Good riddance to former PM

Good riddance to former PM

The former Prime Minister of Lesotho Thomas Thabane was a popular figure in the lowlands of Lesotho for some time at his advanced age.

He was not afraid to criss cross the country to invite people to vote for him or his party All Basotho Convention (ABC). Here is someone who had worked in government for a long time and many Basotho thought that his story would enable him to change the situation in Lesotho because he was aware of the government failures since he had been a normal worker to PS and advisor to former Prime Ministers of the country like Leabua Jonathan and Ntsu Mokhehle. Many people thought that he had the key to all end Basotho problems.

As a former Prime Minister his actions inspired hope but also deeming those hope because of the partner he eventually married at his later age. Thabane was a confident speaker and also gifted because he was not afraid of anything or anyone. As Prime Minister of this small nation it gives one an opportunity to mingle with other top leaders of the countries in the world. So Thabane was in a position to mingle with presidents and a few Prime Ministers because they are not that many in the world. What is surprising is that Prime Ministers in South Africa are below the president but in the context of Lesotho he is equal to presidents.

The king Letsie 3 of Lesotho is a ceremonial figure who doesn’t do anything but to sign wrong decisions of premiers. He has done this several times when the governments were changing or because he was young fellow who did not have much influence because he was supposed to work with anyone in power. Thabane had been a long serving minister before he established his controversial party in 2006 to topple Pakalitha Mosisili who was on power for a long time and Basotho were starting to impatient of him in power.

Thabane started at a favorable time but failed to take governance in his first time in 2007 elections were heavily contested and got 13 constituencies of which he was satisfied with his performance that would enable him to expose the government of Mosisili. Strikes or public demonstrations were the order of the day when he was opposition leader always making the streets of Maseru to stand up. This was his decision to grow his party so that it can be seen by ordinary people in the ground. He was lucky that there was proliferation of radio stations that supported his course. Stations like Harvest Fm. PC fm and others detracted from their mandate to become talk stations or political stations.

Those stations were given a leeway by Lesotho broadcast Authority (LCA) to broadcast whatever that is in their heads. For instance PCFM which changed places due to rent changed from being a youth radio to a partially talk radio and they were basically talking politics. Another station which is called 357FM also started having political talk mimicking its predecessors. A bunch of upcoming radio stations did the same and their presenters would just be political like that. A person would know exactly what the presenter was following from his talks and the guests he brought to be interviewed.

The soil was fertile for Thabane because he was working the ground by going to all different places in Lesotho whether urban or poor rural places whereby he was partially loved. His party was growing up and was now joined by everyone even those who were stealing cars were joining the party. The killers of Famo music joined the party because they were believed to be influential. A notorious famo musician who now stays in Bloemfontein joined the party to lure most people who had gone to the mountain. The party became a mixed bag, allowing everyone who was passionate about genuinely   wanting to change the lives of people or wanting to enrich themselves by stealing from the government. The party was also joined by taxi operators who made it in the parliament.

Thabane was also for a lack of better word was racist in that he mentioned that the Prime Minister Mosisili should go to his home which is Qachas’ Nek and he got support for that. I wished that certain people who call themselves leaders should have spoken more denouncing him for his nonsensical thing to do or say. He showed signs of polarization when it came to other leader even if Basotho are known for belittling each other.

Here is someone who was born in a poor country and was belittling other leaders, even where they were born he was looking down upon them. It is known fact that Lesotho is made up of two areas which are highlands and lowlands. There is no need to look down about each place because of circumstances that they cannot change. I felt like he stooped down low for saying that but Mosisili has built a nice home for himself at Roma where most educated people in Lesotho passed through. Comparatively speaking Mosisili was a better leader than Thabane was in office running Lesotho. It is true that there was a long talk highlighting how Mosisili hired someone to kill his son but it just a talk. But Thabane has been accused and charged for hiring people to kill his wife.

Thabane got out of office because his members were tied of defending him for killing his wife and their allegations that the wife was actually running the government. It is recorded down that she beat everyone that stood on her way even in official ceremonies she would be the talk of town. Her name is liabiloe Ramoholi aka ‘Maesia Thabane wanted to be recognized as the first lady of the country. It said that she beat a certain Ps at Ha-Thetsane and pushed some sports minister for talking to her man in her presence. On the other occasion she slapped a minister and threatened some officers of being unemployed.

Some people in her party ABC would be supportive of her because there was something that they were doing. Some ministers were so confident that they would not lose their job the way they were doing things. Some people even said that she had actually toppled her husband running the government. She was too much as young people would say. It seems like Thabane was afraid of her even in the public space and one wonders how she was behind closed doors.

Thabane was popular as Foreign Affairs minister and was always out of the country in other countries. He had married the first wife who was staying at Katlehong in Maseru and had about three children who had made it. But he did not have children with the second wife and the third one. Surprisingly the third wife killed the second wife because she wanted to be recognized as the first lady of Lesotho. Everyone could suspect Thabane because what they did raised eyebrows raising more suspicion. They married quickly after a month of being winners of the twenty eleven so that Liabiloe could assume the position of first lady without problems because Lipolelo Thabane had raised the issue in their divorce papers.

 

The prime Minister we have

The prime Minister we have

Ezekiel Morake

One would definitely be excited when he hears the name of Lesotho’s prime minister because of his achievements. But contradiction is the correct thing when it comes to him. Moeketsi Majoro seems like someone who does not know what to do when it comes to government.  Unfortunately he had been the finance minister for the longest time.

I want to make it clear from onset that I don’t envy his job. Majoro, holts three degrees in finance, starting from undergraduate degree, Masters and PHD in B-Comm. When it comes to addressing the nation on his ideas he is very weak and lacks confidence that leaders in his positions should have. His Party All Basotho Convention (ABC) has two camps that belong to the party’s deputy Nqosa Mahao and the ousted leader Thomas Thabane. It looks like he is not popular in his party because someone who was not active in the party affairs came and won the much coveted position of Deputy Leader which was won by Mahao.

Majaro seems like he was destined for the position of deputy leader and eventually the leader of the party but it has never happened like that. He is loved by the party leader Thomas Thabane and in him he saw a successor but nature or people had Mahao had its own mind. Unfortunately Mahao does not inspire hope or both of them are poor leaders. Mahao to give you a small background he was a PFD leader and he was not popular in the party until he moved to ABC following his brother’s killing in 2016.

Mahao made sure that he makes the correct noise on radio stations making sure that people don’t forget about him. He was a favourite on Harvest FM and other radio stations that had the same agenda to make the government of Pakalitha Mosisili look bad. That is why the upstart party ABC got enough numbers to establish the government with other parties for the second time after performing badly when they got the gig the first time. Thabane had pitied two individuals for the position of a commander of army by appointing Mahao while Tlali Kamoli was still holding the same position.

Many people thought and assume that Kamoli had killed Mahao on that fateful day. Kamoli was in his office when Mahao was killed brutally by some soldiers who were apparently sent by him.  The case is still in the court to be prosecuted and more than 10 people have been charged.  This is something that should have never happened in any government for appointments to be done maliciously. No one is denying the fact that Prime Ministers have power to hire and fire anyone who is employed by the government. But the situation was unwarranted or uncalled for.

However, it seems like almost all the Prime Ministers have inkling to destabilize the institutions that are charged with a certain responsibility especially the police and the country’s army.  Ever since democracy came in the country from the army in 1993 Lesotho has been rocked by instability broad by politicians and the number of army leaders and police leaders ever since ABC came into the picture.

The current Prime Minister seems like he does not know what he is doing or his advisers are poor advisers. Majoro has not finished a certain amount of time being the leader but signs of failing in his duty are becoming clear maybe due to covid 19 pandemic. He assumed power when his party had factions and the world was facing difficult time of Corona Virus. Like his predecessor Thabane he is emulating South Africa yet Lesotho is the smallest country which does not have provinces. First he wants to introduce serious lockdown like restricting movement of people and stopping sale of alcohol. A large percentage of people buy goods from Maseru and their taxis travel from their districts to Maseru and back every day.

People from Mokhotlong, Qachasnek, Thaba-tseka, Mohaleshoek and Butha-Buthe buy goods from Maseru and other towns. So restricting the movement of people in Lesotho, that is the most stupid idea one can have or think about because it cannot be done. After all Lesotho is a poor country where thousands of people lack what they eat and there is no employment as large percentage of youths are not employed.

It does not look like Majoro has answers to respond to unemployment and lack of food. He is saying people should tilt their fields or be in partnership with government. Yet since Lesotho got indepence from Britain it has always be a poor country. Because if it had been rich, so what happened to ich richness. There is lack of proper roads, houses and the curriculum is poor and we are leasted as the most underdeveloped countries in the world.

Many developed countries in the world don’t look forward to donations but Lesotho looks forward to donations even when we are lead by someone who has PHD in his studies. There is only National University of Lesotho but one would argue that there is more two universities which means there are three universities. There is Botho University from Botswana and Limkokwing University which are basically underrated and are run like shops.

Majoro seems like he doesn’t have answers to make university of Lesotho the biggest university in Africa in terms of reach and graduates outputs. NUL does not have research students or those who are learning through internet like it is happening in South Africa. Here a person must attend classes and go to library to do manual research.

 Lesotho is totally surrounded by South Africa which seems like everything is normal considering that it’s like the first world in Africa. South Africa should be emulated by almost all countries in Africa. The good thing is that Lesotho emulates what is happening in South Africa because it is near us and is totally surrounds Lesotho. Lesotho was left with British laws which outdated or don’t apply to Lesotho situation because Lesotho has two part which is the lowlands and the highlands.

Majoro or any other has failed Basotho a lot. Within two months since he established a government Health workers were involved in a strike wanting an increase in their risk allowance yet are the first one to come in contact with patients. His minister answered some questions which were put forward by the listeners of TV Lesotho is a wrong manner.

What I have realized is that no matter how educated an individual is if he cannot lead the nation he cannot lead it whether is uneducated or not. It is clear that he cannot rule the country because he made questionable decisions to fire PSs and gave a job to Thabo Khasipe to lead Nacosec yet he still leads Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) another important body that makes sure that the government has money by collecting taxes from businesses. There is a saying that says if it walks and quacks like duck then is definitely a duck. This is corruption of the highest order because someone from health could have lead that body but Khasipe was appointed yet he makes serious money as head of LRA.

Few Basotho are talking but it has not sparked an outrage as it would happen in other countries. It is not true that Khasipe only gets salary from LRA only and does not get anything from Nacosec. It simply shows what kind of a person he is. He should have respectfully denied the position if he was only to be there for six months so that someone in health could have assumed the work. That was poor decision he made to associated with health matters whereas he has not studied anything that has to do with health.

It’s like Majoro does not have an adviser in his position. He did not have to fire the Pss but he did and now them taken him to court to challenge his poor decision. After all they are all Basotho and deserve to live despite belonging to certain parties that are not in government.

Lesotho unfortunately is not part of South Africa but laws happening there and lifestyle would have a big influence in Lesotho. Even bad things will affect Basotho livelihoods. In Lesotho there is Lets’eng diamonds mine which wholly owned by DeBeers and Lesotho Highlands Development Authority which are basically owned by South Africans. Basotho are given underpaying positions in these industries but leadership positions are given to non-Basotho.

Majoro does not have ideas of creating employment for Basotho that is why 15 000 miners from South Africa could put the country in danger. Some Basotho are working as miners and domestic workers including other professions in South Africa but there are things that those Basotho could do but there is generally lack of employment. Some would say I’m judging him very hard but someone who holds PHD should have answers to the country’s problems. The three mines that are in the country are not owned by Basotho but by foreigners. There is production of Marijuana in the country but few Basotho are employed in such industries and are underpaid.

Majoro and other leaders would tell you that the country needs foreign investors for it to grow and create employment but Corona happened. I don’t know how would the situation would be different if there was no Corona Virus in the country. In Such sectors some foreigners who are doing menial duties are employed instead of Basotho. But what is surprising is that the license for dagga is so expensive for Basotho who would like to produce such product for the masseuses all over the world because the dagga from Lesotho seems to be of good quality than other countries.

So it is produced by foreign countries such as South Africa because white people have money to spend. This is also putting Basotho in poverty more because they only work for big business instead of being in production themselves. Of late the army and the police seem to be under cared for because the police don’t have things to help them do their duties and the training has gone down but he would tell you that he found things being like that. The budget for these ministries continues to be measly and no one is trying to speak for them. So the army or police that lacks things to work with cannot function at all.

Lesotho Central Bank is also making the life of Basotho difficult by making non-sensical monetary rules. Almost money making companies have been barred from doing  so by the company claiming that it was saving  Basotho from unscrupulous people who wanted to make money for themselves. For instance let’s talk about MKM which made some Basotho rich with their investments.  Some Basotho had invested their money in the company getting big returns for their investments. Unfortunately central bank shut down some business of MKM because according to them it was Ponzi scheme but it was not. The minister at the time was Tim Thahane who is now advisor of Majoro. Majoro was the governor of LCB and it is rumored he passed the law that hit hard on Lebuoajoang Thebe-ea-Khale closing his business.

Apparantley Thahane was rumored to want to buy the building of Agric bank which is now used by FNB which did some renovations. It is not clear how Thebe Ea- Khale lost the building but it looks like the judgiary had made a ruling which made Thebe-ea-Khale lose the building because he had to raise money in order to pay his customers. This is an example that Basotho businesses are not helped to grow but Majoro has always been there. He is the Prime Minister in a poor country and he does not have answers to change the situation. Agric depends on rain and a proper market it looks like there is no market for Basotho products if they can produce them.

It looks like Basotho have to solve their problems without expecting someone like a leader to solve them because they don’t have them. More than 50 years since Lesotho has been ruling itself the situation has not changed at all. Majoro looks like he does not have answers to make Lesotho great again. His party members did not trust him to be the deputy leader but they trusted him to take over Thabane to run the country. So it really surprising that people are playing over Basotho yet it should be like that.

Covid 19 has wreaked up the world

Covid 19 has wreaked up the world

Ezekiel Morake

The Corona Virus which suspected to have originated in china has wreaked the world and the leaders don’t know what to do.

This is like the end of the world more than when the year 2000 was coming into play because the world even then was delivering messages that the world was coming to an end but we are still here. Many people who were rich squandered their riches to make sure that when they die when the clock hits 0000 in 1999 they would have finished them without any question. So Covid 19 as is sometimes called has wreaked the world and even economists don’t know what to do because world leaders are closing certain industries inorder to save lives.

Many people don’t know what to do to end this pandemic but others are saying let’s work as if there is nothing but wearing of masks and clothes should be made normal.  Economies of certain countries is falling and its even worse in the African countries that were already poor. Zimbabweans are fighting for the freedom so that they could make life easy for them. Their president Emerson Mnangangwagwa is like living in his own planet as he does not care for the lives of his people. ED as he is sometimes called is a person that toppled Robert Mugabe who stood beyond his welcome. He is now repeating what his predecessor was doing to cling to power despite massive cry from the people.

Many people had thought that Mnangwagwa would be different from Mugabe but it looks like they are cut from the same cloth. Some reporting’s claiming that Mnagwagwa was the right handman of Mugabe and that he was working behind the scenes to do the dirty work of Mugabe. Many Zimbabweans that I came across would tell you about Krurukandi whereby 200 000 Amatebele were killed during Mugabe is forever etched in their minds. Most of these people are living in Bulawayo where they killed like flies and this is something that most Zimbabweans hate Mugabe for.

Mugabe was one of the founders of ZANU-PF which is forced down the throat of the people because the people are tired of it and want MDC to take over the power. Many people think that in 2002 MDC had won the elections deceivably enabling Morgan Tvsangirai to rule but Mugabe stole the elections for him to be in power. Mugabe had apparently said that he would rule until he dies because he was made to rule the people by God.  Mugabe was strong and did not care about his people. During his time farms belonging to whites were taken by force and the owners fled the country to other African countries to continue their farming. Beneficiaries of such bad decision were countries like Zambia, DRC, South Africa and Nigeria as those farmers were sold or given large treats of land to farm producing much needed food.

Zimbabwe instead of benefiting from the bad decision continued to safer more and generations to come because Mugabe hard argued that there was Lancaster decision which was not put in place considering that the world was stolen Zimbabweans under the rifle of a gun. Many Zimbabweans and other Africans still argue that the land was taken from the people by force so there was no time to seat down with the thieves. I believe that Mugabe was in power and stood for a long time instead doing what was required of him while he was still energetic. Demanding justice for people was right but he stood for a long time or whites thought that the issue would just passed away like that. Mugabe was a shining example to African leaders who were weak to act and did something different. However the present president Mnagwagwa is now doing something different agreeing to pay the billons in American dollars for the stolen land which was taken back by some Zimbabweans hoping to make their lives better.

Devastating as the decision is Zimbabweans have left their country to settle in South Africa, Botswana and even Lesotho running away from their country of birth. Others still love their country as they usually go home when time allows still working in those countries. Others are business people in those countries as is the case in Lesotho. Unlike Oscar Oskido Mdlongwa, Shasha, Peter Ndoro, Tendai Mtangawira and many others have settled in South Africa because the country is giving them an opportunity to make life better for them.

So the resumption of Corona Virus in the world has changed how people live as many countries including Lesotho restrict movement of people. Unless you are in possession of a permit you cannot move from one place to another, for instance from Lesotho to free State even they are close to each other like that. Lesotho is an amazing country that is inside another country and is totally land locked. It means that things are worse as people are confined in their areas like that but more difficult for Basotho because their country is too small for anything.

Even though some people do not want to admit it, Lesotho depends on South Africa for anything but such people think that Lesotho can be self reliant. Corona Virus has exposed the fallacy because all borders are closed and the movement of people is restricted especially people who are in business can no longer frequent Gauteng province and Cape Town to make a purchases of clothes, shoes, blankets and cars from Durban.  People who buy cars from Japan and China are now affected as they can no longer buy goods in China or any other world because shipping has been stopped now.

In essence the business has been turned upside down because nothing is moving because of the fear of Corona Virus that is now in place. People are no longer shaking hands because they fear Corona Virus and hugs are no longer in fashion but people who don’t care about the decease are still doing it. Corona Virus is an everyday word and has become too popular for my liking. And it seems like the word of the century because there is nothing like it in the world. We were only in a month when President of South Africa said that it would take almost two years to recover but now ever since it has taken almost 8 months being in place and  its going to take centuries for countries to recover from.

Even the small country like Lesotho is feeling the pinch of Corona Virus. In Lesotho the schools were closed in the beginning of March when South Africa introduced the lockdown and this country followed suit even when there was nothing in place to fear it. Former Prime Minister Tom Thabane introduced lockdown a week later but did not talk strongly about behavior change even his successor did not make a required noise but changed the minister who was already doing it without giving an explanation.

Only in June the country had experienced the first Corona Virus and deaths followed afterwards. A new minister of Health was appointed whereas Nkaku Kabi the former health minister was doing well and did not have to be changed to be water minister. But what I had witnessed is that Communications minister Thesele Maseribane had taken over Nacosec and he was speaking on behalf of it yet health minister was there. I wondered what got into Dr. Moeketsi Majoro for appointing Thabo khasipe as the manager of Nacosec yet he was the commissioner General of Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA). The Prime Minister was now showing signs of Corruption in his gig as prime minister. Khasipe was already earning a lot of money as LRA boss and now to get two fat cheqeus. It was unbelievable that Majoro ignored the health workers and that according to him no one could lead Nacosec yet there are so many Doctors and Nurses at the ministry.

Once again Lesotho is again cursed to have a prime minister who does not care about the country but his friends will eat money for generations to come. The health workers engaged in a strike demanding money to be increased. Instead of paying them the minister of health Maqelepo talked nonsense saying that they want to enrich themselves when they demanded an increase to their salary. Ever since Maqelepo was appointed the minister of health he revealed his pettiness and weakness by saying wrong things to the public about health workers demanding better pay, PEPs and tax holiday like it is happening to other countries.

It is if the money is coming from his pocket or anyone he knows. Nacosec was created with the purpose of people befitting from Corona Virus and they wanted health workers not to benefit yet they put their lives in danger like that. Yet when Lesotho government seeks the donations from donors they mention the health sector. At health PS was removed and a new one khothatso was put in place. Khothatso trained as a police officer in 2007 and climbed the ranks so quick because he had Masters Degree in Philosophy. I don’t about his appointment but he is not health worker or trained in health a matter again that is why the country is not moving forward. Majoro might have good intentions but he wrong most of the time.

I don’t want to spend time discussing Khothatso but Majoro is forcing my hand to talk about him because he has proven that once again that government is not his thing. He is failing dismally and the time I think would be possible to judge his performance was December but he is doing it himself. He is not fit to lead the government because he is failing a lot. So much was expected from him because he had worked at IMF and knows a lot about money. He was the finance minister but he achieved nothing from being the minister of finance. While he was the finance minister, Majoro infamously increased the salaries by 0 percent but the following year when he was chosen as the prime minister he increased the money 5 percent as if he was different from Thabane.

Majoro became the prime minister when the world faced difficulty in Corona Virus but we will judge him because he had been government for a long time. He was once the governor of Lesotho Central Bank but still he performed no miracle even now as the prime minister he is failing a lot. It was winter recently and Corona Virus was expected to affect many people but Lesotho has been ill-prepared to deal with the issue.

The much talked about building of another hospital in place of Queen 2 took time to be rebuilt by Chinese government as if Lesotho is the province of china. There are significant buildings which were built like the parliament and Manthabiseng Convention Center by the Chinese.

Lesotho is facing a difficult time now of preretoriosing money but it cannot do so because it does not have luxury to do so. The only proper town that has almost everything a person might need is Maseru but is very down compared to other town in South Africa. A testing place for Corona virus has just been build in Lesotho after the government played marbles with the donations it received from well wishers. There is Sam Matekane a Mosotho business person who donated the machine to government and was almost frustrated at the manner in which the government was responding to Corona Virus.

WHO had been donating essentials to the affected ministry but the government decided to store those donations at the army until the health workers stroke demanding them. Really the Lesotho government is poor in administration. Even donated things are a problem to distribute them accordingly. Another issue is Basotho who work in South Africa and when they return into the country, cross at unsigned borders bring with them disease almost all the districts that borders South Africa. Majoro has no convincing answer for that.

 

 

 

 

 

Cop rapes teenager

Cop rapes teenager

Ezekiel Morake

A Cop in the Lesotho Mounted Police service stationed in Pitseng, a small town east of Hlotse was apprehended by his colleagues after it appeared that he raped a suspect.

The shocking sordid details came up from the mother of the 17 year old victim in a radio interview. The mother of the boy said his son was arrested after being suspected of stealing money. The boy alleged that he was repeatedly beaten several times at the night, while in police custody. In the morning the Cop who assumed duties asked the boy to come out of the police cell. When he was out the teenager was shown a kraal whose stones had fallen down.

The Cop told the boy to go fetch a spade but when the boy could not find the spade the police asked him if he knew how to kiss. He responded that he knew how to kiss and the Cop started kissing him and also fondling his manhood. The cop unzipped the trouser but found a tracksuit.

The mother of the teenager told the hosts of the radio show that the cop inserted his penis inside the mouth of the boy. The boy told his mother that the cop ejaculated inside his mouth and thereafter, entered him from behind sodomising him.

The mother of the teenager said she met with the woman who had alleged that her son had stolen the money, asked the police to release the boy.

The woman said she told Morena Khethisa Tau that her son had been raped. The mother of the teenager said another police officer prayed for her son and during the prayer the boy started vomiting until they arrived at her home. She told the host that the chief was also shocked to hear what the Cop did to her child.

Police spokesman Superintended Mpiti Mopeli confirmed that a police officer had been arrested and charged with the rape of the teenager.

LCA sets the record straight on Vodacom saga

LCA sets the record straight on Vodacom saga

Ezekiel Morake

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), a communications regulatory body has come out guns blazing setting the record straight against Vodacom Lesotho penalty saga.

The spokesman of LCA Ts’iu Ts’iu said his institution was aware of the media reports relating to Vodacom strained relationship with LCA. He said LCA issued a penalty of M8.2 million against Vodacom Lesotho for failure to pay regulatory fees as they fell due and payable on or by 1 July 2019.

“The Lesotho Communications Authority (Licensing Classification and fees) Rules 2018 prescribe on clear terms that the authority shall impose penalties for non-payment of regulatory fees and prescribes how these penalties shall be imposed. On 15 November 2019, LCA published a statement notifying the public of the issuance of a penalty against Vodacom Lesotho. The matter is still pending before the High court,” said Ts’iu.

He said LCA had paid M900 000.00 for the provision of internet to 30 high schools in 2015/16 and 60 high schools in 2017/18 and also 60 more in 2018/19 but some schools complained that there was no internet at their schools. Therefore , LCA required a detailed report on what happened but Vodacom failed to provide a complete and accurate performance report.

“The License conditions of mobile network operators require them to issue timely and accurate billing to its customers. Vodacom Lesotho failed to provide correct, complete and accurate bills on time. Despite several requests to provide complete and accurate information regarding the provision of internet to schools, Vodacom Lesotho has still failed to do so. The matter is still pending before LCA,” he said.

He further said that the license conditions of Vodacom Lesotho required them to submit annual financial statements accompanied by certification issued by independent auditors. Ts’iu added that Section 97(2)(g) of the Lesotho Companies Act, 2011 prohibits a company from appointing a person related to an officer (Director) of a company in a position to influence financial transactions or financial statements of a company as its auditors.

“From as far back 2015, Vodacom Lesotho directors and shareholders failed to appoint independent auditors as specified in section 97(2)(g) in that the external auditor is a relative of the Chairman of the Board of Vodacom Lesotho. The explanation provided by Vodacom Lesotho revealed a deliberate intention to undermine compliance with the laws of Lesotho. In the light of the seriousness of the matter, LCA has requested Vodacom Lesotho to provide written reasons within 90 days why its unified license cannot be revoked,” said Ts’iu in a statement.

He said that LCA was still waiting for submissions from Vodacom. Ts’iu revealed that Vodacom has also failed on its regulations concerning the Summa Campaign and the matter was still pending before LCA.

However, Chairman of Vodacom Board Matjato Moteane denied that his company was wrong in interview with a South African website. He said LCA was threatening to revoke the Vodacom license and also wanted 8 million in penalties of which they are fighting against in the courts of law. Moteane said her sister’s audit company was hired legally to conduct audits.

Vodacom has the biggest customer base in Lesotho and if the license was to be revoked many people would have to move to another controversial communications company Econet.

A Village outside Hlotse gets electricity

A Village outside Hlotse gets electricity

Ezekiel Morake

Ha-Mpopo villagers, 15 kilometers South of Hlotse a small town in Leribe, will be happy recipients of electrification of their homes.

Minister of Energy and Meteorology Professor Ntoi Rapapa and Water Minister Samonyane Ntsekele launched the electrification of homes in the village of Ha-Mpopo and Lesitsi in Leribe last week. The villagers had applied through the village grouping scheme that contributed money ranging from M500 to M1000 so that their village could be lit up. But many governments came and passed without the villages being electrified despite being 15 kilometers from Hlotse, a town in Leribe.

Rapapa told about 150 villagers who huddled inside a tent that he had brought his ministry’s engineers so that they could see and feel for themselves how under pressure he was to electrify the village. He said that he was from Mosalemane constituency where he had battled it out with his brother Sam Rapapa who is currently All Basotho Convention Chairman and premier candidate. He said despite coming from different political parties, they still sat down and talk as a family.

He said there was no bad blood between him and his equally popular brother who also doubles as a political analysist on the local radio stations. Ntoi encouraged the villagers to have good and respectable relationships like he was with his brother.

However, Ntoi was shocked and tried to joke about the manner in which the ministers were welcomed in the village as the villagers did not sing for them or ululate for them when they arrived or were preparing to talk.

“This electricity will make your lives easy because your husbands would no longer go to the taverns to watch football and drink beer away because they would be able to watch football on television in their own houses. Also the food will be spared as it would be put in the fridges. Your children’s studying would improve as they would no longer read under the candle light and you would be able pay for services through Mpesa while you are in the house,” said Ntoi.

He advised the villagers to take care of the electricity equipment such as poles and wires so that electrification be completed on time unlike Ts’oana-Makhulo where the equipment was destroyed by some village thugs who burnt them down in a fire. A local primary school was going to be offered computers after the electrification has been completed, said Ntoi.

He said if people engage in illegal connections they would be arrested, prosecuted and locked in jail for a long time or pay a fine of M10 000, which would be followed by the disconnection of electricity for a longtime. Ntoi asked the women of Ha-Mpopo not to engage in any sexual relations with the contractors who would be installing electricity in the village and told the residents of Lesitsi, Lithabaneng and Matjelong to continue paying money in the village scheme so that by April the electrification of their villages should start.

A contractor from the village Mosiuoa Nkhabu said it was his responsibility to finish installing electricity on time at his home. He had previously stood as a political candidate but was beaten to the position by Water minister and ABC representative Ntsekele.

Ntsekele said electricity was an important thing just like water and was sure that the lives of the villagers were going to be changed forever.

However a villager Harris Morahanye said they were tired of clapping for empty promises and that they would only thank the government after the electrification of their homes.

Six radio stations yet to broadcast

Former MISA National Director : Tsebo Matsasa

Six radio stations yet to broadcast

Ezekiel Morake

The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) has issued over 27 FM frequencies for radio broadcasting since it took regulatory mandate in the late 1990’s but only 21 radio stations were operating.

The spokesman of LCA Tsiu Tsiu said the six radio stations which had been issued with licenses are yet to open their doors, amongst them a station belonging to Mohale Media which is owned by Lesotho Times publisher, Basildon Peta, a Zimbabwean based in South Africa. Tsiu said there was a huge demand for the Frequency Modulation band wave by businessmen living Maseru. He explained that in 1984 countries in the SADC region signed for the FM signals for new radio stations and at the time there was only Radio Lesotho.

Radio Lesotho is a state owned broadcaster of which is yet to be turned into a public broadcaster as is ideally required. Tsiu was addressing the media at Media Institute of Southern Africa- Lesotho (MISA) on Valentine’s Day. He said both countries Lesotho and South Africa had agreed to share the FM signals but there was a new innovation of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) frequency of which radio stations can apply for because it was cheaper and affordable. DAB can be accessed by new radio sets which are able to receive and disseminate digital signal.

Many presenters or people running such radio stations expressed their frustrations regarding the operating costs of the radio stations of which many don’t pay their on-air-talent. The issue of producers was highlighted at the MISA discussion whereby much is not done to make sure that the personnel is retained and paid well.

Speakers said the radio stations only gave opportunities to presenters who also double as producers of the programmes which are more political than anything.

MiSA Chairman Boitumelo Koloi said radio was an important medium of delivering and sharing news and messages. He said radio stations should push for media diversity so that every sector of the society can feel welcomed. Koloi made a plea that women and children should be given an opportunity to host such shows and have the programs that talk to these diverse groups.

“We are excited to have so many different radio stations at this gathering. We want the newsrooms to have diverse personalities so that women and children could have an opportunity to play a role in the media space. We believe that after the National Reforms we would have programs that talk to a diverse group of people and our profession would be professionalized,” said Koloi.

The spokesman of Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) Qamako Mahao said media played a pivotal role in disseminating the information to the public and that there could not be a business that could thrive without the use of media. Mahao said LNIG was an insurance company which was started by Basotho taxes and was working for Basotho to have insurance policies that can help the people in education, pension and even when death had occurred. He said his company was supporting journalists by offering them awards for best business reporters.

Meanwhile, UNESCO representative Mats’ooana Sekokotoana said the mandate of UNESCO was to support the implementation of government policies by funding such projects. She said radio stations should welcome diversity of opinions and personnel’s. Sekokotoana said many radio stations in the country were focusing more on controversial party politics depriving the society of important information. She challenged the radio stations to have a diverse programming and content.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications Mabotle Damane said her ministry was going to shut down radio stations that are failing to pay for the radio transmitters which are connected with Radio Lesotho transmitters. All commercial and community radio stations have to pay to the radio broadcast signal so that they could reach a wider audience in Lesotho. Damane said there was a need for regulation of social media.

Ultimate FM presenter Lesaoana Lesupi better known as ‘LLCOOLB’ said radio was regarded as a lucrative business which can make millions but it was not the case in Lesotho as many radio stations struggled to get advertisements from South African companies operating in Lesotho.

Former Mopheme newspaper owner Lawrence Keketso bemoaned the fact that there was general neglect of producers of programs on radio as much attention was given to presenters only. He said that the neglect of producers and other role actors in the radio industry compromised the output of the programs so much that people would discuss one issue for three hours in a program.

Bokamoso 974 FM Programme’s Manager Tumelo Mokete said the biggest challenge for radio station in Lesotho was that Lesedi FM was also broadcasting throughout the country yet it was a foreign SABC radio. And those advertisers who are originally from South Africa preferred Lesedi FM over local radio stations which struggle to make any revenue.

LCA has categorized the radios stations into four categorize which are private, community, public and Commercial radio stations. Many of which have prioritized political talk on the prime shows in the morning and afternoon until early evenings.

United Nations supports Government initiatives

THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND REPRESENTATIVE TO LESOTHO, DR. MARC DERVEEUW

Applaud the Ministry of Development Planning for the leadership in the Nairobi Summit on Accelerating the ICPD agenda which was held in Nairobi in November 2019. The Kingdom of Lesotho was among the more than 170 countries that participated in the summit in which more than 9,500 delegates from over 170 countries participated.

Delegates included top government officials, parliamentarians, thought leaders, technical experts, religious leaders, activists and community organizers, young people, business leaders, indigenous people, international financial institutions, people with disabilities, academics and many others.

Lesotho was represented by among others Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso and the Minister of Development Planning Dr Tlohelang Aumane who presented the country’s commitment which is focusing on ensuring the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Congratulate the Government of Lesotho on the commitment to procure Family Planning Commodities and express hope that this pledge will soon be implemented so as to expand access to contraceptives.

Commend the Implementing Partners on their valued contribution towards attainment of UNFPA’s four transformative results;

Ending preventable maternal deaths

Ending Unmet need for family planning

Ending Gender Based Violence and harmful practices and 

Ending transmissible diseases including HIV through, among others, development of policies and strategies and reaching communities, including hard to reach communities with information and services on HIV, SRHR, GBV and Family Planning.   

Recognizing the potential of climate change to impede the quest to achieve development, highlight the successes of the CERF project which was implemented in 2019. The aim of the CERF project was to provide protection and prevention of Gender Based Violence in drought affected communities as research had shown that incidences of GBV increase in times of emergency. A similar project will be implemented in 2020.

• Congratulate and acknowledge Ministry of Development Planning for leadership in coordinating the 7th country program and all the UNFPA implementing partners’ 2019 achievements and 

•  Pledge continued support to the Government of Lesotho and the Implementing Partners in their contribution towards reaching the set goals of the 7th Country Program which include creating an enabling environment through strengthened policy, legal and accountability frameworks that advance gender equality and empower women and young people, especially adolescent girls, to exercise their reproductive rights and to be protected from violence and harmful practices. 

   

Lesotho Celebrates World Radio Day

Lesotho to commemorate the World Radio Day 2020 By Tsiu Tsiu

Lesotho will join the rest of the world in observing the World Radio Day 2020 on the 13 February 2020.

Radio remains the most widely consumed medium in Lesotho, like in many countries of the world. Radio in Lesotho is diversified with different forms of ownership. Lesotho has a state broadcaster, several private, commercial and community radio stations. At present, Lesotho has 27 sound broadcasting licensees broadcasting in most areas of the country in two official languages and with one licensee using isiXhosa. 

The Authority has recently secured radio frequencies for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) - a technology used by radio stations to broadcast digitally and will soon be issuing licences using this technology. Through DAB radio, the choice of stations available to listeners will be increased dramatically with more stations being able to broadcast in the same areas on less frequency space than necessary for FM and AM radio. Lesotho already has a challenge of diminishing FM frequencies. DAB radio also offer additional information and features, such as the display of programme and song played, or the ability to pause and even record live broadcast, further enriching the radio experience.

Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) is a statutory body, established in June 2000, with the mandate of regulating the communications sector in Lesotho comprising telecommunications, broadcasting, postal services and related matters.

Bridge to ease movement between villages

Bridge to ease movement between villages

Ezekiel Morake

The nearly complete construction of bridge between Ha-Paanya and Ha-Taka in Matsieng is to make movement between the two villages easy.

For decades the community of Ha-Taka had been struggling to walk over to Matsieng smoothly especially during rainy seasons as the valley between the two villages would be overflooded. This resulted in people cutting short their errands, going to work, school or Clinic. Ha-Taka is a village in Matsieng near Ha-Sekhobe, Ha-Paanya and Ha-Ts~ilo.

More than 2000 people use the gravel road between Ha-Taka and Ha-Paanya on a daily basis for various reasons and they are now happy that the bridge that is currently being built is going to be finished. A twelve (12) year old school boy was washed away by the raging water flowing down the Matsieng Mountain to the fields down the valley in 2010. Also a woman on the same year gave birth on the other side of the valley because she could not cross over to the clinic as the flowing water blocked the way.

A Ha-taka Villager Mammakhokolotso Nkoto (43) said it used to be very difficult to cross over to Matsieng because of overflooding at the valley they used to cross on.

“My son Lira Sefuthi (12) drowned in the gorge while trying to cross-over to Matsieng in 2010 from Ha-Taka. His death hit us badly and we are happy now that the building of the bridge is nearing completion for us to cross easily. Whenever it rained we were always worried that something bad would happen especially if children had gone to school and it rains before the arrive back home. In 2017 a woman from our village gave birth near where the bridge is being built because she could not cross over to the other side to go to the clinic with the women who had accompanied her,” said Nkoto.

She said she hoped that many cabs (Taxis) would be able to move in between the villages in numbers now that the bridge is being finished.

Tsotetsi Sheleshele (51) from Ha-Taka working at the bridge said many problems facing them were going to be resolved with the completion of the bridge. He reiterated what many told this Newspaper that many people were unable to go to work or school whenever it rained heavily. He said their lives were always in danger whenever they wanted to go Matsieng or town as they did not have any alternative route to use.

“A person was once washed away by the flowing water when he tried to cross but fortunately survived when he was disposed off on the field and villagers pumped out the water he had drank. The gravel road is always damaged whenever there are rains. We are happy that the bridge is being built and would be completed soon,” said Sheleshele.

He said more than 75 people were hired for the construction of the bridge and were working interchangeably with others, indicating that others would resume work at the beginning of every month. Sheleshele said people from Ha-Sekhobe, Ha-taka, Ha-Tsilo, Thaba-Telle and other villages would benefit from the construction of the bridge.

The Chairperson of Makhoarane Community Council Lebohang Makhetha the construction of the bridge was part of a 25 kilometer gravel road construction between Ha-taka, to Ha-Sekhobe and to Ha-tsilo so that villages could be connected to make the movement of people and goods easy. He said the construction of the road had been sponsored with M4 Million and that the District Council was part of the whole construction of the roads and bridges for the people.

Makhetha pointed out that the people of the above mentioned villages had been living in difficulty for many years, as that when there was a corpse, people had to carry the corpse on their shoulders while being placed on a ladder.

Hustling in the streets

Hustling in the streets

Ezekiel Morake

With the high rising unemployment rate in the country and the world over, many young people in their prime years are seen eking a living in the streets of our small towns and the capital city Maseru.

Young, gifted and tired of begging for jobs or waiting for recruitment agencies and government to advertise for job positions, young men and women aged from 16 years old upwards are taking the bull by its horns by improving their lives. They do this by selling fruits in the busy main south 1 road from Maseru to Mohale’shoek to passing motorists and passengers in the taxis. These are young people who are changing the narrative that young people are lazy and good for nothing.

Many of these young people who spoke to Lesotho Street Journal indicated that after completing their high school education, for some various reasons could not afford to further their education at institutions of Higher learning. And as a result could not wait to be given jobs by the government which, according to them, is practicing nepotism throughout its different departments and have lost hope that even the private sector would ever hire them.

Refumane Makhohlo (29) is a former Teacher at a primary school at Ha-Moruthane who is now selling fruits ranging from Peaches, Apples, Oranges and Grapes to passing motorists. He said while he was still teaching primary pupils and studying for his Teaching Diploma at Lesotho College of Education, he decided to augment his income by opening a Spaza shop. Makhohlo said he realized that when he returned from his teaching work, the goods had not been sold at the rate he needed. He then decided to start selling to motorists by standing in the middle of the road and many of his homeboys started following his unique selling strategy.

“It has been six years since I started selling fruits to motorists in the middle of the road. I started with a spaza shop which is still standing but I was not making enough profit from my sales, that is when I realized that I should come and sell directly to the motorists who wouldn’t want to stop outside the road to buy. Ever since I started selling this way my profits doubled and noticed that I made the right decision by selling in this manner. I was able to provide for my family as the money I was earning as a teacher was not enough,” said Makhohlo.

He added that he never looked back as he was often looking for the next day to go to the streets to provide much needed service to his clients. Makhohlo never cared what people would say about him selling in the streets because people always had something to say whether one did good or bad. He said he focused on the bigger picture of turning his life around and never liked the idea of always begging for spoja (M2.00) from people as he was not disabled but fully functional.

Makhohlo said it was always his dream to be a businessman but circumstances beyond his control are not allowing him to start his own supermarket but said while he was still alive, he would work hard to make his dream come true. Proving that he knows what he is doing and talking about, Makhohlo said big companies such as Apple Iphone, Amazon and Facebook were started by young people in the garages of their homes but were big companies now in the world which are impacting the everyday life of many people across the globe. He also said that one of his role models South African serial Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Dj Sbu (Sibusiso Leope) had established many companies by taking calculated risks which are now paying off through his initiatives such as Mofaya energy drink, Loko Flame Vodka and Massiv online radio station. Makhohlo said Dj Sbu has also written three books about business in which he advises young people to start their own businesses by ghubuluzing (hustling in township language) in the streets.

Dj Sbu despite his celebrity status is often seen on videos posted on social media selling his Mofaya energy drinks to passengers at Bree and Noord Taxi rank and other streets in Johannesburg and even on the Highway of the busy African city. It is reported that more than 2 million cans of Mofaya energy drink are sold each and every month in selected supermarkets and streets by street hawkers, and Makhohlo says he would like to move in the footsteps of Dj Sbu who is unashamed to sell in the streets yet he has millions in his bank accounts.

Another Youngman Man Motlatsi Moima (23) is also selling fruits in the busy road at Ha-Moruthane to motorists passing to Mafeteng or Maseru whilst waiting to be admitted at National Health Training Center (NHTC) where he would be studying for a Nursing and Mid-wifery Diploma. He said he did not like the notion of just sitting idle at his home doing nothing as an idle mind is the house of the devil. Moima said he liked to make money for himself as he did not have many responsibilities of looking after children or his parents.

He said he was learning a lot of things such as patience, street-smarts, negotiation skills, pitching and how to accept rejection as some motorists wouldn’t even bother to buy as they waved them away like people with leprosy. Moima said some motorists thought that they were being nuisance on the road not knowing why they ended up selling in the streets because they were living in comfort. He said that motorists should learn to have empathy for people who are trying to do some work not stealing from anyone.

Investors ready to invest in Lesotho

Investors ready to invest in Lesotho

Ezekiel Morake

Shortly after he delivered unimpressive budget, Finance Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro rushed to Avani Maseru to respond to questions from the audience.

Majoro sitting with his finance technocrats in the ministry of finance on the stage told the filled to capacity Hall that the Investors were coming to invest in Lesotho and that barriers needed to be removed. He said one of the investors who had planted Cannabis for medical purposes was ready to export his produce. Majoro said 50 licenses had been issued to the people and more would be issued so that more investors could come to create jobs for Basotho.

He said the government was on the way to finding solutions. Majoro said that the government was looking for people to be involved in Agriculture and farming. He said that 80 investors were going to invest M10 Billion into the Lesotho economy and that 20000 jobs would be created.

“Government has tapped into a new emerging agricultural market of producing medical Cannabis for exportation and processing. The ministries of Health, Agriculture and food security and of Trade and Industry have joined hands to make this wonderful initiative a success,” said Majoro.

He said the government was facing fiscal crisis and that the people were also facing job crisis, therefore it was upon the government to go out and court the investors so that they could come and create jobs in the country.

“The ministry of Trade and Industry and the LNDC are incubating several new business ventures including 8 new firms in clothing and electrical components, with an estimated 8000 jobs to be created in 2 years, fresh produce activity and an out-grower scheme aiming at 500 jobs in the Maseru area, expansion of area under deciduous fruit production to increase from current 34 hectares to 150 hectares in the medium term which will add 1000 jobs,” he said.

Majoro added that LNDC would finalise plans for integrated piggery, poultry, and aquaculture and beef operations as well as a grains initiative to roll out area planted to 4000 hectares in Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea and Maseru for both domestic and export markets.

“We learned that as Basotho we plant first and look for markets after harvesting. But we should find markets first so that we can know what to produce. There is going to be a Vegetable project in Masianokeng driven by markets,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki lauded Majoro for making a bold budget speech and that he did not struggle like last year when he first made it. He said Lesotho would one day come out of poverty like Ethiopia and Rwanda which are performing extremely in growing their respective economies.

“I believe that we would emulate Ethiopia and Rwanda by growing our economy and never rely on SACU. The roads that we are constructing are costing the government M6.9 billion for tourism and transportation of goods. We have never seen such growth,” said Moleleki.

Filthy Hospital, a breeding ground for corruption

Filthy Hospital, a breeding ground for corruption!!!

Ezekiel Morake

Iconic Queen II hospital in the Maseru CBD, along Kingsway road is a shadow of its former self.

Many Basotho from all walks of life still go there in huge numbers to get health service for their different ailments and to get medical certificates. The surroundings at Queen II hospital are a total eyesore and pose many health and welfare risks to the patients and health workers at the hospital. Many wards are dilapidated, broken doors, falling ceilings and broken windows are what describes the situation at Queen II hospital. The grass around the wards has grown so much that is over knee high making it conducive for snakes to roam around freely and attack patients unaware.

The hospital was re-opened after its closure in 2012 with the suggestion that a shopping complex was going to be built at the site but many people complained that the services at Queen Mamohato hospital (Tshepong) were expensive making it hard for them to seek medical help there. And Tshepong as is affectionately known was bedeviled by shortage of staff and mass exodus of the nursing staff. Queen II was then re-opened and the public was told that a new hospital was going to be built, turning it a District hospital instead of a national one as it was before.

Soon or later Queen II is going to be demolished and the health services would be offered at a designated Bedco Complex near Maqalika dam in Ha-Thamae.  But currently Queen II hospital is a haven of corruption, as some of the Cleaners are purported to be selling fake sick-leaves to unscrupulous workers and a consultant Surgeon performing autopsy at the hospital has opened his Spaza pathology enterprise charging bereaved families R1500.00 in the hospital premises for performing post-mortem to the corpse.

Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr. Alexander Mojela said the conditions at Queen II where he is the senior most doctors were worrisome and needed to be fixed urgently. He said that some of the people working at the hospital didn’t care much about the hospital and were there to just draw salary from the hospital. Mojela said the Principal Secretary of the Health department was aware of the situation and had even intervened to stop the selling of fake sick-leaves at the out-bounds of the hospital.

“What is happening at the hospital is that there is a general negligence. I don’t know what is happening here. We have cleaners who only clean where people can see. After they have swept the wards and offices, they go outside the hospital to sell fake sick-leaves to the people and other medication. I even asked the P.S (Principal Secretary) to intervene as the situation was getting out of control. While I was working in Quthing we had engaged the cleaning services of a private company but here we have people who have been hired from their constituencies and cannot be reprimanded as they have political protection,” said a concerned Mojela.

He said that the hospital was going to be demolished and in its place a new one was going to be built. Mojela said a big part of the hospital had been shutdown yet a few services were still open for out-patients. Mojela added that a post-mortem service was still being carried out by a consultant, Doctor Moorosi whom he did not know how much he charged for his autopsy services.

“When I arrived here from Quthing I was told that doctors had refused to perform pathology work claiming that they were not paid for it. And the hospital had allowed Dr. Moorosi as a consultant to do the work in the hospital laboratory with the police. There are only two qualified pathologists in the country,” he said.

However, Mojela did not dispute the fact that there was a tinge of corruption playing itself out for desperate families to have their loved ones buried on time by paying for the post-mortem service as they could not do anything if the post-mortem had not been performed on the dead person.

A clandestine investigation conducted by this newspaper has revealed that Dr. Moorosi together with Cops and a man working at Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) are in cahoots using a dilapidated building at Queen II hospital to render their corrupt service to the corpses of families who want to bury their family member on time. On normal working days a corpse would be booked to investigate the cause of death for free so that the post-mortem report could be released for the issuance of Death Certificate and for closure of insurance policy.

A post-mortem report is necessary for the drawing up of a death certificate from the National Identity office at Maseru Mall. The other reason is when the deceased has been insured, so the insurance companies would require a death certificate which cannot be issued on time if the post-mortem report has not been made.

This situation has created a fertile ground for Dr. Moorosi and his colleagues to take advantage of the grieving families who are desperate to bury the deceased on time. The exercise has become a lucrative business undertaking by these men at Queen 2. The laboratory in which this autopsy is being conducted is filthy and has no windows and the surroundings are covered in a long grass, making it scarier to ordinary people.

People who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity revealed their harrowing experiences, that the same doctor often misdiagnose the cause of death, for instance when a Khubetsoana school girl was killed by a car, the doctor said the student’s death was caused by Tuberculosis. Another said his relative who passed away, the doctor said his cause of death was head injury yet the person had suffered from stomach cancer.

In the meantime, Police Spokesman Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said police authorities have not received any complaint from the public that they were being swindled of their hard earned money to pay for post-mortem. But said that there was no law preventing an individual to seek a post-mortem from a private doctor just like when someone could hire a private investigator to help with the case.

“Post-mortem is part of the evidence that the police do to gather information for the case they are dealing with for a possible prosecution of a suspect of a crime. However, the police have a contract with the Pathologist to work on the corpses where the police a investigating a crime and that doctor is being paid by the police after submitting a claim for the number of corpses he has worked upon. The public don’t have to pay a single cent for a post-mortem if the case is handled by the police,” said Mopeli.