‘Mantšali Phakoana The office of the Ombudsman, with financial support from the European Union (EU), is holding a five-day core staff workshop to enhance its effectiveness. The training aims to impart the Ombudsman office’s investigation team with the necessary skills, techniques and best practices to deal with complaints from aggrieved Basotho. Officially opening the workshop, EU consultant and team leader, Chimwemwe Mangeni said the training – which started on Monday and ends on Friday – would enhance the capacity of the Ombudsman and help boost their investigations. He noted that the office ..read more

Funeral cover is among the most popular and affordable insurance policies, especially in a country like Lesotho. This cover provides a cash payout to cover funeral expenses should a loved one pass away, providing financial relief and peace of mind knowing there is money available when you need it most. But how much funeral cover is enough? This article discusses funeral covers and how many covers are enough. How many policies do you need? This depends on your individual and family needs and affordability. A good starting point is to: Identify the people whose passing is likely to impact your ..read more

Angry residents of Kolo in Mafeteng district are up in arms following Reskol Diamond Mining’s mysterious resumption of operations at Kolo Mine. The company had been officially barred from conducting any mining activities in 2021 after it had allegedly reneged on its promises to implement infrastructure developments in their area such as road construction and relocation of some houses damaged by the blasting activities. It had taken over the mining rights in 2011 from Angel Diamond which faced liquidation, after entering into a joint venture with the government of Lesotho on the Kolo Mine. The ..read more

By Neo Kolane Lesotho on April 7, 2024 joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Health Day under the theme ‘My health, my right’. The theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination. In this interview with theReporter’s Neo Kolane, WHO representative to Lesotho, Dr Richard Banda, unpacks the organisation’s continuous efforts to influence nati ..read more

By Matṧeliso Phulane Netizens are looking forward to the release of a local film, ‘Molelekoa’, following the release of its trailer last week. The movie by filmmaker and script writer Moso Sematlane will be screened later this year. It follows the escapades of a Mosotho man, Molelekoa, who has a brush with the law and finds himself being hunted down by police. As he flees from the police, Molelekoa contemplates whether to stay or leave the country he loves, for good. Throughout the police chase, we encounter other characters who are also pondering what it means to live in Maseru, the good and ..read more

By Matṧeliso Phulane Locally made Senqu Charcoal – a briquette brand produced by a company with the same name – is now improved and proving its resilience. The major ingredient of the charcoal is the bitter bush shrub (92 percent). It also contains saw dust, starch and clay to make burning more quickly. Senqu Charcoa was established by lawyer-cum-entrepreneur Toka Letsie in 2019, at a time when he had hit rock-bottom and was going through depression. At the time when government had declared war on the invasive shrub through its youth apprenticeship programme commonly known as ‘lihalahala’ proj ..read more

By Matšeliso Phulane Gender Entrepreneurship Media (GEM) Institute yesterday celebrated World Art Day. The non- profit organisation aspires to build innovative social entrepreneurship centres of excellence for peace building and fighting inequality. It also seeks to promote creativity and innovation among young people. Yesterday’s event was aimed at reviewing assets accumulated under the creative cultural industry over time and map the way forward. It further sought to deepen the creative cultural entry points on experiences, opportunities and challenges in finance and investment. The ceremony ..read more

‘Mantšali Phakoana A commission of inquiry established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged torture and escape of inmates during a search exercise at the Maseru Central Facility in December last year will cost government over M2million. The minister of law and justice, Richard Ramoeletsi, confirmed the two-month probe at a press conference this week. The commission comprises High Court judge Realeboha Mathaba and other two commissioners; former deputy prime minister and a human rights lawyer Advocate Kelebone Maope, as well as former commissioner of the Lesotho Correctional ..read more

By Neo Kolane Parliament’s natural resources, tourism and land portfolio committee has ordered the immediate closure of Reskol Diamond Mining, a limited liability company operating at Kolo in Mafeteng district. The committee adopted this heavy-handed stance after ministry of natural resources officers failed to provided required documents pertaining to Reskol’s operations and its perennial fighting with the Ha Mapetla community, which they were supposed to present before the portfolio committee this week. The officers who appeared before the committee empty-handed were acting commissioner of m ..read more

By Neo Kolane The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is now able to save on massive on rentals after it moved its headquarters to new premises two weeks ago. The electoral body relocated to the newly-acquired premises at Maseru West, from Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) Park which is owned by prime minister Sam Matekane, where it had been paying M833 000 monthly in rent. This means IEC will now save close to M10 million per annum in rentals. In an interview with theReporter last week, IEC public relations assistant Lesole Mohlomi revealed that the commission now owns the M75 million buil ..read more