MATIISETSO MOSALA Basil Read mining’s failure to meet targets at Liqhobong Mining Development Company haunts the mining company over unpaid retrenchment packages and compensation of more than 154 employees. The employees’ union, Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA), has filed an urgent application in the High Court accusing Basil Read of “unlawfully and unfair
Author: news@lescij.org
Lekhetho is Founding Editor and Journalist at MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism in Maseru, Lesotho. He is 2016 First-Prize Investigative Journalism Award Winner sponsored by MISA – Lesotho and US Embassy – Maseru. Lekhetho has attended a three-month intensive investigative journalism fellowship with AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism in Johannesburg, South Africa, from mid-August to mid-November 2018.
During the fellowship, Lekhetho published in South Africa and Lesotho five “impressive” investigative articles about the beleaguered Lesotho’s wool industry, the country’s capture claims by Chinese community, how a Chinese business mogul in the country funded almost every politician and influenced state decisions.
Lekhetho has been commended by his editor and mentor at AmaBhungane, Andrew Forrest, as one of best fellows the Centre has enrolled.
Lekhetho is one of 37 contributors in the Southern African Muckraking – an anthology edited by Anton Harbor and launched during the 2018 African Investigative Journalism Conference in October.
Diaspora bursary repayments could salvage Lesotho revenue crisis
…and avail much needed resources to social development and poverty alleviation programs. By Billy Ntaote When COVID-19 started to spread across the world, I was working with a French filmmaker on production of a Film on Hunger in Lesotho. Being a city dweller and frequently seeing reports by international organizations of the hunger
Letšeng mine faced with COVID-19 infection scare
Mine downplays high risks amid deaths Matiisetso Mosala Lesotho’s highest quality diamond producer, Letšeng Diamond Mine is allegedly faced with a challenge of containing the spread of COVID-19 amongst workers contracted by various companies on its mining site in Mokhotlong. The spread of the virus at the mine has reportedly led to the
Co-op Lesotho flips its stance on Strafor…withdraws lawsuit
MATIISETSO MOSALA Co-op Lesotho has backpedaled on its position against Strafor, withdrawing a lawsuit challenging farmers eviction from its commercial land and buildings after being arm-twisted to sublease contested property to the multinational. Initially farmers were evicted from Co-op Lesotho’s property after a unilateral agreement was entered into by the Ministry of
Lesotho expropriates farmers’ land, gifts it to a multinational
MATIISETSO MOSALA The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has evicted farmers’ organisations from a commercial site in Ha Ntsi, Nazareth and gifted it to a Singapore multinational grain producer, in a controversial move slated as undermining development of indigenous farmers. The land in question covers an area of 3909m². It is
MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism’s Digital News Project has an internship program for Marketing positions open starting from March 2020.
The MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism, invites applications from business and marketing, graduates and or students interested undergo a six-month internship with the Centre’s Digital News Project. The Digital News Project is a profit making arm of the MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism. It is meant to cultivate, enhance and promote
MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism has a Digital News Project internship for journalists open Starting from March 2020
The MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism (MNNCIJ), invites applications from journalists and aspiring journalists to undergo a six-month journalism internship with the Centre’s Digital News Project. This Digital News Project is meant to cultivate, enhance and promote journalism in Lesotho. The interns will learn, through practice with the Centre, skills and
Lesotho turns to own coffers to fund AU games
SECHABA MOKHETHI The Lesotho government is to slash its M2.45-billion budget for an “ambitious and fancy” stadium development after scrapping guarantees to a little-known private South African financier, according to a well-placed government source. The source said the cash-strapped government would now provide all the funding and that in consultations with the sports ministry it had talked
Exclusive: Stadium construction guarantees cancelled
Lesotho ministry of finance cancels M2.45-billion funding deal and slams obscure South African financier SECHABA MOKHETHI The ministry of finance has cancelled government guarantees securing M2.45-billion in loans from a little-known South African company, Property 2000. The loans were to be issued for the construction of a stadium, an indoor sports arena and athletes village as Lesotho prepares to
Grissag behind Lesotho’s M2.4-billion loan guarantee rumpus
Moneylender caught up in SA’s state capture inquiry is behind controversial Lesotho loan SECHABA MOKHETHI Property 2000, the South African developer earmarked to lend M2.45-billion to three Lesotho building contractors, is simply a middleman sourcing funds from other investors, including the obscure Grissag AG, a company previously linked to shady deals. The Lesotho ministry of finance has cancelled
