SECHABA MOKHETHI A request by Lesotho’s Mothae kimberlite mine to sell diamonds to its major owner and operator, the Australian-based Lucapa Diamond Company, presents a chance for pricing manipulation, warns Antwerp Belgium based researcher. Hans Merket, researcher for Belgium-based research centre, International Peace Information Service, told MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism that,
Our Stories
Covid-19 scourge exposes Mapholaneng water crisis
KEISO MOHLOBOLI Covid-19 has shined a harsh spotlight on the hardships faced by Mapholaneng community as a result of the government’s failure to live up to promises of its 2007 policy that entitled “access to a sustainable supply of potable water” to all Basotho. Many of the country’s citizens living in rural
Mapholaneng teen pregnancy cases jump: LHDA accused
ROSE MOREMOHOLO The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has come under fire over a sharp increase in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases – including HIV/Aids – in the town closest to ongoing construction work on the Polihali Dam. Realeboha Tlhabi, nursing officer at the health centre in the town of Mapholaneng
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
Top-ranked bidder battles LHDA over tender withdrawal
Favouritism and abuse of power alleged in ‘M396m’ dam contract SECHABA MOKHETHI A construction venture is suing the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) after it withdrew a multimillion-maloti contract for works on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project for the second time. The joint venture, DYNAP, argues that the second withdrawal of the contract,
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
Oxygen firm suffocating competitors – claim
BILLY NTAOTE A major row has erupted over a Lesotho parastatal’s dealings with a South African company over an estimated 20 million maloti tender for two oxygen generating plants that are set to play a key role in the country’s health system. Cape Town-based Foxolution Systems Engineering was engaged to advise the
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
