PASCALINAH KABI Bertha Foundation Fellow A confidential report that flags harmful levels of toxic mining effluent in Lesotho’s key rivers feeding the Lesotho Water Highlands Project (LWHP) has raised uncomfortable questions in the government and set the cat among the pigeons in cabinet, as ministries shift the blame and justify not doing
Author: LESCIJ LESCIJ
Plunder from the East
How the notorious Chinese wildlife syndicate Lin-Zhang looted Malawi’s mineral wealth Golden Matonga They arrived in Malawi as legitimate Chinese investors but immediately started trading illegally in Southern and Eastern Africa’s wildlife and wildlife products. The law eventually caught up with them, but the crimes they were found guilty of are just
Govt Departments in Blame Game over Water Pollution
PASCALINAH KABI Bertha Foundation Fellow Lesotho’s Director of the Department of Environment, Motsamai Damane’s bombshell admission that mining companies are polluting water sources that rural communities rely on has triggered a blame game in government. While departments try to dodge being held accountable for not monitoring mining operations, this has raised questions about
M205-million spent…still no water for Tsikoane residents
Matiisetso Mosala Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro has failed to explain why a rural water supply project in the Tsikoane constituency has cost more than M205 million and is still not delivering water more than a decade after construction started. The project, which was launched in 2011 to supply water to over 20
Gone with the wind: Lesotho’s $15-billion energy pipedream
A wind farm hailed as Africa’s largest renewable energy project and the solution to Lesotho’s hefty electricity costs has ground to a halt. Sechaba Mokhethi investigates why. A $15-billion wind farm project that would have given Lesotho bragging rights to Africa’s largest renewable energy project, slashed electricity prices and created thousands
ZAMBIA: TOP HEALTH MINISTRY OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF MEDDLING IN MEDICINE PROCUREMENT
By MakanDay Centre for Investigative Journalism Zambia’s health procurement system is paralysed by a stand-off between officials in the ministry of health. Those wanting to clean up corruption and stop the rot are clashing with others fighting to secure contracts for companies that pay. The result? The billions available to
Living in a ‘critical state’: The price of a South African town’s dirty water
By Steve Kretzmann Photos by Steve Kretzmann Data visualizations by Yuxi Wang Having spent much of his adult life working in the coal mines in Welkom, pensioner Hendrik Tlaudi says he now suffers from a bad back and must take medication on a daily basis. But Tlaudi, who lives in a state-subsidized house
How South Africa’s water needs plunged Lesotho into food insecurity
PASCALINAH KABI Bertha Foundation Fellow Landlocked Lesotho, is currently experiencing severe food insecurity as a result of a deal to meet neighbouring South Africa’s ever-increasing water needs. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) was billed as one that would bolster Lesotho’s position in the regional political economy and reassert its sovereignty. But, the
‘A tsunami of human waste’ – Half of South Africa’s sewage treatment works are failing, says report
Majola’s liquidated company wins disputed Lesotho airport tender
A questionable tender to fix Lesotho’s dilapidated airport to meet international standards has been thrown into confusion – first by a liquidation order from a South African judge, then by a phone call from amaBhungane. Key Takeaways:• South African businessman Thulani Majola seemingly joined politically connected partners in Lesotho to win
