Matiisetso Mosala Cultural norms have dictated that women shy away from acts that expose their sexual desires. Women in Lesotho are frowned at if found carrying condoms on them. This exposes them to unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and further elevates their risk of contracting HIV. The female condom, known as femidom, was developed in the
Author: LESCIJ LESCIJ
Wool and Mohair farmers in limbo, despite victory
BILLY NTAOTE The Lesotho Parliament has agreed to scrap a controversial ban on the export of locally produced wool and mohair – but there is no end in sight to the woes of the country’s 40 000 mainly poor producers The decision by MPs followed a sustained campaign by farmers, their association and opposition parties, alleging
SA new laws expose Lesotho to trafficking
MATIISETSO MOSALA South Africa’s decision to scrap laws that required travelers to produce unabridged birth certificates and supporting documents for children travelling across its borders has left Basotho minors prone to human trafficking. From June 01, 2015, Department of Home Affairs in South Africa introduced immigration regulations that required all passengers under the
Ray of hope for vegetable production amid harsh climate change
Nteboheleng Thamae Climate change is considered one of the biggest crises facing humanity today, it has posted threats to food security due to negative effects on agriculture, but a legion of smallholder farmers in Lesotho are fighting to defy the odds and are cashing in on vegetable production. One such farmer is Tšepo Massa,
Lesotho urged to go techno to quell new HIV infections
‘MATIISETSO MOSALA AND TUMISANG SERAME Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Machesetsa Mofomobe has advised parliament to adopt technological applications to remind people at regular intervals to use condoms as a preventive measure against HIV/AIDS. This approach, Mofomobe recommended during National Assembly’s deliberations on new HIV/AIDS infections threatening prospects of sustainable funding to support treatment of the pandemic. “New
Misery of being gay in Lesotho and the fight against HIV
…HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men a concern under the spotlight for People’s Matrix Billy Ntaote His attackers knew nothing and were ignorant and never thought deeply what it means to be loved and to live freely to make one’s own choices without being limited by rigid cultural norms. Rethabile (not
Cabinet guarantees M2.4 billion loans for unvetted companies
Billy Ntaote Against the advice of Minister of Finance, Moeketsi Majoro, Lesotho cabinet has approved a whopping M2.4 billion for yet flawed sports facilities project as the country prepares to host Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 games in December 2020. Majoro had noted in a secret cabinet memorandum to cabinet huge risks of the
Mokhotlong communities gear up to preserve wetlands
MANTŠALI PHAKOANA Lesotho’s rich and diverse animal, water, plant and aquatic biodiversity that used to provide a critical ecosystem that served as a buffer against the harsh climate change are being depleted, but Mokhotlong communities are starting to come together to act. This experience of dramatic loss of biodiversity negatively affects livelihoods, water supply, and food chain and lessens
Initiation schools open doors for HIV treatment
MANTŠALI PHAKOANA and RELEBOHILE KHOALE Basotho are gradually dumping norms blamed for rising Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statistics in initiation schools. Initiation schools’ common practices like sharing of razor-blades are shunned and infected initiates now continue their treatment while undergoing traditional training. According to Basotho culture, initiation is a form of training that boys undergo to become
HIV no longer a death sentence but the stigma remains
KEISO MOHLOBOLI It is now 31 years since the first World AIDS Day was commemorated in 1988 at the height of the AIDS pandemic. The Day was calculated to create awareness around HIV and AIDS, promote potential cures and remember the lives lost to the disease. But while 23-year-old Neo Ntaote is happy with the way antiretroviral (ARV)
