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.