. . . as beauty queen crowned Miss Personality at continental pageant

Mohalenyane Phakela

BEAUTY queen, Mojabeng Senekal, was crowned Miss Personality 2017 at the Miss Africa Continent 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday night.

Senekal finished fourth out of 13 contestants in the main competition that was won by Guinea’s Asmaou Diallo.

The Butha Buthe-born beauty this week told the Weekender that she felt honoured by the recognition.

“Being crowned Miss Personality means that since day one my bubbly and loving personality has been exposed until it even showed on stage,” Senekal said, adding, “This is the third time since 2014 that I have been recognised for my personality and I’m humbled.

“I believed I deserved to be in the top three because I was just as good but I think their height gave them advantage over me.

“I am happy I went to Miss Africa because I have learnt so much about myself as well as other African countries. Making it to the top six finalists proved that my presence was felt and that I managed to raise the national flag.

“It was also wonderful having my parents in the crowd. I could see the pride on their faces while I was on stage and that meant the world to me. I also developed relations with other beauty queens,” she said.

She said she would pursue a master’s degree in public health before joining Doctors Without Borders in their various humanitarian projects. She holds a BSc in Environmental Health degree from the National University of Lesotho.

Senekal has several accolades under her belt which include the Face of Lesotho 2015, Miss Personality 2014, Miss Royalty 2014 and Miss NUL 2015 and the Charity Award at the Face of Beauty International 2015 in October last year in Taipei, Taiwan. She was also a runner-up at the Face of KO 2014 pageant.

She said she would compete in the Mrs World pageant once ties the knot.

For now she is firmly focused on modelling and fitness training.

“I work as a fulltime model for T-shirt City and I am also working on a Primary Health Care project for disadvantaged countries in Africa,” she said.

EconetTelcom Lesotho CEOLeon de Fleuriot, Min of Sports Kabelo Mafura, Lefa president Salemane Phafane & Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) chairperson Leuta Leuta

Mikia Kalati

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giants, Econet Telecom Lesotho, returned in style as the sponsors of the country’s premier football league which has since been rebranded to become the Econet Premier League (EPL).

They return to football eight years after making way for Vodacom Lesotho who also played their part by becoming the first million maloti sponsors.

For their part, Econet have become the first to pour M2 million sponsorship per season for the next three years and as the football fraternity, we cannot be anything but grateful to the telecommunications companies whose healthy rivalry continues to be a boon for football in the country.

Econet’s latest sponsorship deal also comes with attractive incentives that include monthly individual awards for different stakeholders including Player of the Month.

The awards will certainly incentivise all those connected with our football from players, referees and even journalists.

This can only be a good thing which will aid the growth and further development of the sport to a point where our beloved Likuena national side will no longer be the whipping boys on the continent.

These are the kind of incentives that this column and its sister column in our sister Sunday Express publication have led the way in asking for. And I salute Econet for heeding our pleas with incentives which will no doubt increase the level of competition in our league.

The ball is now in the court of the players and the Premier League Management Committee (PMLC) and it is up to them to ensure that football continues to move in the direction of excellent competition and the kind of professionalism that can only attract even more sponsorship.

Professionalism means that we will move away from the scenario where a team like Linare had only eleven players available for their league opener against Majantja on Sunday.

It is sad to see such a development particularly from Linare who have been around for more than 85 years and they and Matlama are the only teams that have never been relegated from top flight football.

Poor management has blighted Linare to the extent that they have gone over three decades without winning a major trophy.

I had hoped that after signing a few experienced players the team will compete better but I was left disappointed by their shambolic preparations which left them with just 11 players eligible to play in the opener.

Econet’s sponsorship should motivate them and other clubs towards greater professionalism as it should also motivate good behaviour in the thousands of supporters who throng the stadia to show their love for their teams.

No more must hooliganism rear its ugly head as it did last season to the extent that someone was killed in the match involving Lioli and Matlama.

The same applies to those match officials who played their part in bringing the game into disrepute.

For the sake of the beautiful game and fair play, I hope the referees and their assistants will do their work properly and shun bribes some have been known to accept to get them to influence the outcome of the matches.

This is the EPL and incidentally that is the acronym for the more famous English Premier League. I hope that ours will strive to achieve the professionalism of its more illustrious counterpart which is now the richest football league in the world.

LNOC public relations officer Moshoeshoe Molapo

Mikia Kalati

AN arbitration has called for fresh Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) elections after finding that there were irregularities in the polls that were conducted in February.

The recommendation was made by Advocate Monaheng Rasekoai who mediated in the dispute over the election.

Advocate Rasekoai recommended that fresh elections should be held within a week of his verdict.

Matlohang Moiloa Ramoqopo was re-elected Lesotho Olympic Committee (LNOC) president amid allegations that she and her committee violated the constitution to prolong their stay in office.

Ramoqopo and her colleagues in the previous LNOC allegedly contested without meeting the constitutional requirements that stipulate that a contestant should be nominated by any of the associations other than the LNOC which is the mother body.

Part of Advocate Rasekoai’s decision states that “the executive committee’s decision to resolve that members of the executive committee should vote in the election was tantamount to an irregular amendment of the constitution”.

“This was clearly a fundamental flaw that vitiated the entire process.

“The elections held on 26 February 2017 were irregularly conducted and fresh elections must be held within a week of this award in line with regulation 12 of Lesotho National Olympic Committee elections guidelines,” Advocate Rasekoai states.

Speaking on the report which was availed to the media at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena in Maseru on Tuesday, the complaints team led by Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) secretary general, Mokhosi Mohapi, said they were vindicated by Advocate Rasekoai’s findings.

“We were appointed to oversee the LNOC elections and we took the matter to the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) even before we went for the polls,” Mohapi said.

“That is why we even refrained from voting because we knew that we had a strong case to defend.

“But the judgement shows that we were right all along to lodge a protest over the elections.”

He said they were now waiting for LNOC to respond to the judgement.

He said if LNOC ignored the judgement they would take up the matter the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Meanwhile, LNOC Public Relations Officer, Moshoeshoe Molapo, said they withdrew from the arbitration because they feel the matter was not handled properly from the start.

“Our belief is that there should have been consultation over the matter and the protesting team were given a chance to give evidence which they failed to do.

“There was also issue of the finances where it was said that the cost should be shared between the two parties, but we believe that he who complains should pay the cost,” Molapo said.

He however, said they will study the recommendations from the arbitration before responding.

“Despite the fact that the arbitration went ahead even after we withdraw, we will study the recommendation as it involves us as the sports mother body,” he said.

Mikia Kalati

THE Lesotho Institute of Sports Associations (LISA) Public Relations Officer, Teboho Pholo, has downplayed the country’s dismal showing at the recent Confederations of School Sports Association of Southern Africa (COSSASA) games were the team finished last out of five countries.

Botswana were crowned overall champions of the ball games which featured netball, football and basketball among others.

Zimbabwe were runners-up, while Namibia and South Africa finished third and fourth respectively in the games that ended on Sunday.

Pholo told this publication that despite failing to win any gold on home soil, there were still “a lot of positives to take home”.

“Starting with the hosting of the tournament, I think everything went according to plan though we had a few problems there and there,” Pholo said.

Pholo also said their netball team also did well by getting bronze despite its reputation as minnows.

“There was a big improvement with our netball team and we shocked the likes of Zimbabwe and Namibia who always got the better of us in the past.

“The performance of the volleyball team was also good and it’s only our basketball team that struggled. I think this was due to their height and it is something that works against us and we need to find answers.

“But there is hope and I believe there were a lot of positives to take forward,” he said.

He said without elaborating that there were administrative problems that contributed to the football team’s failure to defend their title.

He however, said the results were not a major concern as the games were part of the strategy of developing future talent.

“The games proved that we have the talent as a country but what matters is that we have the resources and facilities to help the youngsters become finished articles.

“We need to continually monitor their progress through the different stages of their growth.

“That is why it is also important for the associations and the government to work together,” he said.

Leslie Notsi, coach of Lesotho instructs Ralekoti Mokhahlana during the Cosafa Cup football tournament at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia on 10 July 2013. ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Mikia Kalati

FORGOTTEN former Likuena midfielder, Ralekoti Mokhahlane, is delighted at the prospect of returning to action after signing a six month loan deal with Kick4Life last week.

The veteran midfielder has not played competitive football since 2015 after a stand-off with the LCS management that led to numerous suspensions from football activities.

However, Mokhahlane who has also captained his country, said it was all in the past and he was looking forward to enjoying the last few years of his career.

“I think I still have three or four years to give and I am looking forward to a new chapter of my career at Kick4Life,” Mokhahlane said, adding, “I have been warmly received by management, my new teammates and the technical team”.

The diminutive midfielder, who last played for Likuena in September 2015 when he scored a beautiful volley against Algeria, was full of praise for Kick4Life’s vision and the club’s achievements in the past two seasons.

“I am impressed with what I have seen already and I think the team has a bright future.

“As an experienced player I am here to share my knowledge with the young players because the club has a number of youngsters.

“I am also here to help the team compete and continue to improve like they have done over the last two years,” he said.

Mokhahlane has won league titles with Likhopo and LCS. He was also part of the national under-20 team that qualified for the 2015 African Youth Championships.

He said he was itching to return to competitive football after a two year absence.

“All I have managed is Sunday football which is not that competitive and I cannot wait to take part in league matches for my new club.

“I believe it will take a month to get back to fitness but I am just happy to be back doing what I like and to have joined an ambitious team.”

Kick4Life coach, Leslie Notši, is also delighted to reunite with Mokhahlane after their time together in the national set-up.

“He still has a lot to offer and I will give him time to settle in and catch up with the rest of the team in terms of fitness,” Notši said.

Mikia Kalati

MAJANTJA got off to a dream start in their return to top flight football with a 1-0 win over Linare at DIFA Ground in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday.

Joseph Phike scored the only goal to hand new coach, Motlatsi Shale, a winning debut against his former employers.

Elsewhere on Sunday, former champions Lioli also got off to a good start beating Sandawana 2-0.

Tšepo Lekhooa opened the scoring and Tšoanelo Koetle killed the game as a contest from the penalty spot in the second half.

LCS missed a penalty as they played out a goalless draw with LMPS at LCS Ground.

LMPS goalkeeper, Akhente Pule, saved an effort by LCS midfielder, Khethisa Masenyetsa.

In another game on Sunday, Koetle Mohloai scored the only goal to hand LDF maximum points against Likhopo.

On Saturday, new boys Sefotha-fotha received a baptism of fire from champions, Bantu who thrashed them 4-0 at Maputsoe DIFA Ground.

New signing, Tsietsi Motšeare, made an immediate impact scoring the first goal for A Matšo Matebele which was also the first goal of the 2017/18 season.

Lindokuhle Pungulwa and another debutant, Lehohonolo Fothoane, as well as Moloisane Ramasimong also weighed in with the other goals as Bantu sent a clear statement about their intentions to defend their title.

The country most successful side, Matlama, were brought crashing down to earth by Liphakoe who narrowly beat them 0-1 on Saturday.

Tse Putsoa went into the match as favourites after bringing a number of quality players into their squad, but most of them were not available as their paperwork was yet to be completed.

Relebohile Moloinyane struck late for Liphakoe.

The match between Kick4Life and Sky Battalion did not take place on Sunday because the latter failed to produce the licences that allow their players to compete in the league.

Sky Battalion is now under new management having sold its status to the National University side, Rovers. They are likely to be docked points for their failure to complete the registration process before the start of the new campaign.

Mikia Kalati

A MOUTHWATERING clash of the titans is in the offing when old foes LDF and Lioli lock horns in an Econet Premier League (EPL) encounter at Ratjomose Barracks on Saturday.

The two sides have won 13 league titles between them, with LDF (on eight titles) having won it more.

Their matches have always been feisty affairs and this one is expected to be no less as both seek to reclaim the title that was won by Bantu last season.

Lioli coach, Halemakale Mahlaha, this week told the Lesotho Times that his side has not yet reached the expected levels, adding, his strikers need to be more efficient in front of goal.

He downplayed his side’s failure to make big-name signings during the off-season, saying he was content with the quality at his disposal.

“We tried to sign a few players but they were over-priced beyond our budget,” Mahlaha said.

“It would have been good to add a few big name players but we still have a competitive team to challenge for honours and with the support of management, anything is possible.”

He said they would still be without star player, Tumelo Khutlang, who has just started rehabilitation after sustaining an injury in the pre-season.

“We will not rush him so that he recovers fully,” Mahlaha said.

For his part, LDF coach Motheo Mohapi said they will treat the game like any other and go all out in search of maximum points.

However, the former Likuena coach bemoaned injuries to key players telling this publication that hitman, Mojela Letsie, who scored 17 goals in the previous campaign was not fully fit.

“He still has a lot of years in him and as a veteran, he is wiser and the pillar of this team when he is in peak physical condition.

“So the fact that he is battling with injuries means that our squad has been weakened.

“But we are ready to fight for the three points come Saturday,” Mohapi said.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Sandawana lock horns with LCS at Maputsoe DIFA Ground, Majantja are away to Sky Battalion and Likhopo take on Kick4Life in the last game of the day.

On Sunday, two of the country oldest clubs Linare and Matlama will go head to head in Maputsoe with both seeking to bounce back from opening day defeats to Majantja and Liphakoe respectively.

The biggest game of Sunday takes place in Quthing where Liphakoe host champions Bantu.

Both teams started the new campaign on a high note with the Quthing outfit shocking Matlama 1-0 last Saturday while A Matšo Matebele handed new boys Sefotha-fotha a 4-0 drubbing.

Tsietsi Motšeare and Lehlohonolo Fothoane grabbed the headlines, scoring on debut for Bantu while Liphakoe proved that they would be hard to beat as was the case in the second round of last season.

Fixtures:

Saturday

LDF v Lioli

Likhopo v Kick4Life

Sky Battalion v Rovers

Sandawana v LCS

Sunday

Linare v Matlama

Liphakoe v Bantu

LMPS v Sefotha-fotha

Teboho Dan Molopi

INTERNATIONAL practices in small enterprise development (SED) show that small business growth could be boosted by partnering with big companies and government departments for outsourcing and subcontracting arrangements.

This helps the corporate clients to tap into the small business’s expertise, enabling the former to focus on its core function. It affords the small business the chance to deliver the right products or services to clients, at the right time, and at the right price.

Many countries have vigorously promoted the business linkages between government departments at all levels and the small business sector (particularly the local ones), and have encouraged the private sector companies to follow suit and do business with the local small businesses.

For example, the municipality of Modena in Italy prides itself as “The Enterprising City”. Modena engages the local businesses and professionals as suppliers and service providers for most of its needs. In the process, the small businesses are able to upgrade their capacity, skills and resources, and increase the number of employees. They pay various taxes, such as VAT, PAYE, Income Tax and municipal rates and taxes, and these taxes are used by national and local government structures to further the development needs of the community, the local government and the state.

Modena leads by example, and fosters the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst its communities by employing the locals, procuring from locals, and pays in time for products and services delivered.

Also in the municipality of Modena, the main motor manufacturer, Ferrari, follows a Just-In-Time method in the production process of its world renowned vehicles. Most of its component suppliers are small businesses based in the city of Modena, and the small businesses have synchronised their operations and delivery times such that the delivered components arrive at the time they are needed in the production process. This eliminates the need for storage, and saves Ferrari a lot of money. The company also settles the SMME suppliers’ invoices just-in-time, so as to boost their cash flows.

In South Africa, similar efforts were put in place in the year 2000. For an example, in Rustenburg an SMME development institution there promoted business linkages between the mining companies and the local small business community.

South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) Programme was also launched in 2002 on a similar mission. These unleashed many supplier and outsourcing opportunities, and millions of rands flowing into the small businesses. This created hundreds of sustainable jobs, and a formal Supplier Development Programme was initiated to match corporate business needs, their capacity requirements, and need for bridging finance. Payment terms to small business suppliers were negotiated and reduced from 30 days after invoice to 21 days, and later 14 days to 7 days. The cash flow of small business suppliers increased sharply as the local banks provided funding based on the negotiated contract periods ranging from 12 to 36 months. This boosted the local economy massively.

In recent years, small business suppliers in Lesotho have been abused by both the government and the private sector. For an example, many suppliers have reported receiving payments for the products and services after 120 days, and others after almost 365 days. The implementation of the IFMIS, though hailed as a solution, failed to do just that. Instead of suppliers being paid after seven days, it still took on average 60 to 90 days to get paid. In simple terms, the government has continued to kill small businesses instead of helping their cash flow.

The big business sector has taken advantage of the situation. Some have jumped on the bandwagon of “developing and supporting” small businesses, but have abused them terribly, by not paying them on time. Contracts signed include clauses stating payments will be effected within seven days or at the most within 30 days, but 60 to 120 days elapse before SMMEs receive their payments.

If we are serious as a country that the small businesses are indeed the cornerstone of our economic development, creator of wealth and jobs, we need to declare Lesotho as a development-oriented nation. We need to put in place instruments such as policy directives that promote entrepreneurship and small business development; that foster mutually-beneficial business linkages between big business and small businesses and between all spheres of government and local small businesses; that mobilise funding for small business development; and that open markets for growth. And the private sector must toe the line in seriously promoting small business. But the government must lead by example. Small business is indeed a viable vehicle that can set Lesotho on a growth path in a self-sustaining way.

Mr Molopi is a Small Business Development consulting in Hlotse.   He can be contacted on 63291988/59709115 or moloidaniel@hotmail.com

Political Analist Nthakeng Pheello Selinyane

Nthakeng Pheello Selinyane

SO the third coalition government has “finally” been signed some two-and-a-half months since the Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s investiture! This is half the time the just-deposed Khokanyan’a Phiri coalition took to publish such an agreement, though its captains were already filling the skies with protestations that their successor regime established its full complement and even went on to pass the 2017/18 budget without the Agreement. They complained the new rulers left the nation, interest groups and rivals with nothing by which to judge them as their own commitment. They even falsely claimed this was unprecedented and contrary to normal practice or tradition.

It is billed as an agreement of the four ruling parties, “with the possible participation of other political parties represented in Parliament” – a tag which together with the Agreement’s title or theme, would seem to be borrowed or donated from the November 2016 draft agreement between the Mosisili-ditching Democratic Congress (DC) of Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki and the then opposition leader Dr Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC). While this relationship doesn’t raise eyebrows given the composition of the government, certain features not only shock but also disappoint and depress the reader into thinking s/he’s being duped with a product whose peddlers have scant or no commitment to it.

I am not sold to the idea, for example, that the authors wanted to tell the world, about themselves: “The current government of Lesotho has lost trust of a large section of the Basotho people and its international partners” (1.3),  or that anyone living through or following current developments in Lesotho would believe that at the time of signature, the government had as its first objective as “To rescue Lesotho from the current downward spiral into lawlessness, conflict, political instability, economic stagnation, and degradation of democracy”.  Call that dereliction of duty of care, whose instrumentality in enemy hands can be lethal, and pass to content on offer.

The first coalition government agreement was published roughly half a year after the formation of the 2012 government, and its 2015 successor only a month short; but they don’t add any value to accountability or dependability of the government.  The 2015 Agreement could be a UN manual on governance, accepting the media as fourth estate and pledging cooperative intercourse and empowerment of the sector and civil society, protecting human rights, combatting corruption and strengthening judicial independence and executive accountability, depoliticisation of the public service and security forces etc. – all of which the government abundantly betrayed and violated, eminently culminating in the Phumaphi Commission.

During the 1998-2002 transition – a full decade before the first coalition government – the People’s Parliament of Candi Ramainoane, Seabata Masienyane and Thabo Qhesi called for ruling parties’ campaign promises to be codified and legislated as their government’s development platform, which they could be sued or impeached for not implementing. A hard call, but what remains is that the challenge of promises betrayed isn’t a monopoly of coalitions, nor have the now trendy coalition agreements proven a cure for the same, nor can they, short of political will. Some activist quarters insist on publication of the agreement so as to enable them to timeously pick up any marginalisation or watering down of popular demands of their constituents or clients – often explained away as sacrifices for reaching all-party understanding – and demand their restoration and due prioritisation.

The dubious elevation of the 2012 ABC-BNP-LCD Agreement to supremacy over the Constitution, by the deputy prime minister misreading its requirements of consultation to mean the prime minister should seek prior consent of his partners before exercising his constitutionally conferred prerogative.

The current Agreement is very clear (at 5.11 and 5.12) that while the prime minister will appoint the cabinet, senior officials, ambassadors, etc. and exercise his other prerogative after consulting his partners, that “consultation shall not mean agreement on each of the decisions”. It provides consciously that he will exercise such prerogative “in the interests of preserving the stability of the Coalition Government”, within the general ambience of good faith.  Any agreement is, of course, only as strong and sustainable as the good faith of its members, and Dr Thabane knows only too well the bitter fruits of any perception of lacking in that by partners.

Two important aspects of any agreement are mediation and flexibility/adaptability. This agreement is to be mediated by a four-man implementation and monitoring “mechanism”  representing each of the partners; and another “ mechanism” of eminent,  independent, wise local persons will be established for referral of disputes, while SADC and other interstate partners will form a second tier of such referral.  The Agreement also provides for amendment of its provisions by the partners, whereupon copies of the changed texts will be forwarded to the co-operators and others that have interest in the changes; and further that Parties may strike bilateral agreements – some of which already exist – for cabinet and senior officers’ appointments, which shall form annexes to the main agreement.  I don’t know what to make of this ambiguous feature that, like an international trade negotiations proposal, it retains this unexplained obligation to “other parties” that might be interested.  While this could be an unconsciously dragged vestige of the abortive ABC-DC pact; it could come in handy for government expansion to forestall a catastrophe like the March-June 2014 watershed disintegration of government.  Conversely, it could also be exploited to “smuggle” other four-plus-one parties into the compact to neutralise existing partner(s) or shore up an obstructive partner in an unpopular manoeuvre.

The best way to understand motivation for a man’s actions is perhaps simply to ask him what he thinks he is doing.  The Coalition Agreement says it grapples with a weak democratic culture and a weak economy which have left Lesotho with political instability, weak institutions and polarisation of society – producing self-serving political behaviour incapable of evolving socio-economic policies that build a strong, shared economy and foster national consensus. Nice words that don’t mean much. It simply says our fate placed us here.  As a political/strategy consultant, you wouldn’t be surprised if your client government presented you with this stuff – whereas they had to speak to both agency and structure, man and his environment, the potential drivers of change, and obstacles thereto. But to be pragmatic, and avoid a charge of being academic, let us just assume the co-operators as disinterested contractors have defined weak economy, institutions, and emaciated democracy and public policy capacity as deficiencies they want to attack. The absence of agency in this statement of the problem, i.e failure or conscious refusal to name actors responsible for degeneration of democratic culture, naturally leaves the Agreement largely preserving the status quo, shy in current commitments and hazy on future scenarios. Those who thought it was going to be a roadmap on state-society relations over the next one year and going into the 60^th month of this regime’s mandate will be disappointed; but unlike the overreaching Khokanyan’a Phiri agreement which promised heaven on earth and went on to instantly rubbish all that, any agreement is really not anything more than a referee’s manual for partners’ intercourse.

Besides the four objectives of national unity, reconciliation, peace and stability that give the Agreement its name; there are (i) commitment to independent and inclusive reforms, though I don’t quite understand what independence of reforms means, and find it fascinating that it says reforms of Parliament will be led by itself building on the new Zealand reforms proposals; (ii) deepening democracy especially citizen participation, where greater access to Parliament including petitioning will be key; (iii) reintroducing a culture of human rights and civil liberties as enshrined in the Constitution; and (iv) espousing good governance per international standards with emphasis on accountability – where among others focus will be on the Parliament’s real supervision of  the government and of the public service and its commissions; (v) and a private sector-based economic transformation.  I have reservation on the wording of “espousing good governance”, which doesn’t quite sound like swearing by it, making it one’s oath.  The delivery of these objectives is supposed to be shepherded by “a fully authorised, implementation, monitoring and evaluation infrastructure”.

The eight-point “priority policy programme”  (section 3) commits the partners to a 90-days timeframe, from the date of effectiveness of the Agreement (not given, but presumably the signature date), to (i) produce an economic reform blueprint to stop economic stagnation; (ii) pass new procurement legislation, and public procurement policy for “politically exposed” persons including ministers and  officers; (iii) strengthen investigative and judicial branches and implement a revamped assets declaration policy. All these will take place under the canopy of implementation of all the decisions of SADC intervention (Phumaphi Commission Report), the SOMILES and Commonwealth / New Zealand reforms recommendations.  The Government will also review and implement the 2014 Decentralisation Policy before September 30 local government elections. The agreement importantly expresses the urgency of accelerating certain reform measures to “limit abuse of office” and safeguard the compact and public confidence in the Coalition government. Call me maximalist or naïve, but I cringe at phrasing that seeks to lessen rot, and not declare it public enemy.

The section (4) on General Principles speaks more to modalities of collaboration, being named as (1) good faith, collaborative engagement and no surprises, (2) proportional allocation of cabinet, Senate, senior official, ambassadorial, statutory corporations’ and commissions’, and district administration executive positions; (3) sustaining partners’ individual identities; (4) establishment of a Leaders’ Caucus, to convene regularly and urgently at any leader’s request; (5) freedom of parties to openly air disagreements / alternative views publicly and in Parliament.  This last one contradicts the article  (8.1) which commits the parties to voting in support of the government at all times in confidence, supply (i.e budgetary), and procedural motions in Parliament and in portfolio committees.

In respect of the Cabinet (section 5), the Agreement considers the current size too large and sectorally  fragmented at 34, being 26 ministers and eight (8) deputy ministers; and commits to review and realignment of ministries’ responsibilities by next financial year – with consideration for a slim and focused cabinet in future. It is provided that all cabinet will be appointed, in consultation with Coalition partners, by the prime minister who will also be responsible for their performance and discipline; be dismissing or reshuffling a minister the prime minister shall first consult the Coalition Partner affected.  Cabinet in enjoined to meet regularly, as the sole place for formal decisions on critical issues prescribed by the constitution, to which decisions all ministers shall be committed, “unless Cabinet gives approval for a Minister to take a different position”.   Now, this one sounds quite an outlier on the graph grid! They might wish to explain it.

In relation to top public servants in government, corporations, and diplomacy, the partners commit to revisiting the definition of “political appointments”; with a view to “depoliticising and accelerating professionalism in the public service”. To this end it is pledged that hiring practices in the corporations will be reviewed and corrective measures taken, and fit-for-purpose assessment of boards undertaken. This isn’t promise of anything at all. The drafters of the Agreement should be aware of state-of-the-art precepts of corporate governance including the New Public Management discourse, the King processes etc – and I think they could be at least implicitly (descriptively) alluded to! There is promised an acceleration of “measures to prevent abuse of office by any Party in the Coalition Government”, and injection of transparency in the appointment of security chiefs and heads of Constitutional oversight institutions like Ombudsman, Auditor General, etc.

All in all, this Agreement is a index of positive things in motion. It is overly cautious in its positive-sounding undertakings, and is shy of committing to time limits in even those areas it highlights as executable without constraints of legislative reforms, but it is still; and a good reference point.

•  Mr Selinyane’s views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

LESOTHO’S population breached the two million mark for the first time in the country’s history, the preliminary results of the 2016 Population and Housing Census (PHC) show.

The results of the 2016 census which were announced by the Ministry of Development Planning this week showed a 6.8 percent growth rate to 2 008 801, up from  1 876 633 recorded in the 2006 census.

“The population of Lesotho as of 10 April 2016 was 2 008 801 while that of 2006 was 1 876 633,” said Maneo Phakisi of the Bureau of Statistics.

She further revealed that Lesotho had a young population (39.6 percent of the total population) of which there were 403 000 males and 391 940 females.

There was a population increase in all districts except for Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing.

The average population density of the country was found to be 66 persons per square kilometre and 349.8 people per square kilometre of arable land.

The Minister of Development Planning, Tlohelang Aumane, said the results would play a key role in determining the needs of the public.

“It is my hope that, the indicators will show the extent to which the gap exists for the nation to access some basic needs,” Mr Aumane said, adding, “These could be in the form of access to clean water, adequate sanitation facilities, electricity, telephones or schools”.

“The results will provide us with benchmarks against which our performance as government and the nation should be measured, especially in tracking our performance in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063, SADC RISDP and other developmental initiatives.”

For her part, the United Nations Population Fund Representative, Nuzhat Ehsan, congratulated Lesotho for holding the first digital census in the sub-region under the auspices of the United Nations 2020 round of population censuses.

“The release of the key results of the census couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment for Lesotho which has embarked on the development of the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).

“The most up-to-date population-related indicators will be used to facilitate the formulation of the NSDP II. The new data from the census will also help us strategise actions to ensure domestication and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are proud that Lesotho has been the first country within the 2020 round of censuses to conduct a digital population and housing census using hand held mobile devices (Android Tablets) for full implementation of the census. I hope the Bureau of Statistics will share the experiences with other countries so that they can build upon such experiences when they conduct their own censuses,” Ms Ehsan said.

Limpho Sello

THE Malealea community in the Matelile area of Mafeteng district say they are living in fear of the deadly clashes among rival Famo gangs that have spawned reprisals and revenge killings.

The Malealea community voiced their concerns at a recent public gathering that was attended by members of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) in Mafeteng as well as Maliepetsane Constituency Member of Parliament, Mpalipali Molefe.

The area is home to some of the country’s Famo musicians and many youths are members of Famo gangs that often engage in deadly fights. Last Tuesday, a young couple was shot dead in their house in an incident which is believed to be linked to the gang rivalries.

Speaking at the recent public gathering, a teacher in the area said the situation was still tense after the killing and this had resulted in a decline in the numbers of learners attending school as many feared reprisals.

“I grew up wearing a blanket and listening to music and there were never such horrible killings we see today,” the teacher said.

One of the villagers, Kokopo Sello, spoke about a killing at a public bar last Christmas which was sparked by a relatively innocuous conversation where one youth asked another whether or not he sided with a rival gang.

This degenerated into an argument and fight in which one of the youths was killed.

“The sad part is that the police arrived at the scene when it was already too late.

I therefore appeal to the police to attend to crime scenes on time, investigate and arrest the criminals,” Sello said.

Another villager, Manthabiseng Majale complained that suspects were easily granted bail, saying, “It’s sad to see a person who killed your son or husband loitering the streets when your heart is still heavy with grief”.

“That makes us bitter and seek revenge so that is why these killings will never stop because when we feel justice was not served we take matters into our own hands,” Ms Majale said.

Another villager, Matebello Khosi, said the killings would never stop as long as parents continued to shield their fugitive children or give them money to flee to South Africa where they also engaged in criminal activities at illegal mines.

Ms Khosi said youths often returned from neighbouring South Africa with illegal fire arms and they did “nothing but kill one another with those guns”.

“It is easy for our children to get guns and some of these guns they get through the assistance of the police. You will find that when their guns are confiscated the next day they will be having other guns,” Ms Khosi said.

Another villager, Mothopela Mothopela, blamed the conflicts on the “culture of gossip” and urged villagers to desist from idle talk and focus on developmental issues.

For his part, the Officer Commanding the Matelile Police Post, Senior Inspector Motsamai Kholumo, said the community had allowed politics, blankets and music to divide them.

“From the community’s comments, I have learned that the police delay to attend to crimes so we are not going to defend ourselves. We take this as an instruction that should a crime occur we should arrive on time.

“However, I appeal to you to work with us and help us to get to the bottom of the situation. Do not keep quiet when you have tip offs,” Senior Inspector Kholumo said.

Senior Inspector Kholumo admitted that there were rogue police officers who endangered informants’ lives by leaking information pertaining to suspected crimes.

He said it was a sad development that the place which was known for its tourist attractions such as pony rides, lodges and biking was now a place of killings.

Legislator, Mpalipali Molefe, appealed to the community to work hard to restore peace and security to the area, saying Malealea was one of the most peaceful places in the country during his youth.

“Stop hiding your children when they have committed crimes because you will be arrested together with them or they will use the same illegal guns to kill you in future.

“Where are we going with these killings, I urge young boys to change their ways and repent because there are only bitter consequences to reap for their actions,” Mr Molefe said.

Mr Molefe said it was time the community worked with the police through community policing programmes to prevent the killings.

Mr Molefe also called for action against rogue police officers who worked with criminals.

. . . as former members vow to fight on

Pascalinah Kabi

TRADE and Industry Minister, Tefo Mapesela, has appointed new board members to the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) despite a pending court case in which the minister was interdicted from appointing a new board.

The new board members – Thebe Mokoatle, Khomotsoana Tau, Puleng Lekholoane, Malefetsane Nchaka, ‘Makatleho Matabooe, Stephen Monyamane, Mpaiphele Maqutu, Nkareng Letsie, Themba Sopeng, Lerotholi Pheko and Ranale Thoahlane’s appointment was confirmed in the legal notice No 80 of 2017 which was published yesterday.

“Pursuant to section 8 (3) (c) of the Lesotho National Development Corporation Act 1990, Tefo Mapesela, the Minister responsible for trade and industry, appoints the following persons as members of LNDC board of directors,” reads part of the legal notice.

Mr Mokoatle, Mr Tau, Ms Lekholoane and Mr Chaka represent the ministries of Trade and Industry; Development Planning; Finance and Agriculture and Food Security respectively.

The Lesotho Manufacturers Association is represented by Ms Matabooe; Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Mr Monyamane; Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation by Mr Maqutu; Consumers Protection Association by Mr Letsie while Mr Sopeng, Mr Pheko and Advocate Thoahlane were appointed on the basis of their skills, knowledge and experience in matters relating to the functions of LNDC.

The eleven-member board’s appointment comes barely two weeks after lawyers representing board members that were dismissed by former Trade Minister, Joshua Setipa, warned Mr Mapesela against going ahead with this appointment.

The board members – Lebakeng Tigeli, Makhetha Thaele and Mampho Tjabane – filed urgent court papers in April this year challenging Mr Setipa’s decision to dismiss them.

The court ruled in the trio’s favour and the counsel for the respondents made an undertaking that the first respondent (the Minister) would not make any new appointments to replace the dismissed board members pending finalisation of this matter.

After the interim court order barring Mr Setipa from appoint new board members, he still went ahead and appointed new board members.

On July 3, 2017, lawyers representing the three wrote to the then new board members making them aware of the pending court case.

“Our clients were unlawfully dismissed immediately after they have taken action against the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator Joshua Setipa to court seeking an order interdicting him from interfering with a day to day running of the corporation and many other reasons which were to the prejudice of LNDC.

“As a result of the said unlawful dismissals which issue is also pending before the court, the former Minister unlawfully and intentionally committed constructive contempt of court by appointing yourselves as new board members while the matter is pending before court. Furthermore, the court made an order of court wherein the former minister made an undertaking that he shall not appoint new members of the board pending finalisation of the application,” reads part of the letter from the trio’s lawyers, Mofolo, Tau, Thabane and Co.

Mr Mapesela who replaced Mr Setipa in the aftermath of the 3 June snap elections which ushered in a new All Basotho Convention-led coalition government has since dissolved the LNDC board and proceeded to appoint a new one.

He also received a letter from the three former board members’ lawyers informing him of the pending court case against their dismissal.

“Our clients have instituted proceedings in the High Court of Lesotho under CIV/APN/119/2017 and CIV/APN/127/2017 and these matters are still pending before the court, set to be heard on the 22 August 2017.

The lawyers requested Mr Mapesela not to appoint new board members before finalisation of the court case or “you will reinstate those directors who were unlawfully dismissed as a way of resolving the issue and saving the costs of suits”.

Another letter, marked “urgent”, was written on August 31 pleading with Mr Mapesela not to go ahead with his intentions to engage a new board until matters pending in court were addressed.

“We once again informally advised that the Minister is anticipating to appoint new board members tomorrow (September 1). We therefore plead with you to kindly suspend the alleged appointments of new board members pending finalisation of the court proceedings.

“The court case was set down for hearing today but failed to proceed as the court was entertaining a criminal case. The matter was postponed to 8 September. Kindly be reminded that the alleged intended appointment of new board members will be unlawful and constructive contempt of court,” reads part of the letter.

The case was again postponed to unannounced date and yesterday Mr Mapesela went ahead and appointed the new board members.

Attempts to get comment from Mr Mapesela were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.

Tefo Tefo

SCORES of people on Tuesday watched in amazement as visibly ill double ritual murder suspect, ‘Malehlohonolo Scott, was carried from the parking lot to the High Court in Maseru by young man.

‘Malehlohonolo, who is charged along with her son Lehlohonolo Scott, for the murder of their two neighbours in Koalabata in 2012 was carried by the young man after the High Court judge, Justice Teboho Moiloa, further postponed the case due to her illness.

She appeared so ill that she could not even stand on her own in the dock.

After the court proceedings a young man, who was only identified as one of her relatives, again literally carried her in his arms from the court room to the parking lot, drawing the attention of curious onlookers.

Some court officials also peeped through windows as they watched the unfolding unusual spectacle that was described by some of the onlookers as that of “an adult being carried like a baby” for distance of about 50 metres.

Justice Moiloa on Wednesday last week received a doctor’s report that she was not fit to stand trial and was supposed to go for a medical examination again on Monday.

The judge had ordered her to appear in court again on Tuesday after the Monday’s medical examination for him to make his personal observation.

In court the judge called out, “Malehlohonolo,” to which replied in a barely audible voice.

“Stand up,” the judge ordered and she was only able to comply with the help of her son, Lehlohonolo who lifted her up.

Justice Moiloa briefly looked at her before ordering Lehlohonolo to assist her to sit down.

“The court has observed that her condition is very weak. She had to be assisted to stand up. The court cannot proceed with this matter,” Justice Moiloa said.

“When she saw the doctor last week she was prescribed some medicines and some of them were not available at Queen II hospital’s pharmacy.

“The doctor’s report shows that she is very weak and should continue using medication.

“We cannot proceed with this matter this week. The case is postponed to the 24 to 27 October 2017.”

Lehlohonolo (30) and his mother ’Malehlohonolo (60) are accused of the murder of fellow Koalabata residents, Moholobela Seetsa (13) and Mohata (22) in January and June 2012 respectively.

The Scotts were arrested on 12 July 2012 following the discovery of Seetsa and Mohata’s mutilated bodies in Koalabata. The mutilation of the bodies led to speculation the two had been killed for ritual purposes.

In addition to murder, Lehlohonolo also faces the charge of unlawful escape from Maseru Central Prison on 14 October 2012 while awaiting trial.

After almost two years on the run, Lehlohonolo was arrested in Durban on 6 April 2014 and lost his fight against extradition in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on 5 May, 2015.

He was extradited to Lesotho on 21 October 2015, where he awaits finalisation of his trials in custody.

For her part, ’Malehlohonolo was released on stringent bail conditions in August 2013.

Tefo Tefo

THE officer commanding Maseru police urban region, Senior Superintendent Api Letsie, says he received reports that some members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) relentlessly followed his subordinates investigating the death of two army officers in May this year.

SSP Letsie said this while testifying in the High Court yesterday in a case in which relatives of three men who were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two LDF officers at Maseru border post on 13 May 2017 want the police and army to produce their bodies dead or alive, after they disappeared following their arrest by the police.

The relatives of Khothatso Makibinyane, Motlatsi Pakela and Lekhoele Noko lodged applications after they suspected the two security agencies of being involved in their disappearance.

The trio were among six men arrested on 13 May 2017 following the shooting dead of the two army officers at the border post.

Two of the six, who were identified as a South African national and a Mosotho man respectively were released a day after their arrest.

The other three were released from police custody on 16 May 2017 but were never seen or heard from by their relatives ever since.

The sixth arrestee, Motlatsi Rantaoana (23), has since been remanded in custody and is awaiting trial in the Maseru Central Correctional Institute after being charged with murdering the two army officers.

In his attempt to clear the police in the disappearance of the three men, SSP Letsie told the court the missing trio was released from Pitso Ground Police Station on 16 May 2017.

He said the Occurrences Book (OB) that was used at Pitso Ground Police Station that day would reflect that the trio were released by police that day and have never been in police custody since.

Narrating what he knows about the incident he said: “On the 13^th day of May this year, I got a report that some members of the LDF were shot and some men were already arrested and kept as suspects at the border post police station.

“I rushed there and found those suspects in police custody.

Asked by Justice Semapo Peete if some members of the LDF interfered with their investigations at the border post police station, he said: “When the interviews were going on at the border post police station on the individual suspects, there entered one police officer called Sub-Inspector Ramohau.

“He reported that there was a group of soldiers milling around outside the offices and he suggested that the suspects should be taken out of those offices for their safety as the soldiers seemed to be angry towards them (suspects).

“I ordered that the suspects should be taken to Pitso Ground Police Station where they were kept, while investigations were continuing.

“I asked one of the LDF officers to be present to assist police with investigations, specifically in relation to the particulars of the soldiers who were killed and how the police could have access to their bodies as they were taken to the military hospital.

“Indeed, Captain Monyeke was the LDF officer who had been present all the time as the investigations were continuing.

“I also got reports by my junior officers that members of the LDF were following them wherever they were going as they were investigating the case. They even followed them to Mohale’s Hoek.

“They further reported that the LDF members used to be present around the police offices before those three men were released from police custody,” he said.

Two of the three men, Khothatso Makibinyane and Motlatsi Pakela, were last seen when released by police on 16 May 2017 at Pitso Ground Police Station.

Lekhoele Noko was allegedly kidnapped by armed men who ambushed a bus he was in at Lekokoaneng on 15 May, 2017 as he was on the way to his home in Leribe following his release from Pitso Ground Police Station.

The case to inquire the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the three men is proceeding.

However, Justice Peete told the lawyers to meet him on Monday next week to discuss how to go forward with the case after saying he felt it was necessary that LDF Captain Monyeke is called before court to answer questions because his name kept on being mentioned in the inquiry.

Pascalinah Kabi

LAW and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Lebohang Hlaele, and his principal secretary, ‘Mole Khumalo, held a crisis meeting late yesterday after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Leaba Thetsane, resisted their decision to send him  on forced leave.

Prime Minister’s Office Press Attaché Thabo Thakalekoala confirmed to the Lesotho Times that Advocate Thetsane KC was yesterday served with a letter sending him on involuntary leave for unspecified number of days but the latter resisted the move.

“He was given a letter today but he is refusing to go home,” Mr Thakalekoala said yesterday.

“I don’t know the number of his leave days but as we speak the Minister and Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs are holding closed door meetings discussing the resistance from him (Thetsane).”

Contacted for comment, Adv Thetsane curtly responded, “I don’t do interviews, bye.”

Advocates Thetsane and Makhethe successfully challenged Dr Thabane’s “show cause” letters in the courts of law.

Adv. Makhethe eventually retired last month although he turns 60 on 13 November this year.

The Dr Thabane-led four-party coalition government was installed after the Pakalitha Mosisili-led former seven parties’ regime lost the 3 June 2017 snap elections.

With the Dr Thabane-led government committing to pursue justice for the many unsolved killings that were not prosecuted in the preceding years, Adv Thetsane had been increasingly seen as an obstacle to that objective.

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The government’s discontent with Adv. Thetsane was evident during a memorial event to commemorate the three-year anniversary since Sub-Inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko’s death in Qoaling.

Sub-Inspector Ramahloko was killed on 30 August 2014 during a predawn Lesotho Defence Force raid on three Maseru police stations which the military claimed was meant to foil a Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) plan to arm civilians.

However, the LMPS has vehemently denied the allegation, with Dr Thabane, who fled the country ahead of the raid, describing the LDF’s special operation as an attempted coup.

In his remarks during the memorial event, Acting Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli, directed his ire at Adv Thetsane for failing to oppose former Defence Minister Tšeliso Mokhosi’s bail application earlier this month.

This was after Mr Mokhosi was charged with murdering PC Khetheng along with four police officers.

PC Khetheng died under mysterious circumstances after being arrested by his colleagues at a traditional feast in Sebothoane, Leribe on 25 March 2016.

Mr Mokhosi was released on 4 September 2017 and subsequently fled the country, joining other exiled opposition leaders who have cited assassination plots and alleged persecution by the government as reasons for fleeing.

The former minister issued a statement accusing the police of forcing him to confess to killing PC Khetheng while being interrogated.

Mr Mokhosi also accused the law enforcement agency of torturing him and coercing him to make a false statement before the Magistrates’ Court about the circumstances surrounding PC Khetheng’s death.

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service has since vehemently denied the allegations, saying the agency does not torture suspects.

Mamohlakola Letuka

THE National University of Lesotho (NUL) Innovation Hub recently unveiled four new products including sorghum biscuits and soap.

The products were unveiled at the recent annual Science, Technology and Innovation Week at Manthabiseng Convection Centre in Maseru.

The Innovation Hub also unveiled the Pius IIV incubator for chickens.

The Minister of Education and Training, Mokhele Moletsane, officially unveiled the products on behalf of NUL at the function which was held by the latter in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology.

Mr Moletsane acknowledged the important role played by science and technology in the country’s development, saying, “It is encouraging to see that the products that were made by local scientists”.

He called for the establishment of institutions to coordinate research activities and ensure results do not just end up in scientific papers instead of being fully utiliised for the benefit of the country.

He said it was also imperative to ensure researchers were adequately funded to enable them to contribute to overall national development.

“In less developed countries like Lesotho research endeavours are halted because of lack of resources, yet it is the same research that has the potential to lift the country out of poverty,” he said, adding, “We need to create mechanisms to fund scientific researches the way they need to be funded”.

He added that the nutritious snacks made out of local sorghum are a clear testimony that Lesotho can do better in nutritional production.

Mr Moletsane also promised to encourage the cabinet to buy the biscuits for their weekly sittings in support of local products.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Lesotho Post Bank Head of Human Resource, Itumeleng Matela, called on companies to support NUL Innovations so that we can develop the nation together.

In conclusion of the event, six high school students from St Mary’s, Thetsane and Christ the King High Schools were awarded trophies and prize money by Standard Bank for their projects.

Nthatuoa Koeshe

TWENTY-FIVE applicants are currently undergoing a two-week entrepreneurial training ahead of the final selection of the winners of this year’s Bacha Entrepreneurship Project.

The winners will share M500 000 prize money to help kick start their entrepreneurship projects.

The project, which is in its third year, is a collaborative effort by BEDCO, the Lesotho Revenue Authority and Standard Lesotho Bank which is aimed at creating a crop of entrepreneurs who can contribute to overall economic development by creating jobs for others.

The training follows the call for proposals that was issued in May 2017 to unemployed graduate youths aged from 21 to 35 to submit business proposals.

Speaking to the Lesotho Times  on the sidelines of the training,  BEDCO Marketing Officer, Lerato Maieane, said the training would equip the 25 with a wide range of entrepreneurial skills after which they will be given a further week to fine-tune and resubmit their proposals for final selection.

She revealed that the selection was done by a competent and experienced panel of adjudicators drawn from partner organisations and collegial institutions.

Ms Maieane said the 25 were selected after a review of 101 applications.

She said the project targeted graduates who have never been formally employed after attaining their qualifications.

Ms Maieane said during the implementation phase of the projects, candidates were constantly mentored and provided with entrepreneurial, financial and tax compliance guidance in order to transform their ideas into fully-fledged businesses that are integrated into the mainstream economy.

One of last year’s winners, Ntsoaki Mabejane, hailed the training for equipping youths “with a lot of business skills which include the writing of a good business proposals, the basics of running a successful business and many other skills.”

Ms Mabejane who cofounded Botanical Wares, said they struggled for funds before winning last year.

She said they were also assisted to get traders’ licences and testing their products for quality among other benefits.

Mikia Kalati

THE Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FRL) says all is set for next weekend’s Maseru International Sevens tournament at Setsoto Stadium.

The two-day event will feature eight teams, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mauritius, South Africa All Stars as well as two local teams.

FRL secretary general Litšitso Motšeremeli this week told the Lesotho Times that they were satisfied with the preparations for the tournament.

He also said the national Likatola Sevens side was wiser having returned home from the Lusaka Invitational Tourney in Zambia. This was their first international tournament.

He said the losses Likatola suffered in all their games at the Lusaka Invitational tournament were part of a learning curve for the team.

“It was the first experience for the team in a Sevens competition. I think there is a lot that they learnt and they will apply the lessons when they take to the field in their first match against Botswana.

“But we have to understand that the Sevens format is new to us and it will take time to master it.”

Likatola Sevens captain, Karabo Mphaki, told this publication that in as much as they lost all their games in Zambia, playing in front of their supporters would motivate them to do well.

“It is very exciting for us to play in front of our supporters and that is also a reason to do better than we did in Zambia,” the Likatola skipper said.

Lesotho lost all their four games in Lusaka to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia as well as an invitational team from Zambia.

“We are working on our weaknesses and we realised that our opponents got the better of us with pace as well as height.

“Their game is very physical and we have to come up with our own tactics to win matches,” he said.

Mikia Kalati

LMPS are confident they can hand champions Bantu their first defeat of the season when the two sides clash in an Econet Premier League match at Setsoto Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams posted identical 2-nil victories in their last outings, with Bantu beating Liphakoe and LMPS getting the better of new boys, Sefotha-fotha.

A Matšo Matebele top the log standings with six points from two games while Simunye are not far behind on four points after their goalless draw with LCS in their opening fixture.

LMPS coach, Mosito Matela, this week told the Lesotho Times that they were looking forward to causing an upset on Saturday.

“We have already started our planning for the match and we know that Bantu that deserves to be respected,” Matela said.

“But that respect will not be taken to the field of play because we also need the three points.

“It is always easier to plan for matches against big team such as Bantu because we know a lot about them.

“We know their weaknesses and strengths and what is important is that we manage them through different phases of the game to get what we want.

“We have to make sure that we do not allow them to play to their strengths and frustrate them throughout the game to get what we want,” the former Bantu mentor said.

“I also think that our squad quality has also improved over the years and though they still have a better percentage in terms of having big name players, I think we are now in a position where we can match them pound for pound,” he said.

For his part, Bantu coach, James Madidilane, said his side will have to be at their best to continue with their impressive start to the new season.

“We returned to training on Tuesday after playing on Sunday to prepare for this tough game.

“We are well aware that LMPS are a good side and we will not dwell too much of the previous games where they used to be a hoodoo side for Bantu.

“What remains is that they are a dangerous side and the addition of Tšepo Seturumane among their many signings is one of those things that make them even stronger.

“But we will not focus on them but our strengths as a team to bring them down,” he said.

The former Bloemfontein Celtic defender who guided the Mafeteng based side to the title in his maiden season, said although they had started well, it was still early days in the season.

He also praised his new signings for their contributions so far.

“There is a lot of pressure on us even more than last season because of our success and that means we have to work extra harder in every game.

“Teams come to us very motivated because each and every one of them wants to upset the champions.

“We have to dig deeper because our priority is to defend the league title and do well in the CAF Champions league.”

Meanwhile, winless Linare will be hoping for a change of fortunes when they date Liphakoe in Quthing on Saturday.

Rookies Sefotha-fotha will also be searching for their first win against Sandawana who are also winless in their first two games.

On Sunday, Matlama host Sky Battalion with under-fire coach Seephephe Matete hoping to turn the tables after failing to win against Liphakoe and Linare.

Tse Putsoa brought in the likes of Nzenze Nkulu and Teboho ‘Shakes’ Lilane from Bantu but the country’s most successful side has struggled to get off the ground in the new campaign.

In other potentially explosive ties, LCS host LDF while Lioli clash with Kick4Life.

Econet Premier League fixtures:

Saturday

Liphakoe v Linare

Bantu v LMPS

Sefotha-fotha v Sandawana

Sunday

Lioli v Kick4Life

LCS v LDF

Matlama v Sky Battalion

Majantja v Likhopo

Pascalinah Kabi

SHE could have easily carried the mantle of the beauty of the plateaus of Semonkong, a tiny remote town 115km into the heart of Lesotho’s mountain ranges, but 17 year old Ntšepeng (not her real name) died an outcast shunned by her entire village.

Her well-sculptured face and big white eyes complemented by a wide sparkling smile made the lanky teenager the envy of her peers and a trophy wife that was desired by all the men in the area.

But fate had picked out a different, sinister and tragic turn of events for Ntšepeng who was diagnosed with the dreaded obstetric fistula after giving birth to her first child and she died in late last year.

Obstetric fistula is a medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops between either the rectum and vagina, the ureter and the vagina, or between the bladder and vagina after prolonged, severe or failed childbirth.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Women who experience obstetric fistula suffer constant incontinence, shame, social segregation and health problems”.

“It is estimated that more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

“The development of obstetric fistula is directly linked to one of the major causes of maternal mortality: obstructed labour,” WHO says on its website.

Obstetric fistula is common in the Mokhotlong district.

Raised in a poor family, Ntšepeng strongly believed that education was key to improving her family’s livelihood and wanted to complete her secondary education and to enroll at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) as a step to a good future.

But this was not to be after her family married her off to a Semonkong man who works as a miner in South Africa in 2014.

She was only 15 years old at the time.

“She pleaded with her family not to marry her off and she cried herself to sleep on a daily basis begging to be given an opportunity to complete her studies.

“Her pleas fell on deaf ears,” said a neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The neighbour added: “Both her family and that of her suitor hatched a plan to have a man and his friends abduct her and violate her on her way to in-laws’ house.”

Within two days of her ‘abduction’, the source said, news that young Ntšepeng had been abducted (in line with the traditional chobeliso custom) spread throughout the village and everyone was ‘happy’ for her.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that two percent of married women were married off on their 15^th birthday while 19 percent got married at 18 years as per the Demographic and Health Survey Report of 2009.

The latest Demographic and Health Survey Report of 2014 released in 2016, however, states that 17.7 percent of girls aged from 15 to 19 years were married while only a mere one percent of boys on the same age were married.

The perception in the village was that Ntšepeng had married into a good family and to a good man who would pay the traditional bridal price and take care of her needs.

“She has escaped poverty”, they said.

As is the case with all new wives, both families secretly wished for Ntšepeng to fall pregnant and when she started having morning sickness her mother-in-law shared the news with everyone who cared to listen – much to Ntšepeng’s dissatisfaction.

She gave birth to a healthy baby girl “but few months later, something was noticeably wrong with her as she began to keep to herself, waking early in the morning to bath, do household chores, bath again and spend most of the day sitting with her child behind the family’s hut”.

“Rumours began doing the rounds that she had an odour emanating from her vagina.

“Her husband also stopped coming home every month end and now sent money through her mother-in-law, who despised Ntšepeng for having a smelly vagina,” the neighbour said.

The shuttling between medical and traditional doctors proved an exercise in futility and Ntšepeng, the young girl-turned mother breathed her last in December 2016.

“Death saved her from a very miserable life,” the source said.

Independent Midwives Association of Lesotho President, ‘Mapitso Matsoha, said while she could not say whether or not Ntšepeng had fistula, there were “many cases of fistula in Mokhotlong and these were diagnosed late at health centres during labour”.

“I urge anyone with fistula to quickly report at health facilities for clinical surgery procedures to correct that hole. Mothers are trained on such matters during pregnancy and they should be able to pick it up very quickly,” Ms Matsoha said.

For teenage mothers, risks of having obstetric fistula are higher as their pelvic tissue has not fully developed and prolonged unattended labour increases their chances of having a hole between their vagina and bladder or rectum.

The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) says obstetric fistula affects an estimated 50 000 to 100 000 women world-wide and the condition is common in sub-Saharan countries like Lesotho where populations face challenges of obtaining quality healthcare.

UNFPA  Executive Director, Babatunde Osotimehin

During the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23, themed “hope, healing and dignity for all”, UNFPA  Executive Director, Babatunde Osotimehin, said “ending fistula is a high priority for UNFPA and it is a key step on the road to achieving the world’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”

Dr Osotimehin added: “Fistula has been virtually eliminated in the world’s wealthier countries, so we know that it can be eliminated in every country. Strong health systems and greater efforts to address the underlying issues that perpetuate it, including poverty, gender inequality, early marriage and childbearing, and lack of education, are crucial.”

He said working with their partners, the UNFPA had made progress towards eliminating fistula through prevention, treatment and social reintegration.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. With strong political leadership, investment and action, we can end this scourge in our lifetime.”

Dr Osotimehin pleaded with all stakeholders to collaborate with UNFPA in supporting the world’s poorest, most marginalised women and girls.

Child marriage is one of the contributing factors to the high numbers of fistula cases.

Deputy Minister of Health and legislator ‘Manthabiseng Phohleli, has been very vocal about the need to end child marriages.

In 2016 she pleaded with the 9^th parliament whose tenure came to an abrupt end in March this year to outlaw child marriages.

In July 2016, parliament adopted a resolution calling on government to step up efforts to end child marriages by reforming marriage laws and other policies.

The resolution was made after Ms Phohleli revealed that statistics from the Ministry of Social Development had shown that at least 1 742 girls were married before the age of 18 in 2016 while at least 1567 adolescents dropped out of school due to pregnancy in the period.

Ms Phohleli said the time had come for the government to intensify efforts to end child marriages by reforming marriage laws and related legislation to ensure they were in line with international and regional human rights instruments.

“What is also shocking is that 40 percent of underage girls in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region go into early marriages. According to UNICEF, 19 percent of underage girls in Lesotho entered into child marriages.

“We need to fight for the rights of these children by ensuring that laws are put in place to protect them. Child marriages have many negative consequences for this nation,” Ms Phohleli said, adding, marriage laws had to complement, rather than contradict each other.

She added that the customary Lerotholi Laws in Lesotho state that if a child is raped, the decision to sue the perpetrator lies solely with the parents who might decide to negotiate with the abuser.

“The truth of the matter is we hide these atrocities in the name of culture, hence my call for this house to enact laws that will prevent child marriages,” Ms Phohleli said.

While Ntšepeng and many other young Basotho women paid the ultimate price at the hands of their parents, the SADC Parliamentary Forum has given renewed hope to many young African girls.

At its sitting in Swaziland last year, the forum adopted the Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage which requires member states to harmonise their national laws to prevent child marriages in support of the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in a Generation.

The Model Law seeks to eliminate several loop holes, like in the Lesotho case, that make current laws ineffective and unenforceable including parental and judicial consent, and conflicts between customary and statuary laws.

It remains to be seen whether the current parliament will domesticate the Model Law to protect and ensure that children will not be victimised by traditional practices like Ntšepeng and so many others.