Vision
Founded in March 2016, MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism PTY envisions a just, transparent, and accountable Lesotho where independent journalism empowers citizens, protects democracy, and ensures that public power and resources are exercised in the public interest.
Mission
MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism exists to strengthen democracy and good governance in Lesotho through independent, evidence-based investigative journalism. We investigate and expose corruption, misuse of public resources, and systemic abuses of power; amplify the voices of communities affected by environmental harm and large-scale development projects; and advance social and environmental justice through public-interest reporting.
We defend press freedom and contribute to a resilient media ecosystem by promoting an enabling environment for independent journalism through advocacy, research, and strategic partnerships. We build investigative and data-driven journalism capacity among journalists, students, and community reporters through mentorships, fellowships, and newsroom–university collaborations. By equipping citizens with credible information and practical tools, we empower communities to participate meaningfully in governance, monitor public projects, and demand accountability from decision-makers.
Strategic Objectives
- To promote transparency, accountability, and good governance by investigating and exposing corruption, misuse of public resources, and systemic abuses of power that undermine democracy and development.
- To advance social and environmental justice by uncovering the human and ecological impacts of major infrastructure and extractive projects by amplifying community voices in policy debates.
- To defend press freedom and strengthen the media ecosystem through advocacy, research, and partnerships that promote an enabling environment for independent journalism.
- To build investigative and data-driven journalism capacity among journalists, students, and community reporters through mentorships, fellowships, and newsroom–university collaborations.
- To empower citizens and communities with knowledge and tools to participate in governance, monitor public projects, and demand accountability from decision-makers.
Core Values
- We shall uphold international accepted journalistic standards and ethics.
- In pursuance of our work on a daily bases we shall gather factual and report unquestionable truths at all times in our published work.
- We shall promote democratic principles through investigative stories that promote accountability and transparency, expose corruption, abuse of state resources and wrong doing, we shall also publish stories that promote the protection of human rights, good governance, open and democratic society.
- We shall not be biased in our reporting of stories. We shall reflect and publish stories and pictures that reflect all sides of a story without biases. We shall ensure that our organisation does not disseminate propaganda and or be polarised in its reporting on political matters.
- We shall give all people, subjects and authorities that our stories cast in a bad light, affecting or affected by our stories ample time and space to give their side of the story before we publish.
- We shall also afford the marginalised groups that include women, children, LGBTI community and the disabled persons a right to fair representation in our reporting.
- We guarantee our sources anonymity and confidentiality.
Our Governance Structure
We are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of:
- Advocate Monahaneg Rasekoai Phoofolo and Associates Inc. Lawyer (Chairperson)
- Pascalinah Kabi a Lesotho Times and Sunday Express Journalists and Media Activist
- Ntsiuoa Tshephe a Chartered Accountant
- Billy Ntaote Journalist (founding members representative)
- Sechaba Mokhethi Ex Officio Member MNNCIJ Managing Director
