Lesotho

(MISA/IFEX) – On 18 August 2004, the “Mirror” newspaper, a weekly English tabloid, was served with a rescission order providing for the return of all its computer equipment by the sheriff of Lesotho’s High Court. This follows the seizure of the newspaper’s computer equipment after being served with a writ of execution in a civil […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 6 August 2004, the newly-established English-language tabloid newspaper “Our Times”, which is owned by a company registered as Soul to Soul, was served with a summons by local law firm Nthethe and Company, on behalf of Voice Multimedia, publishers of the weekly English-language tabloid newspaper “Public Eye”. The law firm, acting on […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 7 June 2004, Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety Thomas Motsoahae Thabane contacted MISA-Lesotho’s chairperson with regards to a front page article that appeared in “The Mirror” newspaper (volume 18, number 23 of 2-8 June 2004), entitled, “Thabane Gets Slap in the Face”. The article made reference to an incident where […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 May 2004, Nthabeleng Sefako, editor of the Radio Lesotho current affairs phone-in programme “Seboping”, was threatened on the air by Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety Thomas Motsoahae Thabane. During the programme, which was hosted by Tale Kopeli, the minister claimed that Sefako needed to be “sorted out.” “She is […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 4 May 2004, the Lesotho High Court rescinded a default judgement relating to a civil defamation claim against the weekly Sesotho newspaper “Mohahlaula”. This effectively allows the newspaper to launch a defence against the defamation case in which it was cited as a respondent, along with two other local newspapers and a […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The weekly Sesotho-language tabloid “Mololi”, a publication of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) political party, has been served with a court summons by Lehlohonolo T’sehlana, a member of parliament (MP) for Mokhotlong Constituency No. 79. T’sehlana has accused the newspaper of defamation and is demanding 350,000 maloti (approx. US$54,000). The civil […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 23 July 2003, the weekly Sesotho tabloid “Mohahlaula”, published by Makaung Printers and Publishing (Pty) Ltd in Lesotho, was served with a summons for civil defamation by the legal representatives of Minister of Trade and Industry Mpho Malie. The summons demands that the newspaper, its editor Pofane Molungoa and the publishing company […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Local media were denied access to the official visit of Britain’s Princess Anne to Lesotho even though South African media were able to cover the events. During her visit, the princess was scheduled to have meetings with Save the Children (U.K.) and Skillshare International following an official state banquet. The state banquet was […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 July 2003, two journalists were injured while covering protests by street vendors in the main Maseru bus-stop area. The street vendors were protesting to the police, who wore protective clothing and were armed with pump-action shotguns, and to Maseru city councillors about their eviction from the streets of Maseru. After a […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Lesotho Over Attacks on Independent Media and Journalists The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the threatening actions of the Maseru police in Lesotho in recent weeks against the independent newspaper and radio station Moafrika. Although Moafrika had begun to pay a fine (of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Late on 16 June 2003, MoAfrika Radio went off the air until midday (local time) on 17 June. The broadcast shutdown was intended to raise public attention and financial support to help the station pay off a civil defamation suit pending against it. MoAfrika Radio, registered under CR Communications (Pty) Ltd, faces closure […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Thabo Thakalekoala, sub-editor of “Mopheme”, a weekly English-language newspaper in Lesotho, has repeatedly been denied information relating to the treatment of Katleho Malataliana, a former member of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). Malataliana was arrested in November 1998, along with other LDF members, and later convicted of mutiny against senior officers and the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 February 2003, High Court Judge Semapo Peete ruled in favour of the weekly Sesotho tabloid newspaper “MoAfrika”. “MoAfrika” editor Candi Ratabane Ramainoane was summoned to court to explain why he should not be ordered to remove an announcement that appears in the top right-hand corner of the front page of every […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 29 November 2002, Candy Ratabana Ramainoane, editor and owner of the weekly tabloid newspaper “MoAfrika”, appeared before the High Court of Lesotho in response to a court order requesting that he explain why he should not be ordered to remove an announcement that appears in the top right-hand corner of every issue […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) is suing the weekly tabloid “Mohahlaula”, for publishing a news item that the company has deemed to be damaging to its business activities. In its 15 November 2002 edition (Volume 4 No. 46), the publication reported that the company was facing possible bankruptcy due to alleged mismanagement […]

(MISA/IFEX) – An order from the district commander instructing an officer of the Pitso Ground Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to release information to a journalist has gone unheeded. On 25 October 2002, the local weekly newspaper “Moeletsi Oa Basotho” (“The Advisor of Basotho”) sought information from the LMPS, pertaining to a culprit, armed with […]