would usher in a new era of unity and stability in the ABC.

Mr Hlaele and other former Mahao loyalists like chairperson Samuel Rapapa, spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa and his deputy ‘Matebatso Doti all appeared to have embraced Mr Thabane’s leadership of the party. They also appeared to have embraced Dr Majoro who they coopted into the NEC in place of Prof Mahao.

However, the departure of Prof Mahao only appears to have eliminated one claimant to the ABC throne and given fresh impetus to the Thabane and Majoro factions to continue the fight for supremacy.

The infighting has been manifested through various issues. Among others, Dr Majoro stands accused of snubbing the NEC when it comes to making executive appointments in government. Although the premier has the prerogative to hire and fire as he sees fit, the NEC insists on being consulted because of its role in forging the coalition agreement with the Democratic Congress (DC) party which thrust Dr Majoro into power at the expense of Mr Thabane in May 2020.

A fortnight ago, the infighting escalated when Dr Majoro and others allegedly snubbed the party’s 15^th anniversary celebrations at Mr Thabane’s Ha-Abia residence.

The other three who did not turn up for the event are deputy secretary general Nkaku Kabi, Messrs Rapapa, Masoetsa and Ms Doti.

ABC secretary general Lebohang Hlaele described the quintet’s no-show as “unacceptable” and clear example of their ill-discipline.

Dr Majoro and others later said they had not snubbed the event. They said they were committed elsewhere on the day. In any event, Mr Hlaele had not properly communicated about the event through the official party channels, Dr Majoro said.

But it appears the fallout has continued despite Mr Hlaele’s attempts to play it down last week.

Mr Lepheane is said to have questioned why the anniversary had been celebrated at Mr Thabane’s residence.

As the leaked audio has subsequently shown, his comments did not go down well with Mr Hlaele who warned that he would demand a written explanation from Mr Lepheane.

In his audio message to NEC members, Mr Hlaele said such statements used to be popular with the Likatana faction- a derisive term for Prof Mahao’s followers who used to include Mr Hlaele himself.

“Gentlemen, the statement by Ntate Lepheane deriding the fact that decisions or issues of the party are discussed at someone’s house is the same as statements which some of us used to make when we were Likatana faction members. I am embarrassed that such statements are now being made once again. I am planning to write to him to explain what he means by his statement,” Mr Hlaele said.

Although he claimed to have respect for Dr Majoro and said he would never speak of ill of him, Mr Hlaele is heard in the audio essentially accusing Dr Majoro of hosting clandestine meetings at his State House residence.

“As the secretary general, I am no longer willing to tolerate delinquents in the party. Daily, he (Lepheane) runs to State House to attend meetings. He must therefore explain to us who resides there because the ABC offices are located at Moon Star Building.

“How and why does he make a distinction between Makhoakhoeng and State House? I will not allow such delinquents to destroy our party for their own selfish reasons.

“We are in the middle of unifying the party and we can’t have people like Lepheane speaking about someone’s (Thabane’s residence) yet they are daily running to State House. I don’t know if that (State House) is the party’s residence.

“This is pathetic and disgusting. It is embarrassing to have an NEC member speaking ill of his own leader. I will not speak ill of my leader. I will not speak ill of Ntate Majoro, the deputy leader. He is my leader. I cannot speak ill of the NEC. The poison that Ntate Lepheane adopted from the Likatana faction must now come to an end. We need to unite,” Mr Hlaele says in the audio.

He also asks NEC members to check his WhatsApp status to understand why he usually shies away from discussing what he calls immature politics.

Mr Hlaele’s WhatsApp profile states, “I only debate with my equals, all others, I teach”.

The post Thabane, Majoro fight escalates appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mohalenyane Phakela

TWO “torture” victims have filed separate lawsuits for a combined M1, 5 million against Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli.

The “victims” are Lejone Mepha of Leribe and Zibi Nkonyana of Maseru. They allege that they were tortured by police while being interrogated in separate incidents.

Mepha and Nkonyana are now demanding M1 million and M500 000 respectively from Commissioner Molibeli.

Commissioner Molibeli and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa are the defendants in the two applications.

Mr Mepha’s M1 million is broken down as follows: M200 000 for unlawful arrest and detention, M200 000 for torture whilst in detention, M200 000 for pain and suffering, M200 000 for contumelia and M200 000 for past, present and future medical expenses.

“Around June 2021, the plaintiff reported himself at ‘Mamathe Police Post where he was interrogated about some missing cattle which belonged to one Lejone Ramoea,” Mr Mepha states in his court papers.

“The plaintiff denied any knowledge of Mr Ramoea’s cattle. He was informed by the police that the truth will be extracted out of him. The plaintiff was ordered to lie on a wooden bench and was then tied with a rope to the bench.  He was made to wear a leather glove which covered his head and face. The plaintiff was then assaulted by three police officers with fighting sticks while another police officer made sure that the leather glove was not removed from the plaintiff’s head.

“The torture and assault began in the morning and ended in the evening when plaintiff, who could then not walk as a result, was carried and deposited into a police van. The journey proceeded from Ha-‘Mamathe to the plaintiff’s home in Ha-Lejone. His home was searched and no firearm was found although the plaintiff, as a result of the torture, had implicated himself that he owned an illegal firearm. He was then taken to Berea Police Station where he was kept in a holding cell.

“The next day, the plaintiff was taken to Peka Police Station where he was once again tortured and assaulted by one police officer, ‘Mota, who forced him to admit that he had stolen the cattle. The torture and assault continued from Friday until Monday when the plaintiff was released.”

Mr Mepha also claims that he was forced to hand over his three cows to Mr Ramoea as compensation for the cattle he allegedly stole from the latter.

“The plaintiff demands the said cattle and their progeny from Mr Ramoea. He pleads that his arrest and detention were unlawful and violated his constitutional rights. He pleads that torture and assault are likewise unlawful. He holds the first respondent (Molibeli) vicariously liable for the acts of the police who were acting in the course and scope of their official duties as police officers,” Mr Mepha states.

On the other hand, Mr Nkonyana is demanding M500 000 for the torture he allegedly suffered at the hands of the Semonkong Police on 17 September 2021.

“While the plaintiff was in detention thereat, the Semonkong police officers wrongfully assaulted the plaintiff with knobkerries, fighting sticks and further suffocated the plaintiff.

“As a result of the wrongful and unlawful detention and assault by the police officers of Semonkong, the plaintiff suffered damages in the amount of M500 000 for which the first defendant is held vicariously liable,” Mr Ramoea states. He does not say why he was detained in the first place.

As if that is not enough, a third person, Kelebone Ntsane, is claiming M89 000 as compensation for his sheep and goats that allegedly died in police custody.

Mr Ntsane, from Makeneng, Butha-Buthe, alleges that the livestock were confiscated by police officers on 29 September 2020. However, he does not say why they were confiscated.

All in all, Mr Ntsane alleges that the police officers “unlawfully” seized 87 sheep, 46 goats, 14 cattle and six donkeys.

“As a result of the unlawful seizure, 50 sheep and nine goats died. The total value of the sheep and goats which died is M89 000 and the respondents are liable,” Mr Ntsane states in his court papers.

The lawsuits are simply the latest in the long line of damages that have been filed against the police since Commissioner Molibeli was appointed in 2017.

The police appear to have lost their way after a promising start by Commissioner Molibeli. Shortly after his appointment, the police boss raised the nation’s hopes of good days ahead when he solved the ‘mysterious disappearance’ of the late Police Constable (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng. Commissioner Molibeli also caused the arrest of treason and murder-accused former army commander, Tlali Kamoli, in 2017.

But since then, everything has gone south with the police being accused of grave human rights violations under his watch.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has even voiced concerns over the “persistent allegations of police brutality” in Lesotho. The ACHPR’s plea to the government to capacitate the relevant institutions to enable them to investigate allegations of human rights violations has so far fallen on deaf ears.

Under Commissioner Molibeli’s watch, the High Court and Court of Appeal have also granted the highest known damages awards to torture victims.

In May this year, the Court of Appeal awarded a massive M250 000 to a Mafeteng man, Tšolo Tjela, who was tortured and humiliated by police officers in 2015.

The apex court had no kinds words for the police who it slammed for “turning the country into a lawless state” through the torture of suspects.

Mr Tjela had initially been awarded a whooping M400 090 by Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane who heard his application against the police in November 2020.

Besides awarding M400 090 damages- the biggest single award to a torture victim in recent years- Justice Sakoane also tore into former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane for his reckless utterances while in office inciting police to torture civilians and engage in other gross human rights violations.

In the most damning indictment of a then sitting prime minister, Justice Sakoane said through his reckless utterances, Mr Thabane had incited the police and other security agencies to subject civilians to “state-sponsored violence” in violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing their freedom from cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment.

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