BILLY NTAOTE Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust Lesotho (WLSA) executives have been released on bail. They are charged with 100 counts of tax evasion, which relate to an amount of M822,773.61 in outstanding taxes owed to the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL). Reading indictment papers in court to
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LHDA celebrates multi-billion project tender awards but denies impoverished communities their compensation
Matiisetso Mosala There was much pomp and circumstance on 23 May around Lesotho’s King Letsie III and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as they officiated the sod-turning that marked the start of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s second phase. The fanfare highlighted how this second phase, which includes the 9.2 billion Maloti
Invisible wounds of involuntary sterilisation on women living with HIV
Family ties and lucrative catering contracts
Billy Ntaote A whistleblower as well as employees of Lesotho’s biggest diamond mine — Letšeng Diamond Mine — have raised questions about the way in which a catering, housekeeping and laundry services contract on the mine was awarded. While the losing bidder of this contract also lodged concerns, the mine’s owners have
SADP director’s steady move up the ranks
MATIISETSO MOSALA Her promotion to the top job in Lesotho’s Smallholder Agriculture Development Project (SADP II) raised eyebrows and questions, especially after the job requirements were lowered to suit her qualification and experience. ‘Malichaba Nkhethoa started working at the SADP in 2014 as a deputy competitive grant officer, and has risen steadily
Rot dashes smallholder farmers’ hopes
MATIISETSO MOSALA A government agricultural project, which attracts millions of US dollars in donor funding, has been turned into a personal get-rich-quick scheme by the public servant who heads it up, leaving the farmers who are supposed to benefit out of pocket and unable to grow their businesses. This public servant
Be merciful, don’t publish – LNDC
…investment promotion agency shields Nien Hsing from water pollution exposé This is the fourth part of a five-part investigation by MNN into how Lesotho’s textile factories operate with a disregard for labour laws and with apparent impunity as tests confirm that factories release toxic wastewater into water courses, including the Mohokare
Factories leave trail of faeces, chemically polluted water in two major towns
This is the third part of a five-part investigation by MNN into how Lesotho’s textile factories operate with a disregard for labour laws and with apparent impunity as tests confirm that factories release toxic wastewater into water courses, including the Mohokare/Caledon River. PASCALINAH KABI This series is supported by the Pulitzer
Lesotho’s choice: carrot or stick?
The United States says it won’t offer Lesotho a USD 300 million compact unless overhauled labour, health and safety laws are implemented in textile factories This is the second part of a five-part investigation by MNN into how Lesotho’s textile factories operate with a disregard for labour laws and with apparent
Factories dump chemicals into key rivers
This is the first of a five-part investigation into chemical pollution by textile factories in Lesotho. This is not just affecting Lesotho. The rivers into which chemicals are being released extend into other countries in southern Africa. SECHABA MOKHETHI This series was supported by Pulitzer Centre Lesotho’s water-quality authorities have rejected independent, scientific









