Oscar Nkala KASANE- Rhino poaching in Botswana is getting worse, and the government is not helping matters in any way due to its split attitude on the crisis. On the one hand, the government of President Mokgweetsi Masisi—in power since 2018—acknowledges the seriousness of the crisis but, when it suits it, the
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.
We all aspire to go to Machabeng…
The Reflector Machabeng College, yet another institution of learning in this country under scrutiny for the wrong reasons as if our country’s educational system has not been through enough strain already. It’s that dream school for many of our children, even we parents aspire to send our kids there. Now, don’t misconstrue the
Fresh investigations into Machabeng corruption saga
Nicole Tau A day following our exposé on Machabeng College’s maladministration, loss of accreditation and membership to Council of International Schools (CIS), the school issued a meeting invitation to scholars’ parents. The meeting was held on Friday last week where the newly appointed board of governors announced its intention to launch an
Rushed airport contract scrapped
SA’s Acsa appointed amid fears that Moshoeshoe I could fail looming audit Billy Ntaote The Lesotho government appointed South Africa’s state-owned Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) as its adviser and supervisor in a hastily launched M500-million airport rehabilitation project – in breach of procurement regulations. The Transport Ministry was subsequently forced to
Chinese firms in tussle for Lesotho’s lucrative Mpilo upgrade tender
Itumeleng Koleile A Chinese joint venture has taken its controversial battle to win a contract for the upgrading of M380 million Mpilo Boulevard to appeal court after its victory was nullified by high court in 2020. The tender was a sensational issue in 2019, as it was alleged former first lady Maesaiah
Govt seeking to fund drug trials
MATIISETSO MOSALA The government of Lesotho revealed its plan to raise M7-million to fund pre-clinical and clinical trials for the National University of Lesotho’s (NUL) drug compound, a potential treatment for Covid. The trials will evaluate whether the drug compound is safe for use in humans and determine if it can be
Fears of third Covid wave in Lesotho
Mining company dumps workers unpaid as it packs up
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
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
