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Thabane clan blast video LCS blocks soldiers’ lawyers First faces arrest Fate ofLady Tšepong on the cards
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
News News
Metsing extradition could be suspended
TRC blasts Majoro
. . . as SADC nudges govt to compromise for reforms
. . . accuses minister of blocking donor funds BONGIWE ZIHLANGU AND RAY MUNGOSHI
M M
LITHA MOTSAMAI ASERU – Government is willing to suspend A S E R U – attempts to extradite Transformation exiled Lesotho Congress of Resource Centre (TRC) D e m o c ra t s ( L C D ) l e a d e r director Tsikoane Peshoane last Mothetjoa Metsing from attack South night aimed a stinging Africa to boost chancesMoeketsi of ending at Finance Minister the standoff with Majoro, accusing him opposition blocking the parties and give impetus to release of nearly M25 million donor sluggish national money meant to reforms. fund the rights Public Eye can report that group’s operations. SADC mediators haveEye been Tsikoane told Public the engaged shuttle money wasinpart of the diplomacy residue of a between Maseru and South Africa M2 billion (at today’s rate) grant aimed at reaching a settlement extended to government under between the ruling and the European Union coalition Development the grouping parties Fund (EDF)ofinopposition 2014 or EDF11, which are at loggerheads over which could be returned to Brussels Metsing’s next year iffate. unused. SADC Preventive in A miffed TsikoaneMission said the Lesotho (SAPMIL) Chairperson finance minister was pushing a Dr Bernito Matias Matondo parochial agenda as the block confi rmed to Public Eye was at variance with a yesterday collective that Metsing was to crucial to the cabinet decision co-operate with the reform TRC and like-minded ongoing process, adding non-profi t human defenders. the former deputyrights premier could Tsikoane hinted Majoro was be returning home “soon rather withholding funds an to than later” the and crucial not “under punish the TRC for hosting press extradition process”. conferences and brainstorming Hours before Matondo’s sessions attended bygovernment his rival in interview, however, the All Basotho Convention (ABC) had threatened to press ahead Nqosa Mahao.reforms unilaterally with national Mahao – parties who leads a faction if opposition snubbed the that has been locked in a to titanic last-ditch SADC initiative coax power into struggle with the Prime Minister them joining watershed Tom Thabane’s group since last process geared towards stiffening yearcountry’s – brushedcreaking aside stiff challenge the democratic from a number of ABC poster institutions. boys, F oincluding r e i g n Majoro, a f f a ito r sland a the nd coveted deputyrelations leader’s job. international minister Thabane retained his position Lesego Mokgothi on Wednesday as leader unopposed. morning said government was Last night, Majoro pushed ready to go full steam ahead with back, essentially saying the the reforms but was stalling to TRC had no right to the money give the regional body time to as the funds had been given to try and persuade the opposition government, suggesting the rights led by the Democratic Congress group was displaying lack of (DC) and the Lesotho Congress understanding of EU funding of Democrats (LCD) to come back mechanisms. into the fold. “I don’t know what the TRC He was, however, quick to is talking about. I know they have issue a discussions caveat thatwith should been in the the EU seven-party opposition coalition about this money and they have scupper the SADC overture the written a lot of letters to us about reforms “train will soon leave” it. them behind, as they cannot be
allowed to hold the country to ransom ad nauseum. “We have tried everything “But why don’t you come to humanly possible to engage my office and my officers we will sit opposition, we have not given down with you and explain to you up. We believe in the process of how the ACP/EU funding works,” inclusivity. he said in a telephone interview. “We have limited time on Majoro said the funds the TRC hand, we can’t waitcommitted forever and was angling for were to let or allow opposition to hold government. the“This processmoney to ransom due to their (the TRC is unfoundedwith preconditions. SADC discussing the EU) will end up has requested us to give them a coming out of funding committed little time to engage government with them. to government…from We have revised the roadmap, and funds.” we And can’tinkeep on revising it time a letter to Peshoane on and again10, asMajoro if we are notrejected sure of October had what weposition, are doing. the TRC saying: “It would “Iwemust say misrepresented this was the seem have been lasthaving time such revision happens as ‘halted’ the proposed on account opposition not funding to theof TRC. engaging. The train will soon “It is understood government is leave the platform. Those who are under pressure to have these funds on board will participate the committed before February in 2020. reform journey,” Mokgothi said. With this in mind, it was considered I n to s hmove a r p forward c o n t in r apriority st to prudent Ma kgo t h i ’sthesab re - ra tt l i nare g, areas where objectivities already and where Matondoestablished urged a softening of stakeholder has attitudes andanalysis the need forbeen the conducted satisfactorily. feuding sides to meet in the “At house t h e s to a maccelerate e t i m e , the we halfway suggested to theinEUD reform process line (European with fastUnion Delegation) that support to approaching SADC deadlines. the TRC couldexpressed be supported under Matondo concern Financing Agreementmanner Support at to at th e sluggish Civil Society in Lesotho as funding which the reforms process was is already attributing in place,” Majoro wrote. moving, this to the Majoro’s standpoint had earlier “reluctance” by government and been attacked by who the opposition to Peshoane accommodate accused theadding minister“they of launching each other need to an on the democratic space getassault their acts together”. in the country. While outlining SAPMIL Majoro, the human rights successes, such as the stabilisation fiofghter said, had his “ownwhich agenda” the security situation was which was in contrast to conducive forsharp implementation government’s rapprochement of the reforms, Matondo was position of months an olive worried and thatextension with four branch to individuals and groups left for his mission to wrap up seeking to promote, protect and its Lesotho mission, politicians cajole government to respect were not “exactly” rising to people’s rights. the occasion and grabbing the “Majoro has his own agenda. opportunity to turn around their This is pay back because he country’s fortunes by “closing believes we gave the Mahao faction this bleak chapter of its history”. a platform to attack his side during “But to be frank, we ourselves the run-up to the ABC elective also feel that the process is a bit conference. sluggish andwe that there’s need “But what have are facilities to speed it up because for hire which anyone can we use are for running the risk not areally fee. Majoro himself usedofthose meeting our deadline. SADC has
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facilities when he was still in opposition.” Peshoane, who has just returned from consultative meetings at EU headquarters in Brussels, said it was baffling that Majoro would rather have the money returned to EU coffers instead of being pumped into development programmes locally. The pugnacious group which has earned itself a reputation for speaking truth to power and is the sole Basotho rights body enjoying observer status with the African Commission, wants to use the money to shadow the National Reforms Authority (NRA). it will ensure there is LCD This leader way, Mothetjoa Metsing transparency and funds are used decided the process must be for their that intended purposes. completed by May 2019. SAPMIL “Ask yourself why there are extension also runs until for thesuch end so many political parties ofsmall November this year. So,because we are a population. It is really people runningwant out of these to time. have access to government resources. We want “But the responsibility lies to monitor that,”We Peshoane said. with Basotho. are already Additionally, it is gearing in July, we are left with four itself m o n tto h s agitating to o u r for ex formation te n s i o n . of the contentious Rights Whether there willHuman be a second Commission after Court of extension or not is aadecision to Appeal directive government, be taken by our that principals, their on one hand,the and the TRCgiven and excellencies, presidents, Development Peace the conditions on for theEducation ground, (DPE), on the other, thrash outour an given the achievements and out-of-court challenges.” settlement to their dispute. SAPMIL arrived in Lesotho Prime last“Moleleke November (Deputy to pave way for Minister Monyane Moleleke) and SADC recommended reforms the entire cabinet working emanating from theare Phumaphi with us. Onlyfithis super minister Commission ndings. Majoro M a who t o nisdtaking o aadvantage d m i t t eof d his colleaguesand in other portfolios’ government the opposition lack of understanding of their roles were engaged in a game of is frustrating us.brinkmanship, intrigue and “He thinks he is a super with the opposition making minister because he is a minister of incessant demands while refusing finance and by default that makes to recognise any initiative by him signatory to this fund. government. “As a h um a n rights a nd Government, on the other governance group we should be hand, was also not living up to dealing with the minister of law some commitments it had made and human rights and not Majoro,” to the opposition. he said. “In a way yes,the because we Peshone raised same issue have beento time and again asking in a letter Moleleke on October Basotho the called board to 29, this across year and forgive “a the reforms a chance. To common put their formal discussion and acts together in order to turn this
understanding”. On October 15, 2019 cabinet agreed to amend the constitution to create the HRC, a move which dovetailed with a Court of Appeal’s order on November 6, 2019 which mandated the two parties to work together. “There is no doubt that Finance Minister is exclusively not supporting the cabinet collective decision, and his decision to block direct grant to TRC is completely not in concert with the spirit of partnership that has been established through engagements of different stakeholders in coalition government on the matter of HRC. “The decision and attitude of the finance minister clearly are not based on the principle but is perpetuated by the fact that he seems to be the only Sheriff in town who monopolises authority on financial decisions of the country. “This is not because other members of the cabinet do not have interests to contribute to the economic policy and financial decisions affecting the state, but their limitation is on the literacy bleak page of their the of economics and fihistory. nances,Ifas a opposition undermine result, the decides ministertohas realised everything that as comes from the this phenomenon an opportunity government government to exploit and this the limitation of is taking its time to fulfi his colleagues, and hel certain wants commitments undertaken by and the to capitalise his prospects government are aspiration to itself, becomethen nextwe prime minister when athe doing ourselves bigincumbent disservice. retires, as currently the put latter is So, people should really their no longer coping the pressure acts together andwith compromise. within the party and opposition to “It is a give and take process but step because of the his benefi age and at thedown end of the day ts moral authority he themselves. has also lost, are for Basotho hence some politicians in his own Government, the opposition and party havestakeholders taken advantage of the all other need to situation. compromise and put the needs of phenomenon of Finance this“This country first.” Minister a O n M(Dr a y Majoro) 2 t h i staking y e a r, trajectory of intolerance his SADC, government and to noncritics has made organisations him part of the governmental politicians that met are with hell-bent to representatives, Metsing shrink the civic space. in South Africa, with a view “He is currently lating to convincing him toconf return to his personal preferences with the Lesotho. position of the government hence “We met and the atmosphere he usinggood, his strategic position of wasisvery engaging on both being National Authorising Officer sides. There are underlying issues (NAO) to be a political weapon that need to be addressed, mainly to stifle participation of TRC as the security and free passage one major governance and human for Mr Metsing to come back. rights protection organisation The government has indeed that is still reputable in the public undertaken to provide all the eyes,” Peshoane said in an email security. to an addressee whose identity we “We are actually left with were asked to protect. Mr The Metsing because objectives of we the actually TRC in recognise that has been a this instance arehe threefold: “(a) former deputy-prime minister to strengthen HRC institutional twice and leader of a political
capacity (b) to promote independence and autonomy of the HRC to effectively protect human rights and (c) to empower citizens to effectively engage with the HRC for promotion and protection of human rights.” The disputed money was part of a tranche the EU committed to Lesotho under EDF11 for the period 2014 to 2020 – a funding model akin to the United States’ Millennium Compact Challenge (MCC). The EU’s funding priority areas were identified as energy, water and governance, a category which includes the TRC and all human rights defending groups. “You will recall that the EU at some point withheld Euros 18 million because the government was not complying with EU terms and meeting timeframes. Majoro and Ntsekele (Minister of Water) were actually engaged on this matter,” he said. Peshoane was skeptical about government’s ability to meet the terms of its agreement with the EU and to meet prescribed timeframes owing to a gamut of weakness, a party that has had a signifi cant base malady which resulted in a in thiscomatose country. economy, and a near “He has been in exile. So, we moribund parliament. are This looking fortypified ways andby means, to was recent provide all him clashes in the themodalities house, heforsaid, to feel the safegovernment to come back adding washome. not in The government has provided a a state to unilaterally implement crucial now number national of securityreforms guarantees, widely only potent and weconsidered have too the as SADC. We tonic to the are on thecountry’s verge ofproblems. getting a “Majoro is questioning why the breakthrough and we believe it TRC has beenrather offeredthan a direct grant will be soon later.” instead like “To of bebidding candidfor wefunding have been everyone asking theelse. government to suspend “But we areprocess qualified as the are it (extradition ) for our inreconciliation civil society to sakecolleagues of peace and in monitor government the the country. And theestablish government human rights and the is willing to docommission that, to suspend it. work of the NRA. “We ourselves as SADC, “If it were notfor for the would not wish Mr diligence Metsing of LCNto theLesotho reforms would to the return under not an have beeen where they are now. extradition process. So, there’s Even when the political parties an agreement or a pre-agreement were to use theMr reforms for that iftrying we agree with Metsing point scoring, the LCN brought on a number of things, if he us together as civil agrees to come backsociety home,and we pushed the programme through.” will provide security for him,” The LCN got direct funding Matondo said. from the EU during its outreach “Actually, he was given the programme, which has now privilege to define or to choose allocated Euros 6 million to the the security structure that he may NRA to drive the reforms. be comfortable with. So, once “If we are not careful, we will that is agreed upon we don’t see fall into the category of countries why anybody should push for an where funding to all non-state extradition. talking actors has But to fwe lowarethrough and we believe thatdictates we will where find a government which the money goes.” Continued on page 8
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
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Thabane clan blasts video MATHATISI SEBUSI
M
ASERU – Members o f P r i m e M i n i s te r Tom Thabane’s clan yesterday bristled at a video that has gone viral showing the ageing patriarch singing a religious hymn with his wife, Maesaiah. H i s d a u gh te r, Advo ca te ’Mabatšoeneng Hlaele and nephew Selimo Thabane in separate posts on social media, criticised the clip and pinned responsibility for its production firmly on Maesaiah. In her Facebook post, Hlaele renewed her feud with her stepmother, warning her of impending doom. “It is well with my soul. But heavens have spoken. She has reached the final stage of her demonic exposure. Now the world knows that the days of … are nigh. “It is over Liabiloe Ramoholi. You will look back at the day you started this and wish that you had listened. Now it is too late, prison awaits,” said Hlaele in her Facebook post. Selimo refused to comment on the video but he also posted on Facebook his disdain for the video that has captured national attention. In a cryptic post, he said,
the video symbolized the end noting either God was at work or the devil was at work. “This is nonsense no nooo nooo,” he said Adv Hlaele said she was in a meeting and would comment later but did not pick her phone when this reporter telephoned her again last night. The video has got the country talking and laughing. Numerous videos mimicking the couple – complete with their evening gowns - have been released while some enterprising artistes have released songs caricaturing the couple. Adv Hlaele, last month blasted her father and his wife, accusing them of meddling in her marriage to All Basotho Convention (ABC) secretary general, Lebohang Hlaele. In a leaked audio clip of her recorded audio message to Selimo, Adv Hlaele accused the First Lady of involvement in dodgy affairs. Adv Hlaele’s attacks on the first couple appeared to have been in retaliation to the Prime Minister’s attack on her and her husband at an ABC rally in Qeme in July 2019. At that rally, Dr Thabane attacked his daughter for fighting in her husband and Prof Nqosa
Prime Minister’s daughter Advocate ’Mabatšoeneng Hlaele Mahao’s corner for control of the ABC. A livid Dr Thabane said his daughter would regret her decision to side with his rivals. He also questioned the genuineness of Hlaele’s love for his daughter, suggesting that the he had only married her to be in close proximity to power and influence.
“I listened to the clip of Ntate Thabane when he was at the Qeme rally. Maybe I listened to it because I already knew what he was going to say even before he said it,” Adv Hlaele said. She pleaded with Selimo to play the recorded audio clip (hers) to Dr Thabane and the First Lady and ask them to stay out of her
LCS bars lawyers from consulting clients RELEBOHILE TSOAMOTSE MASERU - Lawyers representing some of the soldiers accused of murder and causing anarchy in the country in August 2014 were on Tuesday this week blocked from consulting with their clients by the Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) staff at the Maseru Central prison. Advocates Napo Mafaesa and Rebokeng Mothobi were forced to leave the central prison after failing to agree with warders on consultation procedures. The prison off icers took offence with the fact that the lawyers were taking notes as they consulted and demanded that communication should only be verbal. “Another officer told me that consultation should be verbal and no other way round,” Mafaesa said. The duo has written to the LCS commissioner, Thabang Mothepu, informing him about the conduct of his officers and asked him to intervene.
In a hard-hitting letter, the lawyers narrated their visit to the prison on Tuesday and warned about the behaviour of the officers. They pointed out that the officers illegally interrupted their consulting sessions without cause and that the efforts were meant to intimidate them. “Supposedly the idea was to intimidate me but on the contrary I felt insulted to be approached and lectured on how to do my professional work. Perhaps, you and your men need a reminder that a lawyer and client communication attaches confidentiality and such duty I am legally and ethically bound to maintain at all levels of my professional life. “Further, you will no doubt agree with me that a fundamental right of legal access is essential for fair trial under the rule of law. This fundamental right of access is bound to become illusory if the destructive conduct of your men aforesaid goes unabated.” Narrating their encounter
at the hands of the officials, Mafaesa stated: “On the 10th day of December, 2019, I with my colleague, Advocate Rebokeng Mothobi, visited Maseru Central Lesotho Correctional Service to receive instructions from some of my clients: Litekanyo Nyakane, Haleeo Makara, Motsamai Fako, Ts’itso Ramoholi and Motsoane Machai. “To that end I was allocated a consulting room and I duly utilised it. As I was going on with my consultation, one officer, whose particulars are to myself unknown, intruded the consulting room and called me to have discussions with him. He stated that I should desist from making notes with my clients. He stated that my communication should be verbal. “I stated to the said officer that I am not doing anything illegal but on the contrary he is acting illegally to interrupt my consultation without cause. I categorically informed him that I cannot be supervised as to how to conduct my consultation.”
Mafaesa further explained in the letter that: “Another officer told me that consultation should be verbal and no other way round. I was rudely told if mindful to do it otherwise, it should be with their approval and such approval means allowing them to see the notes between me and clients.” The encounter, he wrote, resulted in the officers ordering h i m t o va c a t e t h e p l a c e without having completed the consultation. “In the end, I was ordered to leave Maseru Corrections Institution premises when I refused to conduct consultation in a manner suggested by the LCS personnel. My clients were told to vacate consulting room forthwith. I was frustrated to consult with my clients as a result.” Mafaesa informed the LCS commissioner that the conduct of his officers affected his client’s right to prepare for a trial. “The conduct of your men has made hallowed right to prepare for defence illusory.” His letter has been copied
marriage. She said that she was fully informed of everything which transpired at State House but had chosen not to speak about it out of respect for her father. She however, warned that she would spill the beans if her father allowed himself to be used by Maesaiah.
to the Law Society of Lesotho, Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP), Advocate Hlalefang Motinyane and the Registrar of the High Court, Advocate Ponts`o Phafoli. “Further, you will no doubt agree with me that a fundamental right of legal access is essential for fair trial under the rule of law. This fundamental right of access is bound to become illusory if the destructive conduct of your men aforesaid goes unabated. “Your men behave as if they want to instill fear to those they make contact with, especially on the alleged high profile case involving soldiers. If that is the case, which I assume it is not, I place it on record that I will not be terrorised or intimidated when executing my mandate as a lawyer.” He added: “Perhaps, before concluding, I must assure you that humanity is my motto, as I know and believe that we exist for one another. I am by all means obliged to give respect to all who demonstrate civility and respect to the law, which I found wanting from your men.”
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Fate of Tsepong hospital to be decided soon NEO SENOKO
M
ASERU - The government is working in cahoots with the World Bank on a report that could decide the fate of Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital (Tšepong). The report is expected to bring to an end numerous challenges hobbling the smooth running of the country’s main referral hospital. Since its official opening in 2011, the hospital’s name has been dragged through the mud on several occasions, raising questions about its ability to deliver health services to thousands of Basotho. After replacing Queen Elizabeth II hospital, Ts’epong became the country’s main referral hospital. The hospital is owned by the government but is run by the Tšepong consortium which groups together five companies, namely; Netcare Healthcare Group and Afri’nnai of South Africa, as well as Excel Health, Women Investment and D10 Investments from Lesotho. Tšepong is run under an 18-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement. Government was hoping to use the facility to improve the quality of health services in the country. PPPs are long-term contracts where the private sector designs, builds, finances and operates infrastructure projects. The United Kingdom was first to develop the concept of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for public service projects in 2008. Over the years, the hospital has been beset with challenges ranging from the quality of care, inadequate primary care facilities, an inadequate referral system as well as managing high demand. As a result, Tšepong has become a considerable financial burden to the government of Lesotho hence the imminent report. Minister of Health Nkaku Kabi said in an interview with Public Eye on Thursday last week that while there are challenges, his ministry in collaboration with that of finance and the World Bank are working on a comprehensive report that could bring a final solution to the hospital. “I cannot say much on this issue but what I can confirm is that we are working on a report in partnership with the World Bank where we are trying to come up with a solution to Ts’epong problems,” Kabi said. The minister, however, would not be drawn to go into details of the report as well as what could be the end game for the hospital. Previously Kabi has lashed at Ts’epong, naming it an expensive project for the government. Reports have also shown that government is considering pulling out of the contract with Tšepong. The World Bank has reported previously that based on the Ministry of Health Records, the
Minister of Health Nkaku Kabi
PPP has absorbed an average of 34.8 percent of the total government recurrent budget for the health sector for 2012 to 15. The World Bank supported the initial design and operation of the PPP clinics from 2009 to 2012 through a US$6.25 million (M100 million) grant. The grant provided bridge financing to help Tšepong and the government of Lesotho meet additional costs, and finance services provided at the clinics under the PPP agreement. Furthermore, Tšepong agreed to treat up to 20, 000 inpatients and 310, 000 outpatients per year in exchange for lumpsum payments. However, these numbers have been exceeded each year since the PPP became operational, with more than 27, 000 inpatients and nearly 350, 000 outpatients treated in 2015 alone. Internationally, the PPP agreements are known to exert financial pressure on governments and lead countries into debt. In the United Kingdom for instance, it has been reported that PPPs hollow out state capacity to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure. The UK government now has less ability to design, build, finance and operate new public infrastructure because PPPs have meant less role for the public sector for the last 15 years. The complex, technical nature of PPPs leads to consultants and advisers adopting a very influential role with little accountability or public scrutiny. In numerous cases, PPP facilities
now sit empty after cuts to public services. But the terms of the PPP contract mean the government still has to make decades of payments for a building, which cannot be converted to other uses due to the strict terms of the contracts. PPP repayments are “ring fenced”, meaning that once a contract is signed, it I extremely difficult to renegotiate or trim costs. Public authorities are forced to reduce staff numbers and levels of services as repayments increase and budgets come under pressure. R e c e n t ly, U n i te d S ta te s Ambassador to Lesotho Rebecca Gonzales weighed into the Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) saga when she urged government to find a durable solution to the dispute which perennially leads to patients being turned away from the country’s premier medical facility. This after the hospital in September turned away droves of patients claiming it had reached its quota of patients in terms of its agreement with the government, pitching the national healthcare system into a crisis. This was not the first time the hospital has turned away patients following a similar episode in September last year when the hospital announced it had attended to the 20 000 inpatients, prescribed in its founding contract. Gonzales told Public Eye on Wednesday this week that if the dispute was left unresolved, it could possibly threaten the gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS so far. “I want to talk about some of the issues we read and heard
about Tšepong Consortium. It is our understanding that people who have been going for treatment at key health facilities have been turned away because there was a quota. “It is my understanding that between 75,000 and 100,000 people were going to these facilities, Tšepong facilities, and there was a quota of 35, 000 and then people were turned away,” she said. To fill this gap, Gonzales said mobile clinics were deployed in the districts to reach people cut off from access to health services. “But this a stop-gap measure which means the underlying problem still has to be addressed. There must be reliable healthcare services and delivery for people in the districts, even in the remotest areas. This Tšepong consortium issue must be addressed with outmost urgency and commitment,” she said. In February this year, the United States government availed over M1 billion to the ministry of health for the financial year 2019-2020 as part of the ongoing support to help Lesotho achieve HIV/AIDS epidemic control by 2020. The US embassy said the support is earmarked to build on the incredible strides Lesotho has made in reversing the burden of the disease. QMMH and the associated filter clinics at Qoaling, Mabote, and Likotsi are part of the government’s strategic push to improve maternal health, reduce child mortality and combat HIV/AIDS. Kabi has also acknowledged that some HIV patients who went to Tšepong filter clinics to refill their antiretroviral drugs (ARV) were
turned away but indicated that the issue has since been resolved. With HIV prevalence at around 25 percent, Lesotho is one of the countries hit hardest by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. An estimated 330 000 people out of the two million population were living with HIV in 2016. In the same year, 9 900 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. “It happened that some patients who went to the filter clinics to get their medication were turned away. We met and discussed this issue with the ambassador and it was resolved. No patients are being turned away at the moment,” Kabi said. St ud ies do ne a cross the world have demonstrated that antiretroviral treatment (ART) is the best treatment for HIV. Ac c o rd i n g to Na t i o n a l Guidelines for HIV & AIDS Care and Treatment (5th Edition) of 2016, ART reduces HIV-related opportunistic infections and cancers, deaths, as well as diseases not traditionally considered to be associated with HIV, such as nonHIV related cancers, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and liver failure. Suppression of HIV replication with ART reduces the risk of HIV transmission by over 90 percent. The guidelines emphasised the importance of the HIV ‘care cascade’ – identifying people with HIV as early as possible after the infection, promptly linking them to HIV care and starting ART, and retaining them on treatment through robust adherence and monitoring systems.
Matter of fact . . . In last week’s issue on Page 8, under the headline “Mokhotlong trio interdicted from using hall”, we erroneously referred to LSP Construction as one of the parties involved in the litigation. The company involved, instead, is LPS which has no relationship with LSP Construction. The error is regretted. Editor
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 7
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‘Inequalities are intergenerational, most 2
019 Human Development Report says business as usual will not solve new generation of inequalities
declining income share for workers. Antitrust and other policies are key to address the imbalances of market power. • Public spending and fair taxation: the report argues that taxation cannot be looked at on its own, but it should be part of a system of policies, including public spending on health, education, and alternatives to a carbonintensive lifestyle. More and more, domestic policies are framed by global corporate tax discussions, highlighting the importance of new principles for international taxation, to help ensure fair play, avoid a race to the bottom in corporate tax rates, especially as digitalization brings new forms of value to the economy, and to detect and deter tax evasion.
On the 9th December 2019, UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of Development Planning launched the 2019 Global Human Development Report in Maseru, Lesotho. The report which is themed ‘ Beyond income, Beyond Averages and Beyond Today, Inequalities in human development in the 21st century’, was launched by the Minister of Development Planning, Hon. Tlohelang Aumane and the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Salvator Niyonzima and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Betty Wabunoha. The report was discussed with insights from the National University of Lesotho, Ministry of Health and Bureau of Statistics. According to the report, Lesotho has progressed by 6 percent on the Human Development Index to 0.518 and ranking 164 (out of 189 countries), since the last report. However, the country is still ranked among the low human development countries, slightly above the average of 0.507 for countries in the low human development group and below the average of 0.541 for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
vulnerabilities especially for the poor, herd boys, children, making them to be more susceptible to economic and climate related shocks.
In countries with very high human development, for example, subscriptions to fixed broadband are growing 15 times faster and the proportion of adults with tertiary education is growing more than six times faster than in countries with low human development.
The report highlights that despite unprecedented progress against poverty, hunger and disease, many societies are not working as they should. The connecting thread, argues a new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is inequality. “Different triggers are bringing people onto the streets -- the cost of a train ticket, the price of petrol, demands for political freedoms, the pursuit of fairness and justice. This is the new face of inequality, and as this Human Development Report sets out, inequality is not beyond solutions,” says UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner. In her opening remarks, the UNDP Resident Representative Ms Betty Wabunoha, indicated that the report was shared to inform and promote policy dialogues and adjustment for equitable human development investments that would to enable Lesotho to overcome inequalities and related development challenges. According to the experts from the National University of Lesotho, inequalities in Lesotho are deeprooted and wide-spread, due to factors including socio-economic status, education and health, topology and religion within communities. This worsens impact of inequalities and
trigger a ‘new great divergence’ in society of the kind not seen since the Industrial Revolution, according to the report.
The 2019 Human Development Report (HDR), says that just as the gap in basic living standards is narrowing for millions of people, the necessities to thrive have evolved. “….Inequality can’t be addressed just by focusing on symptoms or isolated categories of people. It is about power, and power exists in interactions between individuals of different ages, gender, generation, economic, social and political statuses….” argues Ms Thandie Hlabana, Social Epidemiologist at the National University of Lesotho, when discussing implications for health and social development issues in context of Lesotho. A new generation of inequalities is opening up, around education, and around technology and climate change -- two seismic shifts that, unchecked, could
“What used to be ‘nice-tohaves’, like going to university or access to broadband, are increasingly important for success, but left only with the basics, people find the rungs knocked out of their ladder to the future,” argues UNDP’s Pedro Conceição, Director of the HDR Office, which pioneers a more holistic way to measure countries’ progress beyond economic growth alone. The report analyses inequality in three steps: beyond income, beyond averages, and beyond today. But the problem of inequality is not beyond solutions, it says, proposing a battery of policy options to tackle it. Thinking beyond income The 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) and its sister index, the 2019 Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index, set out that the unequal distribution of education, health and living standards stymied countries’ progress. By these measures, 20 per cent of human development p rog re ss wa s l o st t h ro u gh
inequalities in 2018. Lesotho looses 35 percent progress on human development due to inequalities; it is still among the top 20 most unequal countries in the world. The report, therefore, recommends policies that look at but also go beyond income, including: • Early childhood and lifelong investment: Inequality begins even before birth and can accumulate, amplified by differences in health and education, into adulthood. For example, children in professional families in the United States are exposed to three times as many words as children in families receiving welfare benefits, with a knock-on effect on test scores later in life. Policies to address it, therefore, must also start at or before birth, including investing in young children’s learning, health and nutrition. • Productivity: Such investments must continue through a person’s life, when they are earning in the labour market and after. Countries with a more productive workforce tend to have a lower concentration of wealth at the top, for example, enabled by policies that support stronger unions, set the right minimum wage, create a path from the informal to the formal economy, invest in social protection, and attract women to the workplace. Policies to enhance productivity alone are not enough, however. The growing market power of employers is linked to a
Looking beyond averages Averages often hide what is really going on in society, says the HDR, and while they can be helpful in telling a larger story, much more detailed information is needed to create policies to tackle inequality effectively. This is true in tackling the multiple dimensions of poverty, in meeting the needs of those being left furthest behind such as people with disabilities, and in promoting gender equality and empowerment. For example: • Gender equality: Based on current trends, it will take 202 years to close the gender gap in economic opportunity alone, cites the report. While the silence on abuse is breaking, the glass ceiling for women to progress is not. Instead, it is a story of bias and backlash. For example, at the very time when progress is meant to be accelerating to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the report’s 2019 Gender Inequality Index says progress is slowing. Conversely, Lesotho has Gender Inequality Index of 0.546, a few percentage points above the average for Sub-Saharan and other least developed counties, due to positive outcomes for maternal health and education levels for women. However, there is still more to be done to improve economic participation and leadership for women. Dr Mosia argues that the high education attainment among women in Lesotho, are not consistent to the labour market performance. He maintains that “providing free primary education without supportive social protection policies may not yield expected education results”, especially to retain high enrolment levels. A new “social norms index” in
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 9
of them start even before birth’ the Report says that in half of the countries assessed, gender bias has grown in recent years. About fifty per cent of people across 77 countries, said they thought men make better political leaders than women, while more than 40 per cent felt that men made better business executives. Therefore, policies that address underlying biases, social norms and power structures are key. For example, policies to balance the distribution of care, particularly for children, are crucial, says the report, given that much of the difference in earning between men and women throughout their lifecycle is generated before the age of 40. Planning beyond today Looking beyond today, the report asks how inequality may change in future, looking particularly at two seismic shifts that will shape life up to the 22nd Century: • The climate crisis: As a range of global protests demonstrate, policies crucial to tackling the climate crisis like putting a price on carbon can be mis-managed, increasing perceived and actual inequalities for the
less well-off, who spend more of their income on energyintensive goods and services than their richer neighbours. If revenues from carbon pricing are ‘recycled’ to benefit taxpayers as part of a broader social policy package, the authors argue, then such policies could reduce rather than increase inequality
• T e c h n o l o g i c a l transformation: Technology, including in the form of renewables and energy efficiency, digital finance and digital health solutions, offers a glimpse of how the future of inequality may break from the past, if opportunities can be seized quickly and shared broadly. There is historical precedent for technological revolutions to carve deep, persistent inequalities – the Industrial Revolution not only opened up the great divergence between industrialized countries and those who depended on primary commodities; it also launched production pathways that culminated in
the climate crisis.
The change that is coming goes beyond climate, says the report, but a ‘new great divergence’, driven by artificial intelligence and digital technologies, is not inevitable. The HDR recommends social protection policies that would, for example, ensure fair compensation for ‘crowdwork’, investment in lifelong learning to help workers adjust or change to new occupations, and international consensus on how to tax digital activities – all part of building a new, secure and stable digital economy as a force for convergence, not divergence, in human development. “This Human Development Report sets out how systemic inequalities are deeply damaging our society and why,” said Steiner. “Inequality is not just about how much someone earns compared to their neighbour. It is about the unequal distribution of wealth and power: the entrenched social and political norms that are bringing people onto the streets today, and the triggers that will do so in the
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future unless something changes. Recognizing the real face of inequality is a first step; what happens next is a choice that each leader must make.” According to the Minister of Development Planning, Lesotho is making efforts to build a strong base for human deveopment towards an equitable economic growth. The NSDP II puts emphasis on creating inclusive economic growth, as a result, focuses on increasing investments in health and education to realise ‘some progress in human development indicators.” According to Dr ‘Nyane Letsie, of the Ministry of Health, there will also be need to also invest in supportive services to ensure equitable access to services and socio-economic transformation. The Minister further recognises that “there are still challenges to ensure increased productivity of our human capital. Shortages in technical and managerial skills, and skills mismatch have led to persistent low economic productivity.” He further emphasised that with that with
the NSDP II, the Government had tried to go beyond growth but to full economic transformation, to promote inclusion and facilitate progress out of the low human development category. The last National Human Development Report (NHDR) was published in 2015, under the theme ‘Leveraging the Power of Youth for Sustainable Development’. Consultations for development of the next NHDR are underway to identify sectors, thematic areas and partnerships for the report.
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Overhaul entire constitution not piecemeal: experts • ‘We cant fix a Toyota vehicle with Nissan spare parts’ • ‘We are like poor polygamous family with many kids but little food’
BONGIWE ZIHLANGU
M
ASERU – Experts this week said ongoing attempts to amend the constitution were a knee jerk reaction to blunt a public backlash ignited by misrule. According to the experts, it was clear the nation was unhappy with the entire 1993 constitution, as evidenced by disquiet over various parts of the document. This, they said, should have triggered an overhaul of the entire constitution and not the piecemeal approach which the current process appears to be spearheading. Former Lesotho envoy to the United Nations (UN) Adv. Kelebone Maope K.C. and Prof. Hoolo ’Nyane expressed concern that the current coalition administration might not have the capacity to manage fullfledged reforms due to the current political instability. According to Maope and ’Nyane who were key speakers at a Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) symposium, the political situation meant that instead of managing major reforms, Lesotho might end up “dealing with soft and inconsequential reforms due to the current political climate”. “The observation I have made is that most of the recommended changes gathered from public consultations were informed by emotion rather than logic. And, I have established that when you apply emotion on issues of governance and the law, you are set to fail. Many people, including rulers, undermine the principle of good governance,” Maope said. “They don’t understand that you have to be meticulous in your management of affairs of the state, as failure to do so ignites public anger. And, when people are angry it is impossible to apply logic. However, sobriety is a prerequisite when you deal with constitutional issues.” Maope added: “The tragedy about the law is that it has to have an element of justice. A law also has to be made to serve all instead of being targeted at dealing with a particular individual. During the apartheid era, the Boers became angry with the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) leader Robert Sobukwe, so much that a law was
enacted whose purpose was to deal with him.” Maope added, it was imperative that while public anger towards their representatives was justified, the people should also shoulder part of the blame because “they are the ones who elect politicians to office for various reasons”. “So, in our case we don’t have to make laws influenced by our anger owing to the actions of rulers who have offended us, to deal with them constitutionally. That would be a huge mistake. “We need to bear in mind that the public must also own up to their mistakes. When the people have erred, the onus is on them to own up to their mistakes, that it is their fault that they elected to power rulers who are failing them,” Maope said. “The people must understand that they will make a change when such an opportunity arises, of electing new rulers. But, the same people do not apply logic when they elect leaders to power. They elect rulers to power to exact vengeance on their predecessors, to settle scores.” Maope, who is a former Deputy Prime Minister, added that Lesotho was still grasping how democracy operates hence the public fails to realise their contribution to Lesotho’s perennial political challenges. “What I am trying to say is that Lesotho is still in its infancy. We are still learning how democracy operates. I have tried to listen intently and nowhere does the public own up to their mistakes. They don’t acknowledge that they are responsible for creating the same situation which they now disapprove o f , ”
Maope said. “They complain of the attitudes of the same politicians they elected to power. In this regard, my submission is that the proposed changes are primarily fuelled by emotion, they are from angry and disgruntled people, which is very dangerous.” Maope was concerned that opinions gathered during public consultations “seem to touch on all sections of the constitution” adding “I would suggest a total overhaul of the constitution”. “What is the way forward? Total overhaul of the constitution or gradual amendment of its sections? When amendments were being made to the expert reports, I was worried to see that public opinions gathered from the grassroots consultations affect all sections of the constitution. If we were to amend piece by piece, there are going to be many areas to touch,” Maope said. “Based on the public opinions solicited from the consultations, I would suggest that we go for a total overhaul of the constitution.” However, Maope was quick to caution that, overhauling the 1993 constitution of which he coauthored “is a serious matter”, based on its background as it was drafted under the military junta, at the height of public calls for the reinstatement of democracy and its instruments. “O ur current constitution was during the era of the military regime and drafted under unusual circumstances. What I can tell you is that the process of drafting the 1993 constitution was swift because it was done under strict management. Many people don’t know that even unelected rulers do respect the voice of the people. That military regime was under immense pressure from the public to reinstate democracy,” Maope said. “The army at the time was split into two groups: those who had overthrown former Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan’s government, while there were those who were opposed to the coup. “Those who had overthrown Leabua’s government felt that they would be safer under democratic rule. And, they were the ones holding the reins of power, meaning that that process was highly managed. “ T h e g ro u p , comprising
highly trained soldiers, supported the reinstatement of democratic rule in Lesotho, while the majority of their peers who were not trained were opposed to it. That meant those tensions exerted pressure for the process to be swift.” But above all, he added, pressure from a public that yearned for democratic governance was the driving force. Maope, however, wondered if the current government had what it takes to overhaul the constitution under the country’s political instability. “The question that I ask myself now is, how long is it going to take us to draft a new constitution under the current administration? That needs high management and a strict timetable and commitment. We need a government that will be committed to the cause. Truly speaking, I ask myself a lot of questions. I will stop here,” Maope said. “But when you look back at the situation under which the current constitution was drafted and listening to the public which insists that it was done by the military regime, it tells you that a constitution draf ted under democratic rule would be endorsed by the people. “But, that same constitution done by the military, we should remember that it is today twentyseven years old, meaning that it is the only constitution which has spanned that long. However, questions still remain regarding how it was done and by whom.” He further reiterated the i m p o r t a n c e o f ove r h a u l i n g the constitution albeit glaring challenges. “I want to also reiterate that based on the public consultations, I think we might need to consider an overhaul of the constitution. But without high management of the timetable, some of us might die long before it is completed,” Maope said. “ Pe r h a p s I s h o u l d w ra p up by saying that while many seem to believe that review of the constitution will solve our problems, I have a contradicting view. “As a person, I think our country needs something else. I liken Lesotho to a poor polygamous family with scores of children but no food to feed them. “When you place a bowl of front before them, there are many hands and mouths, some will eat faster than others, meaning there are those who will not eat at all. The solution would be for the food in that basin to be increased so that all children can eat until they are full and still leave something. I don’t know how the review of laws also considers these issue I have raised.” ‘Nyane endorsed this sentiment saying “let us avoid a piece-meal constitution”. “It will divide our attention and commitment as a country. We will end up focusing on Prof. Hoolo ’Nyane
short-term amendments. Let us not assume that it going to be easier amending the constitution section by section as opposed to a total overhaul. Let us go for a full constitutional overhaul,” ‘Nyane said. “Let us take this project headon instead of dividing commitment, especially in light of our party politics which are volatile. We might find ourselves focusing on our party politics at the expense of this project. Let us commit the country to this project and push other things to the back banner. Indeed opinions are still diverse on how to amend the constitution. Which direction are we taking? Are amending it in parts or are going the total overhaul route?” ’Nyane quipped. “Secondly, critical sections in the constitution are to do with parliament, the executive and judiciary. So, if we are to focus on the short-term, we might end up doing only soft amendments as we cannot touch those protected sections. The country’s politics right now cannot sustain the major constitutional amendment. Our politics are weak and in a very critical condition. We are just not in a position to shoulder such a big project.” He added: “We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If we choose for the short-term, we will end doing inconsequential reforms. Again, if we opt for the long-term, our politics don’t allow for it.” Another critical issue, ‘Nyane noted, was deciding on the constitutional model Lesotho wanted, saying there were views that the Westminster model on which the current constitution was benchmarked was outdated, while the old school believed that it should be maintained. “There are views that the Westminster model on which our constitution is benchmarked is outdated. And, those views are from young people who have watched our democratic institutions failing dismally over the years. “They are the ones calling for a new constitutional design, and proposing that perhaps we should draw from other countries’ models to design something that is unique to Lesotho,” ‘Nyane said. “Then there are those from the old school who still believe in the Westminster and are of the opinion that it should be maintained but improved to suit Lesotho. This means we need to confront each other with this issue, done in earnest, instead of striving to fix a Toyota vehicle with Nissan parts.” He added: “Now the question remains, are going to do some patchwork on the Westminster or are coming up with a constitution that is totally different. A conflict exists between the youth and the old school, while there are others who are conflicted. But as we move along, it is safe to notice that all sections of the constitution are affected, from the King through to the executive and judiciary. That I think is the basis for the call to draft a new constitution.”
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Dealing with workplace grievances
I
deally, every employee would attest to the fact that a workplace is a second home for almost employees, therefore it makes sense that it should be peaceful and harmonious for the well-being of all staff as well as clients. In view of this, grievance policies were developed in order to ensure that employees are satisfied and happy at the workplace. Grievance policies enable them to express their discontent and await a resolution of same by their employer. As a starting point it is ideal that grievance be defined for the reader to comprehend the aim of this article. A grievance is any form of dissatisfaction, feeling of discontent, unfairness, injustice expressed by the employee at the place of work. It can be classified in numerous forms namely; grievance of a right together with grievance of dispute. Grievance of right exists where an employee claims that the employer is denying him what he is legally entitled to either in terms of the contract signed by both the parties or in terms of an established practice within the workplace or in terms of the law. A typical example is where an employee’s contract of employment entitles him to airtime allowance but the employer does give it to him, he may lay a grievance of right over this. A grievance of interest occurs where an employee has no entitlement to the claim in law but strongly feels that he is entitled to it or has been unfairly treated by the employer.
This may include unfair treatment in relation to promotions, adverse assessments on performance. Employees are permitted to lodge their grievances and the employers are bound to address them in order to find a common ground for the benefit of the parties. The offices of the Human Resources personnel in various companies as custodian of policies advise on these matters. The main rationale behind promulgation of grievance policies in a workplace is to promote sound labour relations and equally enabling the employees an opportunity to express issues of dissatisfaction in the company. It does not only ensure workplace harmony but goes as far as managing the internal conflicts in the workplace. A renowned scholar in industrial relations - Bandix states the primary outputs that are expected out of the grievance procedure in a workplace. Firstly, it creates the opportunity for the employee to communicate with the management, secondly, ensures that complaints and disputes are effectively dealt with by the management; thirdly, it creates awareness on the management about the employee concerns which needs to be addressed. Furthermore, he posits that it emphasises management concern over the welfare of the employees. Depending on the nature of grievance, employees are allowed to raise it first with their line manager/ supervisor as case may be and if not resolved to raise it with the management.
As mentioned earlier, the office of the Human Resource may also act on an advisory capacity as custodian of the workplace policies. Having been lodged, the management should convene a grievance hearing wherein the employee shall be given an opportunity to elaborate on the nature of the complaint with the assistance of either a co-worker or union representative. The employer has to ensure that the grievance is dealt with in a professional, fair, unbiased and impartial manner with all hallmarks of natural justice. This is in line with the infamous phrase that justice should not only be done but it must be seen to be done. Except in instances where the nature of the grievance is a serious one or where the concerned employee requests, a formal grievance hearing need not be convened in each and every instance. Often the most effective way is to have the concerned employee with his supervisor. However, the management may decide that it can be formal and a chairperson be appointed who shall hear the grievance and make a detailed report with determination on the merits of the grievance and recommend a remedial action to the management. The management shall upon resolution ensure that it is acknowledged and understood by the parties to the process. If dissatisfied, the employee can approach a higher authority. The process of grievance is synonymous to mediation or conciliation which is a process
that is intended to find the common ground for parties and solve the process in a cordial fashion. It is apposite to indicate that although this process is helpful in a workplace in that disputes are dealt with expeditiously, employees fear to utilise on the ground that they may be victimised and denied promotions due to the fact that they may be referred to as “troublemakers”. It is unlawful to victimise an employee on the basis of a grievance in labour law. Most supervisors tend to develop an attitude towards employees who lay grievances but the process is not aimed to victimise but promote industrial peace and harmony. In conclusion, it is without doubt that a workplace where grievance disputes are dealt with effectively and impartially, the results are a healthy working environment without employees holding grudges or umbrage against one another. It gives a sense of belonging to the employees in that they participate in the decisionmaking of the company. It effectively manages internal conflicts and management may not be ambushed by disruptions at the workplace. For more information contact Tharollo Labour Law and Industrial Relations Consultancy [email protected] Phone: +266 52512345 Facebook: Tharollo Consultancy
LCCI Building Orpen Road Box 7431, Maseru 100 Lesotho, Tel: +266 2231 2137 , Fax: +266 2231 0152 Email: [email protected]
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, COOPERATIVES AND MARKETING (MSCM) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL MARKETING POLICY RFP NO: MSMC / SERVICES / 01 / 2019/2020 DATE: 14/11/2019 The Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing (MSCM) invites Proposals from Consultants whether Individual or Corporate Bodies for Development of a National Marketing Policy. More details on the services are provided in the Terms of Reference. INSTRUCTION TO CONSULTANTS SUBMISSION All Consultants must deposit their original proposals in the tender box situated at the foyer, Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing Fairways Plaza. Proposals must be in a sealed envelope bearing no identification of Consultant and must be clearly marked “Development of a National Marketing Policy”. The Proposals should be submitted in two (2) separate envelopes clearly marked “Technical Proposal” and “Financial Proposal”and both technical and financial must be Inserted into one (1) envelope (Outer X-Ray Size Envelope) and should be addressed to The Secretary to the Tender Panel, Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing. Proposals must be received on or before 8th January, 2020 at or before 12:00 Noon. Electronic submissions will not be permitted
REQUEST FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR ENGAGEMENT OF INTERNAL AUDITOR The Petroleum Fund invites locally registered Audit Firms for “Internal Audit Services”. The service contract will be for a three (3) year period renewable for a further period of three (3) years based on performance. The engagement will be performed on a quarterly basis. Interested firms may obtain detailed Terms of References for the assignment from the website: www.petroleum.org.ls and at the offices of the Fund.
Please Note that LATE PROPOSALS OR TENDERS OR BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PUBLIC OPENING OF PROPOSALS Only Technical Proposals will be opened on the same day in the presence of Consultants or their representatives who may choose to attend the proceedings at 14:30 hours (2:30 p.m.) 8th January 2020 at the Ministry’s Boardroom REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATIONS: Clarifications may be requested not later than five (5) days before the submission dated. For additional information or request for clarifications for issues concerning the request, please contact the following office: Marketing Manager, Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives & Marketing, LNDC, Block B, Level 4 P.O. Box 1371 MASERU 100 Tel: 22 319372 Cost of TORs Terms of Reference can be obtained free of charge from the Procurement or Marketing Offices (AT NO COST).
The proposals must be hand delivered to the address below on or before 10th January 2020 at 12.00hrs and marked “Proposal for Internal Audit Services”: Petroleum Fund LCCI Building Orpen Road Maseru 100
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
Passionate Hlalele embarks on décor business CELINAH MATSIE
M
ASERU - Albert Hadley, a popular motivator, says “decoration is really about creating a quality of life, and a beauty in that life that nourishes the soul that makes life beautiful. That is what all is about, not just what is in and what is out”. Glamourous Functions and Bridal Collection is a decorating company owned by 34-year-old ’Mabataung Hlalele from Maseru West. The company delivers decoration services to the events such as weddings, babyshowers, bridal showers, family gatherings and many others. Moreover, Glamourous Functions rents out water proofed and non-water proofed stretch tents and frame tents of different sizes in addition to bridal dresses, tiffany chairs, white
wooden glows, tables and couches meant for lounge settings. In an interview with the Public Eye, Hlalele said she recognised her passion for decoration soon after getting married as some of her wedding decors were specially done by her. “The business started early this year but at that time I was still in a joint venture with another person who has been in the industry for a long time, but due to some financial problems, I ended up pulling out and going solo as an individual décorator as I already had everything including experience,” she said. Hlalele said as an individual, it has only been three months since she started and so far she has only attended two events. “I have not yet hired anyone but normally I work with my five relatives,” she added. “My plan is to have full equipment for decorating so as to avoid outsourcing and cut costs.”
Workplace&Careers
Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 3
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
INVITATION TO TENDER MINISTRY OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING AND STATIONERY TENDER NO.2 OF 2020/2021 FOR STATIONERY, PAPER AND MATERIALS
INVITATION TO TENDER MINISTRY OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING AND STATIONERY SECURITY TENDER NO.1 2020/2021 The Ministry of Law, Human rights and Constitutional Affairs (Government Printing) invites sealed bids for the suitably qualified companies for the provision of security services to the Ministry of Law in the Department of Government Printing and Stationery in two (2) lots. Lot Number
Description and Quantities
Quantity
Lot 1
1. Three (3) day armed security persons and one (1) with broad 4 knowledge of CCVT Camera systems operations to be stationed in the control room; also to provide weekly and monthly reports from Monday to Sunday including holidays.
Lot 2
2. Two (2) night armed security persons to guard the premises from 2 Monday to Sunday including holidays.
Price
Total Price
Tenders are invited from suitably qualified suppliers (companies) for the supply of various items of STATIONERY, PAPER AND MATERIALS for the fiscal year 2020/2021. Tender documents are obtainable from Government Printing at Industrial area near Maseru Bridge on payment of a nonrefundable fee of M600.00 from 05th December 2019 to 28th January 2020 at 09:00 to 15:00. Failure to use prescribed forms (Tender documents) will result in disqualification of the tender. All bids shall be accompanied by a bid security of M20, 000.00 per lot (M20 000.00 for Stationery, M20, 000.00 for Paper and M20, 000.00 for Materials) in a form of a BANK GUARANTEE CHEQUE valid for 90 (ninety) days after bid opening. Tenders in duplicate (original and copy) should reach the Procurement unit Ministry of Law Government Printing P.O. Box 268 Maseru 100 Lesotho, Industrial Area Near Maseru Bridge.
VAT Grand Total Tenderers are advised to take not that suppliers to Lesotho Government are expected to be incompliance with their tax obligations by attaching the following mandatory documents which must be certified by originating offices: 1. Valid Tax Clearance Certificate and/ or VAT Certificate certified at source 2. Valid relevant Traders License certified at source 3. Shareholding certificate certified 4. Certificate of bona fide tendering, completed and signed by one of the directors 5. Valid copy of insurance certificate for security guards 6. Copy of a detailed certificate of incorporation showing company extract and business activities Tender document is M200.00 (non refundable), payable in accounts office (9:00 -15:00) and obtainable in Procurement Office from the 09th December 2019. FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE TENDER, ALL BIDDERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE AMOUNTING M2000.00 (TWO THOUSANDS MALOTI) IN SUBMISSION OF THE TENDER. Evaluation criteria: • Compliance to tender conditions • Technical solution – 80% • Price – 20% Tenders in 5 (1 original and 4copies) sealed envelopes should be marked ‘tender for Provision of security services’ and be submitted to the tender box Government Printing and Stationery P. O. Box 268 Maseru 100 Lesotho, Industrial Area near Maseru Bridge. The closing date for submissions is 23rd January 2020 at 10:00am and the tenders will be opened the same day at 10:30am. Further details contact Procurement Unit Government Printing and Stationery at 22313023 or 22325071 working hours and/or visit the premises as stated above.
The closing date for Stationery, Paper and Materials is 29th January 2020 at 10:00 and tenders will be publicly opened on the 29th January 2020 at 10:30. Tenders in sealed envelopes should be marked as ‘Tenders for • Stationery 2020/2021 • Paper 2020/2021 • Materials 2020/2021 Tenders must bear the official stamp of the company tendering and the signature of responsible senior officials. PRICES should include all relevant and essential unavoidable costs, e.g., transport costs, inflationary factors, insurance, unforeseen circumstances that might arise during the term of the tender and should be VAT INCLUSIVE. The tender prices shall hold firm for the period of the contract without variation. Samples should be provided where required. Tenderers are advised to note that suppliers to the Lesotho Government are expected to be incompliance with the tax obligations by attaching the following mandatory documents which must be certified by originating offices. (i) One (1) original and four (4) copies of the tender responses (ii) Valid Trading License certified at source and/or original (iii) Valid Tax Clearance Certificate certified at source and/or original (iv) Valid VAT Certificate certified at source and/or original (if applicable)
(v) Certificate of Shareholdings certified at source and/or original (vi) Audited Statements of Financial Capacity of the past two recent years by the registered auditor (Auditor should supply a verification letter and be stamped. Also should provide certification for registration with regulatory body). (vii) A bid security of M20, 000.00 of each [Stationery, Paper and Material] in a form of Bank Guaranteed Cheque valid 90 [ninety] days after bid opening (viii)Certificate of Bona Fide Tendering to be completed and stamped by one of the Directors (ix) Statement of commitment to be completed and stamped by one of the Directors FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE TENDER, ALL BIDDERS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY THE NONE REFUNDABLE REGISTRATION FEE AMOUNTING M2000.00 (TWO THOUSANDS MALOTI) IN SUBMISSION OF THE TENDER PAYABLE IN ACCOUNTS OFFICE. None compliance to the requirements will result in disqualification of a tender Evaluation criteria • Compliance Stationery
Paper
Materials
Technical solution
20%
40%
40%
Price
50%
30%
30%
Lead time
30%
30%
30%
The Government Printer reserves the right to buy any of the listed items on tender. Where items have different grades and ranges suppliers should indicate their offers. None returnable samples should be supplied to the Government Printer. The Government of Lesotho does not necessarily accept the lowest bid of any tender. For further details contact the Procurement unit during office hours on 22313023/22325071. -------------------------------Secretary to Tender Panel
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Private Sector Competitiveness AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION Project II REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE FARM MANAGER – MAOA-MAFUBELU ORCHARD 1.0 BACKGROUND The Government of Lesotho (GOL) is committed to fight poverty, accelerate economic growth and improve the welfare of the Basotho. In 2002 Government formulated its broad National Development Goals to guide national planning and overall development agenda of the country. The National Vision 2020 was launched in 2004, which provides the overall framework that defines the aspirations of the people. The Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) finalized in 2005 attempted to translate the strategies into actions which will enable the economy to develop rapidly, and poor people to be the main beneficiaries of growth. One of the four building blocks or pillars identified for achieving the strategy is private sector development (PSD), which will manifest in equitable economic growth and rapid employment creation. To strengthen private sector growth and development by increasing its productivity and competitiveness, the Government of Lesotho is currently implementing a horticultural sector development project with specific emphasis on production of stone fruits such as apples, cherries, apricots. The project has been on-going since 2007 with one commercial scale production site, two pilot sites, and two additional sites which have been identified for establishing commercial scale production. These activities are a part of a World Bank financed Private Sector Development Program, and executed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry Now that the project is scaling up to a number of commercial production sites, a professional Farm Manager for each orchard with experience in operating and managing commercial orchards is required. In this regard, the project is seeking to identify and contract an appropriate person to help oversee the day to day management of MaoaMafubelu Orchard. 2.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION The objective of the position of the Farm Manager is to provide technical and management oversight for MaoaMafubelu orchard as well as to assist the farm with proper filing of documentation for Global G.A.P. requirements and audit requirements. The Farm Manager will also ensure adherence of the farm to Global G.A.P requirements. 3.0 MAIN TASKS Reporting directly to the Deputy Project Manager the incumbent will be responsible for the following: 1. Provide day-to-day management oversight of Maoa-Mafubelu orchard; 2. Prepare work plan, timeline and milestone to guide project implementation; 3. Mentor, train and support day-to-day implementation by the labourers; 4. Supervise all work carried out by labourers, consultants and contractors who will be engaged on site; 5. Ensure proper harvesting during the harvesting season; 6. Oversee sales of fruits from the farm and keep appropriate records; 7. Oversee activities carried out in the packhouse and ensure proper packaging of fruits; 8. Serve as the point of contact for all activities related to the preparation and implementation of horticultural
activities on site; 9. Ensure proper filing of documentation related to Global G.A.P; 10. Provide monthly reports to Deputy Project Manager 4.0 DELIVERABLES • Quarterly Work Plans • Monthly Progress Reports 5.0 QUALIFICATIONS • The incumbent should possess a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Horticulture or Agronomy or any other related field. • Interested individuals should have experience working with large scale fruit tree orchards • Experience in working in Lesotho would be an added advantage. • At least 2years experience in an agricultural farm set-up 6.0 TIME SCHEDULE The above-mentioned assignment is expected to be done over a period of One (1) year. 7.0 SUBMISSION The Government of Lesotho now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services by submitting an application letter and detailed curriculum vitae. Candidates will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the current edition of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers. Interested candidates must deliver their application letter and Curriculum Vitae to the address below by 10th January 2020. Electronic submissions of application letter and detailed curriculum vitae (using a single pdf or other protected file) are also encouraged and applicants should include as the subject message “FARM MANAGER – MAOA-MAFUBELU ORCHARD” and should be sent to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]. Only shortlisted Individual Consultants will be contacted. The Project Manager Private Sector Competitiveness Project 4th Floor LNDC Centre P.O. Box 747, Maseru 100 – Lesotho Tel: (+266 22 315100)
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Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
LEROTHOLI POLYTECHNIC PRIVATE BAG A256 MASERU 100 LESOTHO TEL. (09266) 317371 FAX. (09266) 310255
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World Vision International Job Opportunities in Lesotho
JOB DESCRIPTION POST TITLE DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT ADMINISTRATION
REPORTS TO
BURSAR
GRADE
JOB SUMMARY Under general supervision of the Bursar, Senior Accountant is responsible for management of the Accounts Section. He/ she maintains the General Ledger of the Institution and other related Accounting records. RESPONSIBILITIES The key duties of the post are as follows :• Management of the Finance and Accounts Section under the supervision of the Bursar • Monitors and maintains the General Ledger of the Institution on a daily basis and prepares the quarterly and annual financial statements • Assists the Bursar in preparing quarterly managements reports • Prepares schedules yearend audit purposes • Develops and updates Fixed Asset Register at all times and attends to identified discrepancies. • Assist in coordinating annual audits. • Prepares Fixed Asset Schedule in accordance with financial policy. • Controls cash management (Monthly Bank reconciliations and cash projections). • Assist Bursar in the design, implementation and review of the Internal Control System as well as Accounting Procedures in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. • Check and verifies the correctness of the General Ledger and Trial Balances. NB* Because of the changing nature of our business your job description will inevitably change. You will, from time to time, be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities as directed by management.
L
JOB SPECIFICATION Experience and Qualifications Ø Chartered Accountant registered with the Lesotho Institute of Accountants plus at least five (5) years practical accounting experience. Ø BComm Degree in Accounting plus at least ten (10) years practical accounting experience. Personal attributes 1. Self motivated. 2. Ability to work with minimum supervision. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED • Computer Skills especially Advanced Excel spreadsheets and Sage 300 Accounting package. • Good Communication Skills • Good Interpersonal Skills HOW TO APPLY Interested and suitably qualified candidates should handdeliver their detailed applications to the LP Human Resources Office which is situated at the Administration 1 Building. The applications should be accompanied by: Curriculum Vitae, Certified copies of Educational Certificates and academic transcripts on or before Friday, 03rd JANUARY, 2020 at 1500 hours. Applications should be addressed to: The Secretary Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee Lerotholi Polytechnic P.O. Box 16 Maseru 100 Lesotho
World Vision Lesotho (WVL) was legally established in 1987, even though the Ministry dates as far back as 1976 when WV began child sponsorship in 2 primary schools under the auspices of WV South Africa. Between 1987 and 1995 WVL’s model of development was through Community Development Programmes (CDPs) which is supported through two funding streams, namely Child Sponsorship and Grants (Non Sponsorship). IT Manager Hub ( South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland) Reports to: Regional IT Director Location; South Africa, Lesotho or Swaziland Duration; Fixed contract 2 years Purpose of the Position: The IT Manager II role is responsible for supporting and maintaining global IT processes and standards within their Hub (South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland). Individuals in this role manage services provided to two or more field office locations within a region. Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training: • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or other related field. Or equivalent work experience. • Requires experience in supervising and building relationships with people at a variety of levels. • Typically has 5 to 7 years of relevant IT and business work experience. • Requires demonstrated ability to launch and deliver a single IT project on time and within budget. • Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, as necessary Other Competencies/Attributes: 1. Must be a committed Christian, able to stand above denominational diversities. 2. Attend in daily devotions and weekly Chapel services. 3. Perform other duties as required. Working Environment / Conditions: • The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to _30% of the time. • Work environment: Office-based • On call: 20% REMUNERATION Competitive with market standards To access this position follow this link- http://careers.wvi.org/job-opportunities-in-lesotho Applications to be done through link provided above Only Closing date 20th December 2019 If you have not heard from by 10th January 2020 consider your application unsuccessful As a Child focused organization, World Vision Lesotho is committed to the protection of children and does not employ staff whose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks, including criminal record checks where possible. WORLD VISION DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY FORM OF PAYMENT FOR JOB PLACEMENT.
LEROTHOLI POLYTECHNIC
LEROTHOLI POLYTECHNIC
ADVERTISEMENT
RE - ADVERTISEMENT JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST TITLE
LECTURER – WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
ACADEMIC - SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
REPORTS TO
HEAD OF PROGRAMME
JOB SUMMARY Under general supervision of the Head of Programme, the Lecturer is responsible for teaching and monitoring of students as well as monitoring them on industrial attachment. Conducts curriculum review, internal examination moderation, and also assists in the overall development of the Programme. RESPONSIBILITIES The key duties of the post are as follows :• Prepares lessons and/or training materials, delivers lectures and/or conducts practicals for 20 to 24 hours per week • Assists the Head of Programme for the development of the Programme. • Conducts tests and examinations for assessments and keep updated records. • Facilitates departmental community engagement projects. • Assistance with administrative and other duties as prescribed by the Head of Department or Representative as delegated. • Facilitates departmental research and publications • Contributes in the internal moderation of examination papers. • Prepares lesson plans, lesson notes, marking schemes, record of work and record of assessments for the subjects taught for future reference. • Prepares, conduct and assesses theoretical and practical lessons to ensure effective training. • Participates in internal moderation panel and curriculum review exercise for quantity assurance and effective training programmes. • Monitors students on industrial attachment to obtain feedback on their progress. • Attend meetings relevant to his/her section, for information dissemination. • Participates in his/her field of study for the development and recognition of the institution. NB* Because of the changing nature of our business your job description will inevitably change. You will, from time to time, be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities as directed by management. Experience Additionally, the incumbent should • Have done courses in both surface and groundwater hydrology, and hydraulics.
GRADE
VI
• Have experience in the use of hydraulics software that includes HEC-RAS or equivalent and EPANET or equivalent. • Be able to teach o Groundwater Hydrology o Hydraulics o Irrigation Engineering and o Reticulation Design and Water Management Two years field experience in teaching or research work in Water Resources Engineering will be an added advantage. Personal attributes 1. Self motivated. 2. Ability to work with minimum supervision. 3. Be able to work with students from different background. 4. Be willing to supervise students for activities outside of class like sport. JOB SPECIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor’s Degree in Water Resources Engineering or equivalent • MSC in Water Resources Engineering or Equivalent will be an added advantage Knowledge and skills Required: • Good Communication Skills • Computer literacy • Good interpersonal Skills HOW TO APPLY Interested and suitably qualified candidates should hand-deliver their detailed applications to the LP Human Resources Office which is situated at the Administration 1 Building. The applications should be accompanied by: Curriculum Vitae, Certified copies of Educational Certificates and academic transcripts on or before Friday, 03rd JANUARY, 2020 at 1500 hours. Applications should be addressed to: The Secretary Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee Lerotholi Polytechnic P.O. Box 16 Maseru 100 Lesotho
POST TITLE
Mechanical Engineering Lecturer - TWO(2) POSITIONS
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT
ACADEMIC - SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
REPORTS TO
HEAD OF PROGRAMME
JOB SUMMARY Under general supervision of the Head of Programme, the Lecturer is responsible for teaching and monitoring of students as well as monitoring them on industrial attachment. Conducts curriculum review, internal examination moderation, and also assists in the overall development of the Programme. RESPONSIBILITIES The key duties of the post are as follows :• Prepares lessons and/or training materials, delivers lectures and/or conducts practicals for 20 to 24 hours per week • Assists the Head of Programme for the development of the Programme. • Conducts tests and examinations for assessments and keep updated records. • Facilitates departmental community engagement projects. • Assistance with administrative and other duties as prescribed by the Head of Department or Representative as delegated. • Facilitates departmental research and publications • Contributes in the internal moderation of examination papers. • Prepares lesson plans, lesson notes, marking schemes, record of work and record of assessments for the subjects taught for future reference. • Prepares, conduct and assesses theoretical and practical lessons to ensure effective training. • Participates in internal moderation panel and curriculum review exercise for quantity assurance and effective training programmes. • Monitors students on industrial attachment to obtain feedback on their progress. • Attend meetings relevant to his/her section, for information dissemination. • Participates in his/her field of study for the development and recognition of the institution. NB* Because of the changing nature of our business your job description will inevitably change. You will, from time to time, be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities as directed by management. Experience 1. Minimum of two years teaching experience at a tertiary institution will be added advantage. 2. PhD in Mechanical Engineering will be an added advantage 3. Knowledge of Auto Cad or Solid edge or any other drawing
GRADE
VI
software is essential 4. Experience in curriculum development in an engineering institution. 5. Experience in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machines Suitable candidate should be able to teach 1. Finite elements analysis 2. Computer aided manufacturing 3. Design of machine components 4. Engineering Mathematics (statistics, Calculus and differential equations). 5. Suitable to teach maintenance and industrial management courses. Personal attributes 1. Self motivated. 2. Ability to work with minimum supervision. 3. Be able to work with students from different back round. 4. Be willing to supervise students for activities outside of class like sport JOB SPECIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS • MSc Eng. (Mechanical Engineering) or Mechatronics or Equivalent from a recognised institution. Knowledge and skills Required: • Good Communication Skills • Computer literacy • Good interpersonal Skills HOW TO APPLY Interested and suitably qualified candidates should hand-deliver their detailed applications to the LP Human Resources Office which is situated at the Administration 1 Building. The applications should be accompanied by: Curriculum Vitae, Certified copies of Educational Certificates and academic transcripts on or before Friday, 03rd JANUARY, 2020 at 1500 hours. Applications should be addressed to: The Secretary Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee Lerotholi Polytechnic P.O. Box 16 Maseru 100 Lesotho
Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 5
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY AGRICULTURE PRODUCTVITY PROGRAMME FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (APPSA) REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES- INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION METHOD) LOAN NO CREDIT NO ASSIGNMENT TITLE REFERENCE NO DURATION
:P164486 :IDA -63580 -LS :Project Manager :LS- DAR-142446-CS-INDV :Thirty six Months.
• Convene periodic meetings of project staff, facilitating meetings of the Steering Committee. • Ensuring that the RCoL players and all parties and contractors comply with the Project’s agenda and other targeted strategies. • Facilitate networking and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to enhance project efficiency. • Performing any other related duties as may be deemed necessary for the effective implementation of the project activities at national and regional level
Background The Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has received funding from the World Bank to be part of the regional project called the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA). The main QUALIFICATIONS objective of APPSA is to enhance crop production and productivity through research The Project Manager shall have an advanced university degree in Natural or Earth and development and an efficient dissemination of the developed technologies and Sciences or Economics. PhD will be an added advantage. innovations to the national and regional farming communities and relevant stakeholder. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES. The implementing agency for this project will be the Department of Agricultural • The incumbent should also possess research background with regard to agricultural Research (DAR) in partnership with the National University of Lesotho and the Lesotho activities and expected ethical standards. Agricultural College as well as other collaborating partners within the Ministry of • The job holder will have at least 10 years, experience in the planning, management, Agriculture and Food Security, other ministries and the international world. Through administration and implementation of agricultural or rural development projects in this project Lesotho will establish the Department of Agricultural Research as the the public, private or NGO sectors and specific exposure to commercial/private sector Regional Centre of Leadership on Horticultural crops thus serve the SADC region with practice in service contracting, performance monitoring and financing. technologies that will be relevant to the country and the region. The project will be • Experience in Project Planning and Management and/or working in any multilateral implemented at the various research stations of Department of Agricultural Research funding agency will be an added advantage. throughout the country and at the research partners’ sites. The project consists of • Background in research relating to agriculture technology generation and capacity building thus will engage the services of different • Effective judgment and determination; service providers locally and internationally to achieve the set objective. • Have a consistent track record of increasing responsibility and achievement; • Have a high level of inter-personal and entrepreneurial skills. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT • Proven managing skills and have a good understanding of participatory approaches The objective of this assignment is to coordinate the project activities on a day-toto activity-based planning, budgeting and accounting; day basis, be responsible for various aspects of project management excluding direct • Have clear understanding of government policies and operations; implementation of APPSA activities (i.e. core project activities under components 1 & 2) • Have strong leadership, training and communication skills. which will be implemented under Regional Centre of Leadership (RCoL) constituencies • Be able to work in a multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary professional setup; (regional research centres, field trial sites and other collaborating institutions). Project • Have problem solving, leadership, conflict management and team building skills Manager will also be the secretary to the Project Steering Committee (PSC), which will • Be a citizen of the Kingdom of Lesotho; be chaired by the Principal Secretary or his/her designated representative from MAFS. • Be a professional of high standing; • Be computer literate and able to apply basic software for the project success; • Be conversant with appropriate technologies used in the various project components; DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES • Providing overall supervision and facilitation of all aspects of project implementation • Have proposal and report writing skills; and reporting, including financial management, staff recruitment, M&E, procurement • Be able to communicate in Sesotho and English. and distribution of materials. • Effective and efficient utilization of project resources (physical, human and financial). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III paragraph 3.14 to 3.17 of • Assume responsibility as Secretary to the PSC and ensure that its directives and the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016 and revised guidelines are incorporated into all APPSA activities in accordance with government in November 2017 and August 2018, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. and World Bank policies. • Coordination and supervision of preparation of annual work plans, budgets and procurement plans by all implementing units and contractors; and amalgamation of A consultant will be selected in accordance with selection of Individual Consultants Method set out in Procurement Regulations. these into the overall APPSA AWPB. • Undertake monitoring activities in particular, preparation of progress reports, financial statements and other related project documents in the Project SUBMISSION form to Implementation Manual for timely reporting to the Director of the Department of Expressions of interest accompanied by detailed CV must be delivered in a written th Agricultural Research and where necessary to the Permanent Secretary to seek his/ the address below in person or by email by 16:00 hrs local time on the 15 January 2020 clearly marked ‘’ Expression of Interest for Consulting Services’’ LS- SADP-142446her intervention. • Ensuring prompt and supreme implementation of the Project plans and strategies in CS-INDV. liaison with the RCoL project coordinator. • Compiling analytical monthly and quarterly project status reports to the Director To: Project Manager-SADP Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Agricultural Research and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture Department of Livestock Services -Moshoeshoe 11 and Food Security for government reporting and forwarding to the Project Donor P.O.Box 24 supervision team Maseru 100 Lesotho. • Facilitation and supervision of the financial and procurement processes for service Email: [email protected] copied to [email protected] contracting and coordination of work of contractors in line with the GoL and WB policies and guidelines. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. • Final accountability for operation of Project bank accounts.
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Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
TENDER NOTICE LES/ IEC/TEN/PAN/ 2019-2020/02 The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) invites tenders from interested companies for “SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERNET” for twenty-four (24) months from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2022. BIDDING DOCUMENT Tender document is obtainable from Procurement Unit 2nd Floor at MGC Park during working hours from 09:00am to 16:00 hours. Bidders must purchase a copy of tender document at a NON-Refundable fee of M300.00 (three hundred maloti). The procedure for obtaining the Tender document is as follows: Payment of bid document must be made at 2nd floor MGC Park, Accounts section. The receipt issued must be taken to the office of Procurement where document will be issued. EVALUATION CRITERIA 1. Price 2. Lead time 3. Financial capabilities (Current bank statement for three months or letter from the bank as an assurance that the supplier will be financed for incapable suppliers) 4. Technical (Specifications) 5. IEC is not bound to lowest price Additional requirements § Price should include VAT for supplies who qualify to collect VAT (attach VAT Registration Certificate). § Attach valid Trading License certified from source. § Attach valid copy of Tax Clearance. § Attach Share Certificate from Registrar of Companies. § The specifications should be written in full on the quotation Sealed bids bearing no identification of the suppliers should be deposited in the tender box at the IEC 2nd Floor MGC On or before 12:30 noon Thursday 23rd January 2020 and will be opened on the same date at 14:30hours. Envelopes should be clearly marked: “INTERNET SERVICES”. For further information, relating to the above information please contact, The Procurement Unit Independent Electoral Commission 2nd Floor MGC PARK Corner Pope John Paull II Road & Mpilo Boulevard Maseru, Lesotho Tel: +266 – 22 314991/22323362 Fax: +266 – 22 310398 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] The Independent Electoral Commission of Lesotho reserves the right to accept or reject any or all tenders. ________________ Procurement Unit-IEC
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Supply, Delivery and Installation of Document digitization Solution and Digitization of existing documents for the Metolong Authority MA-GOL-ST-FY-19/20-04
1. The Kingdom of Lesotho, through the Metolong Authority (MA), has implemented the Metolong Dam and
Water Supply Programme (MDWSP) with the main purpose of increasing access and improving reliability of water supply to the major towns of Maseru, Mazenod, Roma, Morija and Teyateyaneng as well as the surrounding villages. With the completion of the main works the Ministry of Water has issued Legal Notice No. 26 of 2019 which serves to extend the objectives and purposes of Metolong Authority. Under this framework, the MA is supposed to carry out operation and maintenance programme for the infrastructure developed under the Metolong Programme and engage in activities towards distribution of water from Metolong Programme main water pipeline to the rural and peri urban households adjacent to the water pipeline amongst others. The Metolong Authority is facing new challenges of preservation and management of documents as part of institutional memory and future references. MA intents to digitize these records for proper up keep and easy retrieval for future purposes. This assignment includes scanning of existing records and their digitization.
2. Sealed tenders are hereby invited from reputable companies with proven competency in providing solutions for scanning and digitization with full document management system in the form of both hardware and software including training of Metolong Authority staff on the operation of the system.
3. Full tender documents may be collected from the Metolong Authority at its offices situated at the Red Cross
Building at 29 Mabile Road, during office hours i.e., 0900hours to 1700hours on Mondays to Fridays. Also note that the closing date for the submission of tenders is 04 February, 2020 at 11:00 am.
4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the ICT Specialist, Metolong Authority, at
the address given immediately below: during office hours , i.e., 0900hours to 1200hours and 1430hours to 1600 hours] on Mondays to Fridays. Metolong Authority Red Cross Building 29 Mabile Road, Red Cross Building, Old Europa Maseru – 100 Kingdom of Lesotho Tel: +266 – 22315789 Fax: +266 – 22315804 E-mail: [email protected]
RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), is the main parastatal of the Government of Lesotho assigned to initiate, promote and facilitate industrial development to ensure economic growth and job creation. The Corporation seeks to recruit a seasoned, high-performing professional to help us achieve this mandate in the following position: Senior Legal Officer The purpose of the job is to render legal opinion and support on verbal and written legal issues affecting LNDC or its clients/subsidiaries, as well as to handle all matters of contractual and litigation interest to the Corporation. Responsibilities: The successful incumbent will be responsible for, among other things: • Resolution of disputes through handling litigation/arbitration matters affecting the Corporation • Advising and assisting the Corporation in disciplinary proceedings • Rendering legal advice pertaining to compliance and/or adherence to all relevant laws, regulations and policies as well as any interpretation pertaining thereto • Preparing and reviewing of all legal documents/or letters affecting the Corporation • Attending to and participating in creditors meetings, in liquidation matters, where the Corporation has an interest • Preparation and registration of deeds documents such as transfers, cessions, bonds and any other notarial documents • Preparing quarterly management reports and attend management meetings • Attending all meetings where the Corporation’s dealings have legal risk implications • Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time Qualifications and Experience: • An LLB, plus admission as an Attorney/Advocate • A strong content of trade law. • Minimum of 5 years at managerial level, preferably in corporate legal practice
Competencies and Qualities: • Conveyancing (preparation and registration of deeds including transfers, cessions, bonds, companies and any other notarial documents) • Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills, in both Sesotho and English. • High level of report writing skills • Substantive legal drafting skills • Comprehensive research skills • Computer literacy • Familiarity with substantive law and court procedures • Advocacy skills • Strong negotiation skills • Managerial skills • Adhere rigorously to high levels of personal, professional and work ethics • Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality REMUNERATION • The LNDC offers a competitive market related salary and benefits. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS Applications accompanied by a detailed CV, certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts, three reference letters should be submitted to the following address [email protected] on or before 12:00pm on the 03rd January 2020. Advert can also be accessed on www.lndc.org.ls OR hand deliver to: The Chief Executive Officer Lesotho National Development Corporation Development House Block A Private Bag A96 Maseru 100 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 7
LESOTHO ELECTRICITY COMPANY (PTY) LTD
VACANCIES
The National University of Lesotho invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following posts: POST NO.
POSITION
DEPARTMENT / FACULTY 1691 Lecturer/Senior Historical Studies/ Lecturer in Historical Humanities Studies 1342 French & Literature NULIS (Re-advert) in English Teacher 1590 Lecturer/Senior English/Humanities (Re-advert) Lecturer in English Language & Linguistics 2009 Computer Lab Information & Assistant Communications Technology (ICT) 2006 Lecturer/Senior Nutrition/Health Lecturer in Nutrition Sciences
DEADLINE 13 January, 2020 th
13th January, 2020 13th January, 2020
13th January, 2020 13th January, 2020
For full job description please refer to NUL Website: www.nul.ls or visit our HR Office at Roma for a hard copy. Please quote the post number you are applying for. For further clarifications please call +266 22340247 and +266 22340601 ext 3844/3842. Please hand deliver your applications to HR Office at National University of Lesotho OR post to the Director Human Resources, National University of Lesotho,P.O. ROMA 180, LESOTHO – SOUTHERN AFRICA.
LETTER OF INVITATION LEC/PO-951/2019/20
PROPOSED UPGRADING OF 132KV CURRENT TRANSFORMERS FOR TWO BAYS AT MABOTE SUB-STATION IN MASERU - LESOTHO. The Lesotho Electricity Company (Pty) Ltd (LEC) invites sealed bids from eligible bidders to submit tenders for providing the above services on the following terms and conditions:1. A copy of tender document shall be available at a non-refundable price of M2, 000.00 per copy to prospective Tenderers. 2. The Lesotho Electricity Company (Pty) Ltd (LEC) invites sealed bids from eligible bidders (Electrical Contractors/Suppliers) for the provision of necessary Goods and Works, design, labour, materials, equipment, installation, commissioning, testing, and other technical engineering services necessary for the successful completion of the Proposed upgrading of 132kV current transformers for two bays at Mabote sub-station in Maseru – Lesotho. 3. The successful bidder shall be obliged to enter into a short term contract with LEC. 4. Sealed bids endorsed “PROPOSED UPGRADING OF 132KV CURRENT TRANSFORMERS FOR TWO BAYS AT MABOTE SUB-STATION IN MASERU – LESOTHO” shall be placed in the tender box located at LEC Management Office block, receptions area on or before 16th January, 2020 at 14:15hrs for opening on the same day immediately following closure for bids submission. • There will be a briefing session on the 18th December at 10:00hrs Training Centre LEC HQ premises. 5. Bidders have a right to witness the tender opening. 6. LEC does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any other bid nor assign any reason for the acceptance or rejection of any tender. 7. Bidders are warned that any amendments, additions, omissions or qualifications to this form may invalidate the tender. 8. The costs of preparing the proposal and of negotiating the contract, including a visit to LEC, are not reimbursable as a direct cost of the assignment; and 9. Tender received after the closing date and time will not be considered. 10.Tenderers should have the following documents a. Company Registration Certificate b. Tax Clearance Certificate c. Traders’ License 11.Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Procurement offices at: Lesotho Electricity Company (Pty) Ltd. 53 Moshoeshoe Road, Industrial Area, P.O. Box 423, Maseru 100, Lesotho Tel: +266 2231 2236 or 5227 2217/9 or 5227 2146 Website: www.lec.co.ls
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Workplace&Careers
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
NOTICE OF LOST LEASE NOTICE is hereby given that I intend to apply for a certified copy of a registered Title Deed / Lease to immovable property registered
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Under No. 13272- 1392 on the 11 JUNE 2011 in Favour of THABISO ‘MAKO AND MARY ‘MANTHABISENG ‘MAKO in respect of Every right or interest on and to the building (s) and other developments express or implied in certain Plot No 13272- 1392 situated at KUBETSOANA MASERU, Maseru Urban Area on Plan No 13272 . As held by the Chief Surveyor
ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION SUPPORT PROJECT REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES: INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF THE LESOTHO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Financing Agreement Reference: 2100150036596 Sector: Enterprise Development Project ID No.: P-LS-KF0-002
All persons having objections to the issue of the said copy are requested to lodge such in writing to the Land Registrar within three weeks from the last publication of the notice. ADDRESS: APPLICANT’S NAMES AND ADDRESS Land Registrar HA MABOTE Land Administration Authority BOINYATSO Lerotholi Road Maseru 100, P.O. Box 11856 Lesotho Maseru 100 Contact Numbers: 5804 6260
NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE!
The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho has received financing from the African Development Bank towards implementation of the Economic Diversification Support Project and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for consultancy services for the institutional review of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC).
MASERU CHURCH OF CHRIST LOST DOCUMENTS We declare that the following documents have been lost 1.Lease 13283 – 378 2.Constitution ( The church of Christ)
The services included under this project are: 1. Undertake a comprehensive diagnostic of the mandate, role & responsibility, organisational structure and operations of LDTC with a view to understand its strengths, weaknesses opportunities and threats; 2. Provide an overview of current global best practices related to the operations of institutions that undertake activities similar to those LDTC is currently undertaking; 3. Prepare an “options” paper on ways in which the Government of Lesotho may want to restructure LDTC. Each of the options shall include the mandates of the envisaged structure; roles and functioning of executive management; basic staff organogram and staffing requirements; financing mechanism for each of the options; basic roadmap on how the Government of Lesotho may go about transitioning LDTC and recommend short/medium term stabilisation measures that should be considered by the Ministry of Tourism Environment and Culture. 4. Compile the final report on the restructuring options preferred by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture.
Please contact Maseru Church of Christ Cathederal Area Maseru, Box 1437 or directly contact Moruti Shata on 2231 0980 / 5807 6556
The estimated duration of the assignment is 3months. The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho through the Ministry of Trade and Industry now invites eligible Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification. Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the Procurement Policy and Methodology for Bank Group Funded Operations, dated October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.
Kasi kota does not only sell kota but u can enjoy our beautiful meal including wings 'n chips, Pork, fish and chips and also u can braai with us Contact us on: +266 56230337
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 08.00 hours to 16.30 hours.
Work hard, play hard!
EOIs must be delivered to the address below by 10th January 2020 at 16.30hours and mention “Institutional Review of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation.” Attn: The Project Manager Economic Diversification Support Project (EDSP) Ministry of Trade and Industry 1st Floor, Matanki House, Corner Kingsway and Balfour Road P.O. Box 747 Maseru, Lesotho E-mail: [email protected]
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
TERMS OF REFERENCE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF THE LESOTHO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INTRODUCTION Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) is a parastatal organization enacted by Parliament through the Tourism Act No.4 of 2002, with the broad mandate of developing and promoting tourism as a key contributor to the economy of Lesotho. Currently LTDC is facing several constraints that impede the organsation’s operational efficiency. The constraints include among others: • Funding limitations: The LTDC’s operating budget is based entirely on limited Government subvention which has been declining over the years. This challenge has made it difficult for LTDC to execute its mandate efficiently and effectively. Given the current economic climate in the country and limited national budget, it is unlikely that the challenge will be addressed any time soon. • Lack of Strategic Direction: The organization has experience gradual strategic drift from its core business and as such has not been aligning its activities with the organization’s strategic plan and targets. Consequently, LTDC’s ability to unlock Lesotho’s tourism potential is being seriously compromised. Strategic repositioning of the organization is therefore necessary. • Institutional inefficiencies: The LTDC has over the years suffered high staff turnover which has led to loss of institutional memory and low staff morale stemming from overworked employees. Some key positions have also been vacant for a long period of time thereby rendering the organization inefficient. Objective To address the above constraints, the Board of Directors of LTDC and the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture (MTEC) have decided to undertake an institutional review of the organisation. The purpose of the review will be to establish whether the current structure of the LTDC is fit for purpose as an institution operating in a highly competitive global environment. SCOPE OF WORK Phase 1 1. LTDC Diagnostic - the Consultant shall undertake a comprehensive diagnostic of the mandate, role and responsibility, organisational structure and operations of the LTDC with a view to understanding its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. the review shall focus on examining the LTDCs management of its core operations, namely: Product development; Marketing; and
Investment Promotion. • The review shall also evaluate the efficacy of the LTDC’s departments, namely: Product development and investment promotion; strategic marketing; research and development; as well as legal and compliance functions (incorporating, public relations, administration [finance and human resources]). • Undertake a comprehensive review of policies and legal framework that provides the mandate, roles and functions. The review should take into account the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the current institutional arrangements including identification of gaps and overlaps. • Consult with the Ministry of Tourism and LTDC and other stakeholders in confirming roles and functions identified in the inventory. • Review the extent that the institution has implemented the national framework and core mandate given to it. • Review the coherence of institutional mission, vision and values and overall institutional strategic planning, and operational matters. • Prepare and submit a functional analysis report and prepare workshop materials based on the tasks undertaken already; • Undertake the Workshop for the Ministry, LTDC and other stakeholders presenting the functional analysis and identification of alternative options for institutional responsibilities. The Consultant shall undertake this review by: • interviewing staff and Board Members of the LTDC • engagements with personnel in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture • interviewing investors who have established tourism operations in Lesotho as a consequence of the promotional activities of the LTDC; interviewing potential investors who have been approached by the LTDC but who have not as yet established operations in Lesotho; interviewing tourism and hospitality associations; and interviewing tourists. • consulting documents of the Corporation, and other associated research. 1.1. Output& Timing: a written report which overviews the strengths and weaknesses of the LTDC. This report shall be finalised within six weeks of the commencement of the assignment. 2. Benchmarking Best Practice - Comparator Institutions - the Consultant shall provide an overview of current global
best practices related to the operations of institutions that undertake the kinds of activities that the LTDC currently does, notably with regard to: • Product development; • Foreign and domestic investment promotion; • Marketing; and • Research and development Lesotho is especially interested in how successful countries have structured their tourism institutions. - This benchmarking exercise must also provide detail how these comparator nations’ institutions’ activities are funded and governed. 2.1. Output & Timing: a written report which provides an overview other jurisdictions have organised their institutions that are responsible for undertaking the kinds of activities that the LTDC currently does. This report shall be finalised within seven weeks of the commencement of the assignment. While written reports will be developed under items 1.1. and 2.1 (above) the Consultant will be required to present the findings to a mini workshop co-ordinated by the Lesotho Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture. Phase 2 • Following the Workshop, review and assess the feasibility of the preferred institutional model for the restructuring processes as well as evaluation of the best option for reform Implementation. • Develop an implementation plan to facilitate the restructuring process including structural requirements for implementing the preferred institutional option (resource requirements, (infrastructure, funding, staffing), management functions, structural considerations, etc.). • The outcome of the institutional review will be used for the following purposes: - Define roles and responsibilities of the LTDC and attributions of different departments including the roles and responsibilities of staff per respective department. • Propose LTDC model of organisational structure to ensure effective coordination and monitoring, and delivery its mandate effectively and avoids overlaps; - Define budgetary implications (if any) 3. Options Paper - the Consultant shall then prepare an “options” paper on the ways in which the Government of Lesotho may want to
restructure the LTDC. This paper will consider a number of options for a restructured LTDC. - for each option the Consultant shall define: • the mandates of the envisaged structure • the roles and functioning of executive management • a basic staff organogram and staffing requirements • financing mechanism for the proposed new entities/ mandates, and what annual budget will be required for the organisation to function on a sustainable basis. - for each option the Consultant shall provide a basic roadmap (milestones / costs) on how the Government of Lesotho may go about transitioning the LTDC. - as it is recognised that the restructuring process may take time the Consultant should also recommend what short/medium term stabilisation measures (if any) should be considered by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture. 3.1. Output& Timing: a written report which details possible scenarios for a restructured LTDC. The report shall be presented to a mini workshop co-ordinated by the Lesotho Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture. This report shall be finalised within ten weeks of the commencement of the assignment. 4. Refined Options Paper - the Consultant shall, on the basis of the workshop (see item 3.1.) then compile a final report on the restructuring option preferred by the Ministry. Output& Timing: a written report which details the preferred model for a restructured LTDC. 5. Key Deliverables 6. Payment Schedule 7. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The contracted firm/consortium should have, as part of its team: i. Project Leader/director at least 15 years of experience in institutional review and organizational restructuring and change management, ii. Specialists in tourism, investment promotion, marketing, financial analysis and structuring, business modelling and planning, organisational strategies and change management, as well as investment climate reform. Experience with implementing similar projects in the Africa region would also be an added advantage
Life &
Public Eye
16
DAYS
of Activism
Style
FRIDAY DECEMBER 13, 2019
for no violence against Women and Children
Why more women are taking to alcohol MOLIEHI TELEKA
M
ASERU Cultural forces inf luence w o m e n ’ s consumption
of alcohol. Since the 1990s there have been a lot of pinking in alcohol market; with skinny cocktails and berry-flavoured vodkas. This in addition to messaging on movies and on TV that alcohol is the best way for woman to relax and reward themselves. Historically, men have used drinking to symbolise their freedom to disregard responsibilities at work or at home. Drinking was considered less appropriate for women because of their domestic duties, according to different researches on alcohol. As women entered the workforce in greater numbers, their social habits began to look a lot like those of their male colleagues. Drinking has long been part of work culture. As workplaces have evolved to be more egalitarian, it makes sense that alcohol consumption has become an equal opportunity pursuit, too. Overall, men still drink more, guzzling just over six drinks per week to women’s two, according to a 2013 study. But a new study in the American Journal of Public Health reveals that between 2002 and 2012, the rate of binge drinking among women increased more than seven times that of men. Another study found that 15 percent of women binge drank in 2013 more than double what it was in 1993. Educated women in highpressure jobs are drinking more. Some it is due to the fact that they are trying to keep pace with their office drinking culture, looking for fun and relief from demanding jobs or because they have the income to enjoy a few expensive cocktails. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 74 percent of women with a master’s degree are higher drinkers, compared to just 34 percent of those without a diploma. Working long hours is also
a factor, according to a metaanalysis published in BMJ in January. Compared with people who worked 35 to 40 hours per week, those who work 49 hours or more are about 12 percent more likely to start drinking in a “risky” way. In 2013, an estimated 50 percent of women over 26 were considered drinkers, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Female alcohol use disorder increased by 83.7 percent between 2002 to 2013. According to a 2017 study woman alcohol consumption increased by 58 percent and a 2018 study found a steep rise in the rate of alcohol and increases were larger for women than men. Further, the other research found out that woman use alcohol to self-medicate. When women become freaked-out over the state of the world, their alcohol consumption rises. When they have a lot of burden or stress, they drink so do they also when they are bored and so need to busy themselves. Women are facing “having it all” stress; the pressure to have beautiful, perfect children; a wonderful family and a perfect life in multiple dimensions. Women are now more miserable than ever; they drink in response to negative emotions men do. Some drink because they are struggling really hard to adjust factors like marriage problems, so they think that will help.
Research suggests men use alcohol for positive reinforcement, they drink to party, get wasted, and have fun; women are more likely to turn to alcohol for negative reinforcing effects to reduce feeling bad, and temporarily melt away some anxiety and stress. MORAPELI RAMACHAKELA (top left) Of late women are going through a lot. Some are young mothers and probably have no idea how to manage wifehood, others are married and experiencing husband-wife issues, some are struggling about life in general. Their severe consumption of alcohol is just their way of escaping reality. They believe alcohol will reduce their stress. MOSIUWA PEPANE (top right) Women are under a lot of stress, as general unemployment is also affecting them. Failed relationships and rejection are also factors leading to alcohol abuse by women. The world has turned against their favour and they have found a solution only in alcohol, to release them from all their miseries. If things were the same, like in the old days where a man would work for his woman and a woman only looks after the kids and the house they wouldn’t be under such extreme pressure. Now you see woman taking care of everything, you see them working, you see them doing house errands;
so basically that is too much for them to cope with. MOTSAMAI NONYANA (above) The invention of flavoured alcohol has an influence on alcohol consumption among women. Earlier we did not have ciders,
only hard beer so these are made so women can drink too. Alcohol distributors did this to increase their market and women just fell into their trap. Another thing is gender equality; women now are trying so much to be like men. The 50/50 thing has really affected women’s well-being.
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Friday December 13, 2019
Public Eye
Style Focus
‘Slay queens sleep in their high heels’ MOLIEHI TELEKA
A
majority of African people describe a slay queen as a woman who likes to present herself as someone leading a luxurious lifestyle even if she lives in the poorest neighbourhood and struggles to survive from one day to the next. The key pointers that one should consider about slay queen include social media presence, make-up and a glamorous lifestyle, love for parties, language and taste for men’s attention. The term slay queen has taken social media by storm. The 21st century is the perfect era for slay queens, as they use Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook to tell the whole world about the expensive things they claim to have but do not even own. A slay queen cannot live without her social media presence because that is the only way the world would know about her “awesome” lifestyle. Up to 95 percent of slay queens’ Instagram profile pictures include mirror selfies, beach photos, and club pictures, to mention a few. Every minute of her life has to be documented, so the remaining 5 percent includes photos of food and other random things. The poses slay queens usually take in their photos are unnatural and uncomfortable, as they have to gather in their stomachs, curve their legs and jut out their chests and behinds. They think they look good, but more often than not, they look completely ridiculous. Slay queens never leave home without make-up on. She can show up at the corner store in the middle of the night wearing a full face of makeup and, more often than not, a pair of high heels. Heels and short, tight dresses are what slay queens’ love the most. However, the fact that slay queens wear make-up all the time does not mean that they are good at it. In real life, a slay queen might not even be able to match the colour of her neck to the shade of her face. Nevertheless, almost all of them are experts at using retouching apps and software. The selfies that they post so frequently on social media are face-tuned so hard one will probably never recognise them on the streets. If one somehow manages to catch one of them without any makeup on, one would be shocked by the striking difference between their post online and their real life appearance. Other most definitive traits of queens of slay that distinguish them from the others is their love for expensive things and luxury.
Normally they would go out just to snap a picture in or around a lavish car, with a bottle of pricey alcohol or in five-star hotels for instance. A queen of slay might also go into an expensive shop just to try something on, take a picture of herself in it and leave. Despite the love of all things shiny, a typical slay queen cannot afford most things she would take pictures with. She usually attains her cool shots by using the social position of her friends or of her ‘bae’. Almost every slay queen is a party animal. Every weekend, or sometimes even during the week, most of them are seen at fancy bars, clubs and other similar places dancing in their ridiculously high heels, drinking a colourful cocktail by the bar or drunkenly stumbling in or out of a cab. Sometimes they are seen as a whole flock, huddled together with their lips pursed and selfie hands outstretched in search of the best selfie angles and lighting. If a club has a resident photographer, they can even be seen in all of the pictures from the night’s events. Even if may not always easily detect a slay queen approaching, her weird way of talking can give away her presence a mile away. Their newest word ‘issa’ is a slaying word they use, and they update it like; issa Friday, issa party, and such issa things. Their language is littered with filler words and expletives, and even the way they pronounce certain vowels is weird. When slay queens are writing, they use lots of hashtags and do not pay much attention to their
grammar. Nevertheless, some of them even have the audacity to correct others in order to seem smart. When it comes to smarts, a majority of slay queens have little to offer in this department as they are very ignorant in a conversation. However, not all of them are stupid. Some might just be playing dumb to draw attention. Others are actually incredibly smart because they are able to get an insane amount of followers on social media and then just live off sponsorship deals and gifts from gullible men. Slay queens and men are a topic discussed by almost everybody. For some slay queens, the end goal is to find a man. And not just any man; he has to be filthy rich and he needs to worship them and the ground they walk on. When a slay queen finally grabs someone with her long manicured fingers, one can be sure she will post about it a million times a day. If the man is cute, his face will be visible; if not, she will only show his hands or headless torso. All that said, slay queens have the right to live the way they want. If they feel like spending their time on convincing others in their ephemeral superiority and catching men, then it is their choice. As long as they are not hurting anyone, slay queens have a right to be. Most people interviewed by Public Eye regarding slay queens share very similar views. Tankiso Hlao said, slay queens are actually women or
A slay queen would rather sleep hungry but do the latest lace weave or wig and have perfect gel polish on her sexy nails. Slay queens sleep in their heels. No catching them in low life kind of shoes like flats girls who really concerned about their appearance, style and of course the latest trends. He said currently, they are slaying on a new trend called wavy eyebrows. Hlao added, the girl one may see in town with flowers on her head or a “band” on her neck is definitely a slay queen. “Social media trolls say the queens put flowers on their heads to pay respect to their dead brains.” “These are people obsessed with luxurious life, fancy clothes, and love partying. Slay queens are always partying from Monday to Sunday. This becomes their best time to update their Instagram and tagging their friends along. A majority of them are not working and are not looking forward to finding any job, yet they still want a better life and good things in life. “To them make-up is
everything; they will never go anywhere without make-up, they always have to look perfect. They want to choke everyone else with how beautiful they feel they are and how they do their ‘cool stuff ’. “A slay queen would rather sleep hungry but do the latest lace weave or wig and have perfect gel polish on her sexy nails. Slay queens sleep in their heels. No catching them in low life kind of shoes like flats. “As part of her calling, a slay queen has the obligation of updating people - mere mortals - about where she is having her breakfast, lunch or dinner, where and when her invisible ‘bae’ and her are travelling to, the major happenings in her life; like when her bedroom light blows out or one of her hair strands falls out”, Tšoanelo Mpanyana said.
Public Eye
Friday December 13, 2019
Advertorial
3
Spotlight on rape during 16 Days of Activism
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ape is not just a sexual form of genderbased violence but a harmful practice informed by harmful patriarchal beliefs of dominance of men over women. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to Lesotho Dr Marc Derveeuw: “Victims of rape are not receiving the help they need, young women and men will have lifelong lasting mental suffering that will affect their lives and that of their children.” Gender-based violence in its various forms remains very high in Lesotho, with 86% of women interviewed for a Gender Links study in 2015 reporting to have experienced a form of GBV in their lifetime. Amongst the different forms of violence that women suffer is sexual violence, which is predominant in private spaces and in public spaces alike. Given the high prevalence of HIV in Lesotho, it is daunting that rape cases remain this high. Although the Sexual Offences Act of 2003 provides that a positive HIV status of a convicted sexual offender can raise the sentence to be imposed; this has not been a deterrent to commission of the crime of rape. The mandate of UNFPA UNFPA aims to achieve four results, commonly known as the four transformative results by 2030, which is also the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The four transformative results are: Ending Maternal Deaths, Ending Unmet need for Family Planning, Ending Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices and Ending transmissible diseases, including HIV. According to UNFPA, genderbased violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence. Victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death. The mandate of UNFPA is to address the consequences of gender-based violence and to offer psychosocial assistance, medical treatment and rape kits to survivors, and promote the rights of all women and girls to live free of violence and abuse. In both development settings and in humanitarian situations UNFPA is the lead agency on
UNFPA Representative to Lesotho Dr Marc Derveeuw
issues of gender and gender-based violence. The international community, UNFPA included, have promoted and supported programmes to end all forms of violence, including rape, and to address women’s right to ensure that they have control over their sexuality. Rape in the domestic sphere: According to the 2009 DHS survey 15.7% of men said a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife if she refuses to have sex with him, while 16% said a husband is justified to use force to have sex. These incidents remain high despite the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, which prohibits various forms of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and provides that no relationship will be used as a defence in a case of sexual offence. The section of the Act is commonly known to provide for the offence of “Marital Rape” although it refers to just relations. Because many women who experience sexual violence rarely report or come forward about their incidents, exact rape numbers are challenging to report. It must be noted that domestic violence cases in Lesotho, including rape in the domestic context, remaining highly unreported, even when reported, they remain largely unprosecuted for various reasons. The reasons include but may not be limited to, lack of sufficient evidence to enable prosecution, financial security of the victims where the accused is a provider or guardian in cases of minors. At times, it has been indicated that the victims do not report incidents of rape because of preserving family relations. Sometime victims do not report because they fear not being
believed.
are objects of men and that sex is a way for men to control women. But in the advent of human rights and as one of the huge movements of women’s rights everybody, man or woman, has a right to body autonomy implying that one will decide what to do with their bodies and with whom they will have sex or not. Sexual assault and rape are extremely traumatising, with lifelong repercussions for the victim’s health and wellbeing. Women who have experienced intimate partner violence are significantly more likely to have alcohol-use problems, to suffer from depression, or to acquire HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. According to Dr Marc Derveeuw, “victims of rape are not receiving the help they need, young women and men will have life-long lasting mental suffering that will affect their lives and that of their children”. He feels that if we as country do not treat rape with the seriousness it deserves, and we do not listen to the victims. We are breeding a generation of broken women who would have been negatively affected and are not geared to take up positions in the public spaces due to the trauma they would have suffered.
Rape in the public sphere Save for the anecdotal cases of sexual exploitation happening in the workplace and the possibility of women and girls being potential victims of rape by simply being in the streets, in recent year labour rights group have uncovered widespread sexual abuse against female garment workers by managerial staff in factories in Lesotho. This has prompted focus of actors in the area of women empowerment and ending of gender-based violence to pay special attention on capacitating women working in the factories to be resilient and know how to protect themselves. During the 16 days of Activism Against GBV in 2018 UNFPA, working with IDUL - a factory workers association, has sensitisation campaigns on issues of gender-based violence. In one of the districts of Lesotho where rape culture is rampant it has been attributed to the socialisation of herd boys, it is on this basis that UNFPA is committed to engaging men and boys, including herd boys, in the fight against gender-based violence and harmful practices. From 2014 to date UNFPA has been working in collaboration with Help Lesotho and LPPA to engage men and boys, in particular herdboys, on SRHR issues Ending Gender-based violence, including to engaging them to take sexual abuse and rape part in ending GBV. Ending Gender-based violence is one of the transformative results Rape as violation of rights and of UNFPA and remains central to body autonomy empowerment of women and girls. The historical causes of rape As it stands, preventing culture are reported to emanate violence against women, and sexual from the patriarchal attitudes of violence in particular, is crucial men having control on the person for improving the livelihoods and and body of women. wellbeing of women around the Society believes that women world.
Rape and sexual assault are often reflective of a persisting imbalance in power dynamics between men and women as well as of cultural and social norms in our societies. As Rd. Natalia Kane, Executive Director of UNFPA, said in her statement on occasion of commemoration of 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence, the crime of rape is a severe human rights violation, yet it remains widespread around the globe. An estimated 15 million adolescent girls worldwide have been forced to have sex, but only around 1 in 100 will seek help. We must stand up together, speak out together and take action together — against rape and all forms of violence against women and girls. UNFPA Lesotho collaborates with the Ministry of Gender Youth Sports and Recreation as the main Government partner on the issues of gender and women empowerment enclosing on ending Gender Based Violence and harmful practices. It is our hope that the laws such as the proposed Law against Domestic Violence will go a long way in protecting women and girls from violence occurring in their supposed safe spaces. With the continued support that UNFPA provides to the government, particularly through the rollout of essential services package for victims of genderbased violence, we look forward to enhancing services across the continuum of care for victims of GBV. UNFPA is committed to supporting the Government of Lesotho in the quest to end gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices.
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Friday December 13, 2019
Public Eye
Style Focus
Domestic abuse takes many different forms . . . Men tend to bear emotional pain quietly ‘MAPALO NKHELOANE
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ASERU - When people think of gender violence, they often focus on domestic violence when in actual fact domestic abuse manifests itself in many different forms. Authors Melinda Smith and Jeanne Segal in their article, ‘Domestic Violence and Abuse’, explain that domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate relationship or marriage to dominate and control the other. “An abuser uses fear, guilt, shame and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under their thumb. An abuser does not play fair,” the article reads. The article further discloses that there are many signs of
KIM HARRISBERG Johannesburg — It has its own currency, passports and a bloodstained map, but this is no ordinary country. Welcome to the Republic of Sexual Abuse, the creation of a group of campaigners in South Africa, where a woman is murdered every three hours. The fictional country is the centrepiece of an exhibition held in a Johannesburg mall that seeks to raise awareness of South Africa's high levels of violence against women - and inspire action against it. It was thought up by Roanna Williams, executive creative director of the advertising agency Black River FC, after she saw women protesting against the violence from her office window. "Most women in South Africa have a story of sexual abuse," said Williams at the exhibition, which opened on Nov. 26 to coincide with the United Nations' 16 days of activism campaign against genderbased violence. "We are not just trying to shock, we are showing that this is everyone's problem and we all need to act, not just during 16 Days of Activism, but 365 days of the year." Recent murders, rapes and kidnappings of South African
an abusive relationship and a partner’s fear is the most telling. It emphasises that if a person has to walk on eggshells, constantly watching what she or he says or does to avoid blow-ups, chances are their relationship is unhealthy and abusive. Other signs, also according to the article, include a partner who belittles the other or tries to be controlling and has a feeling of self-loathing, helplessness and desperation. Psychologist Mokhu Mokhali says a relationship is meant to be an openly free companionship, emotionally stable, and socially and physically acceptable but some relationships do not have those elements. Mokhali reveals that some signs of an abusive relationship include deficiency of freedom explaining that some people are not free and are not allowed to engage in any form of congregation, partnership or external relationship. “Other people demonstrate that they are not free in their relationship because of prohibition to engage in any form of societal
inclusion. Patriarchal dominance: the right to opinion and free living arrangement is restricted. Other people behave in a manner that they are coerced into serving their spouses like they are in a prison setting,” Mokhali says. One other thing that society often gets wrong is the perception men never become victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse happens to anyone so while women are more often victimised, men also experience abuse. Psychologist Mokhali attests to this.
He indicates that emotional abuse destroys men largely but they hide it with the ideology that real manhood entails suppressing any negative circumstances. Mokhali says if a man is not earning money or providing financially for his family due to different reasons, they are emotionally and psychologically tormented. An organisation called Women in Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) also acknowledges that men can also be victims of abuse. The organisation contents that men fail to report GBV because
Welcome to SA’s Republic of sexual abuse
women sparked mass protests in September where women called for justice for rape survivors. Soon after, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a fivepoint plan to tackle violence against women, including media campaigns, strengthening the criminal justice system, and providing training for healthcare
workers and counsellors. The exhibition, run together with women's rights group People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), includes a huge red map painted in fake blood with all the excuses men use to rape women including "I was drunk". At the back of the exhibition, a warning sign marks the entrance
to a bedroom where blood stained sheets hide behind a curtain. Recordings of cries and slaps fill the room. "This room is where reality kicks in for people in the exhibition," said Patricia Naha, a volunteer and counsellor with POWA, adding it showed women were not safe anywhere
when they report it at police stations, they are humiliated and laughed at. WLSA has therefore collaborated with law enforcement agencies to tell them about the concerns from the public. “At meetings we have been to with other men, they do allude to the fact that yes they do experience GBV but they are afraid to talk. Another perception men have is that laws favour women so what we are doing is to teach them that laws are not gendered,” WLSA’s Country Director Libakiso Matlho told this week.
About 3,000 women in South Africa were murdered in 2018 one every three hours and more than five times higher than the global average, according to the World Health Organization. The number of recorded murders of women went up 11% between 2017 and 2018. A video advertising South Africa as a tourist destination is played on repeat, with images of the country overlaid with jarring narration about sexual violence. "Retreat to the spectacular bushveld," a voice is heard saying over a video of zebra running through a national park. "Where women are dumped after being murdered," the sentence continues. Some men visiting the exhibition get defensive, said Clayton Swartz, Black River FC's art director, but many leave taking pamphlets and asking how they can help. "I am proud to be South African, but not with these rape stats," said Swartz. "We want to encourage everyone to speak out." The exhibition, which has so far attracted thousands of visitors, is open until Dec. 10 at Rosebank Mall and the organisers are seeking corporate sponsors to help them take it across the country.
Public Eye
Friday December 13, 2019
‘More women are bold enough to report GBV’
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everybody. Violence is violence and there is no way it can be justified, irrespective of who the perpetrator or the victim is.
ublic Eye’s Lifestyle reporter ‘Mapalo Nkheloane (PE) this week sat down with the National Director, Advocate Libakiso Matlho (WLSA) to discuss Gender Based Violence as well as strategies the organisation implements to tackle the scourge. P.E: What is WLSA? WLSA: WLSA is a nongovernmental organisation which is registered in Lesotho. It was established in 1989 by a group of lawyers and social scientists in the Southern Africa region comprising; Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe as well as Malawi. The aim was to review and reform all laws that were discriminatory against women and girls and looking into the legal, political and social spheres under which women were suffering discrimination and other injustices that were happening across the Southern Africa region. are having as to why GBV is increasing is socialisation where P.E: In your opinion, is Gender women have been socialised that Based Violence increasing or even if they are the ones bringing decreasing in Lesotho? incomes into their home, they WLSA: GBV has been something should always submit to their that has been worked on for many spouses. years. From the work we do and Because they are financially the reports that we are getting, independent, now the husband both from internal reports and becomes violent because he feels police reports GBV seems to be he should be the one providing on the rise, especially sexual and it becomes a problem GBV. because they want to control Every week when the police even the income brought by the present their weekly reports, all woman. forms of GVB are being reported Secondly, we are aware that but in all those reports, sexual as a result of socialisation, most GBV is the one that seems to men in Lesotho did not go to be on the rise, especially among school, they used to work in young girls and older women. mines in South Africa and due One of the observations we to retrenchment, most of them get as WLSA is that because have come back home and for of the way we conduct things, them to settle and be dependents which is continued advocacy it also causes a problem for and awareness and legal rights those women who have learnt to education, we think that women survive on their own. are now bold enough to report The fact that we are doing rather than die in silence that is a lot of rights awareness and why we see the numbers going education means women are up. They are going up because now empowered, they know their more people are reporting and as rights and they know where to go a result at least now we are more when they are being abused. aware of what is happening on As a result, men become the ground than beforre. control freaks because they still want to control women yet PE: What role does women women know that this behaviour dependency on men play in is wrong and cannot tolerate it. increasing GBV? In some instances, while on WLSA: We do not think the topic of socialisation, there is women are as dependent on a lot of expectation from society their partners as they used to as a whole in terms of what is before because we now have expected of women. Because large numbers of women who they are financially independent, are working and financially people would think if they do not independent. tolerate abusive behaviour, it is The challenge that women because they are disrespectful
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not appreciating the fact that this woman is now empowered so she cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour because it is not healthy for her. It is only in instances where women are dependent on men that they tolerate violence. P.E: Have you implemented interventions in schools? WLSA: For this one we have a nation-wide programme implemented in all districts and community councils. We have what we call paralegals under a Global Fund supported programme. Under this programme, we have paralegals trained on gender-based laws and they reach adolescents, which are people between the ages of 10 and 24. So they reach them through preventive messaging, human rights preventive messaging against GBV as well as postcare services, post-care services mean services which a victim or a survivor could go to or access after being violated. Those between the age of 10 and 15 are taught about rights because they are still deemed children so they teach them specifically about their rights as well as sexual GBV so that they know the signs when they have been violated and know where to report. P.E: Another local NGO, Sesotho Media for Development, has demonstrated that men are also victim of gender violence. What is your take on that as
WLSA? WLSA: We are indeed aware that that is the case. What we do is we use other men as champions where men target other men on prevention and post care messaging on issues of GBV. They capacitate other men that it is okay to report GBV. We also target stakeholders because the complaint was that men fail to report GBV because when they report it at police stations they are humiliated and laughed at so we have collaborated with law enforcement agencies to tell them about this concern from the public. From meetings we have had with other men, they do allude to the fact that they do experience GBV but are afraid to talk about it. Another perception men have is that laws favour women so what we are doing is to teach them that laws are not gendered. The reason it is called GBV is because it affects men and women alike, it is just that most instances are perpetuated by men against women. If men do not come out, it will be difficult to have specific interventions. P.E: What does WLSA say about the case whereby a woman ill-treats another woman? For example, house maids? WLSA: As WLSA we do not tolerate any form of violence, whether it is woman to woman or man to man. We stand against every form of violence and our offices are open to
P.E: Which are the programs that WLSA has implemented to address challenges faced by women and girls? WLSA: We undertake networking among ourselves as the seven WLSA countries and other women organisation which are doing more or less similar work intended to address challenges that women face in accessing justice. Other methods include the legal rights education under which any legal instrument that has been reviewed women are sensitised about the provisions as well as capacitated in terms of how to access justice or access legal remedies. In 2010 we embarked under the Senate Masupha case which was challenging the customary law and the chieftainship Act under which women and girls are not allowed to succeed their parents if they are born within that particular family yet their mothers can sit on the throne in their own right as the regent but a girl child born into that family was not allowed to do so. We, however, lost but had the results been the opposite we would have come up with a new legislation that would address the gaps in the law as well as restore the dignity of the girl child. Another strategy is the education and awareness material which we produce. This is where we simplify and translate legal instruments and disseminate them to the targeted groups which are mostly women. We, however, also target stakeholders such as the parliamentarian law enforcement agencies, police, and cultural legal practitioners such as traditional leaders that could advance patriarchy. We also have another project which is called GBV and harassment that is implemented within the textile industry in Lesotho. It is a project formed of different partners like WLSA, FIDA, IDUL, UNITE, NACTU. The aim of the project is to target workers and employers on GBV and harassment through a code of conduct that is embedded within the project itself. While the project is still in its inception stage, there are a lot of initial logistical frameworks that have been carried out which we hope to enrol fully by the beginning of January 2020.
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Friday December 13, 2019
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oxette singer Marie Fredriksson has died aged 61, her manager has confirmed. The Swedish star achieved global success in the 1990s with hits like Joyride, The Look and It Must Have Been Love, from the film Pretty Woman. A statement said the singer had died on Monday, 9 December “following a 17-year long battle with cancer”. “You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years,” her bandmate Per Gessle said. “Things will never be the same.” Fredriksson was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002, after collapsing in her kitchen following a workout. The tumour cost her the vision in her right eye - but after three years of treatment, she returned to public life and toured successfully again with Roxette from 2008 to 2016. However, the cancer eventually returned: Fredriksson’s family said she had died following a recurrence of “her previous illness” earlier this week. ‘Magical live performances’ “Thank you, Marie, thanks for everything,” said Gessle in a heartfelt statement. “You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colours. You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years. “I’m proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour. All my love goes out to you and your family.” “Marie leaves us a grand musical legacy,” added her manager Marie Dimberg. “Her amazing voice - both strong and sensitive - and her magical live performances will be remembered by all of us who were lucky enough to witness them. But we also remember a wonderful person with a huge appetite for life, and woman with a very big heart who cared for everybody she met.” Hailing from Halmstad, Sweden, Roxette first met in the late 1970s, when Fredriksson was a member of the pop outfit Strul & Ma Mas Barn and Gessle was playing with Gyllene Tider, one of Sweden’s biggest groups. They teamed up in 1986, becoming huge stars in their homeland with the single Neverending Love, followed by a hit album, Pearls of Passion. Despite their popularity in Scandinavia, Capitol Records declined to release their records in the US. It wasn’t until an American student studying in Sweden brought a copy of their second album home to Minneapolis, and persuaded a local radio DJ to play The Look, that they achieved international fame. That song became the first of four US number ones for the band, while its parent album, Look Sharp!, went platinum. They achieved their biggest success when their 1987 Christmas single, It Must Have Been Love, was re-written for inclusion on the Pretty Woman soundtrack in 1990. It topped the
Roxette singer Marie dies, aged 61 charts in more than 10 countries, and gave the band their biggest UK hit, reaching number three. ‘Full of fear’ Roxette continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1990s - eventually selling more than 80m records worldwide. Known for breezy pop hits like Dressed For Success and power ballads such as Listen To Your Heart, they cheekily summarised their songwriting philosophy in the title to their 1995 greatest hits album, Don’t Bore Us, Get To The Chorus. After a brief hiatus, during which Gessle reunited with Gyllene Tider, the duo scored further hit albums with 1999’s Have a Nice Day, and 2001’s Room Service. Fredriksson’s devastating cancer diagnosis came the following year. She spent three years receiving treatment, and later wrote about the “fear” she’d experienced in a solo record, called The Change. “Suddenly the change was here,” she sang, “Cold as ice and full of fear / There was nothing I could do / I saw slow motion pictures / Of me and you.” In 2005, Fredriksson told Sweden’s Aftonbladet newspaper her treatment had been successful, saying: “It’s been three really hard years [but] I’m healthy.” The singer took up painting during her treatment, but surprised Roxette fans by making
a return to the stage with Gessle in Amsterdam in 2008. The band later mounted a comeback tour that sold out venues across Europe, and released several new albums but, by 2016, Fredriksson’s health was failing and doctors advised her to stop touring. ‘Beautiful colours’ In her autobiography, the singer wrote about the impact cancer had on her life. “At last, it feels like I have reconciled myself to having a radiation injury to live with. That this is how it turned out,” she said in The Love Of Life. “I have lost many years through the disease. And it is also a sadness to age. But every day I think I’m grateful to be sitting here. And that I can still sing.” In her final single, 2018’s Sing Me A Song, the star appeared to address her m o r t a l i t y, singing: “The love I had and gave / Makes it hard to say goodbye” over an elegant, mournful jazz backing. Fredriksson is survived by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children.
Marie Fredriksson achieved global success with Roxette in the 1990s
Wheels Public Eye
December 13, 2019
JULY 06, 2018
Quick Facts In 1935, the SS Jaguar name first appeared on a 2.5-litre saloon and sports models of which were the SS 90 and SS 100. The name changed from Swallow Sidecar Company to Jaguar Cars Ltd, in 1945. Jaguar's sales slogan for years was “Grace, Space, Pace”. The XJ220 was the world's fastest production car in 1992.
Driving tips to avoid catastrophe in heavy rain
Jaguar - classy and extravagant
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OHANNESBURG Following a prolonged dry spell, much of the eastern half of South Africa has experienced RETHABILE MOHONO persistent rainfall for the past week, with some low-lying areas also experiencingASERU flooding - It’s n o t a lcreates ways This, of course, about the a recipe for disaster onprice the country’s roads, tag, withbut motorists about having to contend e xwith c l u sslippery i v i t y, surfaces and as extravagance. well as large pools comfort of water and even fl ash fl oods in Since the introduction of some places. Jaguar vehicle models in 1935, In times like these, it pays to Jaguar to the motoring know ahas fewproved tips and tricks about world luxury, and drivingthat in the rain,classiness, and for that, sophistication is all thedirector brand Masterdrive managing believes in. Eugene Herbert offers some good advice: For 17 years, the Jaguar brand has been operating in Driving in rain: how for to aavoid Bloemfontein, catering wide aquaplaning market segmentation, proudly According to Herbert, displaying its powerful cats in the aquaplaning is one of the New CI ARCH Jaguar Building biggest risks in rainy weather situated at 52one’s Zastron and reducing speedStreet, is the CBD, Bloemfontein. best way to lower the chances Thehappening. award-winning of this And if Jaguar you do hydroplane, best course of range makes the an impressive lineaction is to slowly lift your foot up. off T the h eaccelerator c l o s e r yopedal, u ge tbut , t hdo e not brake or amove your better theyharshly look with standard steering wheel violently. s p e c i f i ca t i o n t h a t i n c l u d e s The danger of skidding is also advanced technology. ever-present on wet roads and to drivetoperfection? hereWhy it’s wait important remember brand not brakes. only produces notThe to slam on the Rather luxury, sporty andin family vehicles continue steering the direction youalso wantoffto and avoid making but ersgoa faster and tranquil any harsh adjustments. way to service its products. Motoristsvehicle are alsousers advisedcan to Jaguar turn n ow their b o oheadlights k Ja g u a ronsand e r vleave ices larger following distances when appointments online using its new the road surface is wet, as this integrated booking will give more timefacility. to respond if By simply entering something goes wrong the up details ahead. of thegive car,yourself choose more retailer Also timeand to select service date stop and to gooptions, aroundchoose corners. and time and the appointment How tobedeal with pools of water would confi rmed via email. According Ja g u a r to w i lHerbert, l a l s o s edrivers nd a should estimate depth of of reminder, prior to the the service water and avoid driving through the vehicle. pools in which the water comes to
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The Jaguar I-PACE To make it even easier, Jaguar staff also call Jaguar users to schedule a suitable time and date for their vehicles’ service. the middle of the tyre or higher. Sales Executive at Jaguar “Most drivers risk driving Bloemfontein, Letseka, through a poolLeseli of water but pointed out that Jaguarwater currently roads which collect are consists of over to sixcollapse derivative more vulnerable and vehicles from, withtheir the it is easytotochoose underestimate depth,” Herbert says.vehicle, the exciting full electric “Where possible, Jaguar I-PACE, on itsdrive way. in the middle of a road the water Letseka listedwhere the following is at itsvehicles lowest. that are on offer: Jaguar Be prepared for off spray • Ja g u a r X E -T h e m o s t from passing cars which can be advanced, blinding.” efficient and refined
sports sedan car that Jaguar has ever produced. • Jaguar XF –The multi-award winning XF’s innovative design and refined engineering How to deal with fast flowing deliver performance without water m pto r oavoid m i s idriving n g o nthrough fuel It isc o best fasteffi flciency. owing water altogether as F-PACE – This new it• isJaguar very hard to judge its depth, butperformance if you find crossover yourself caught is the in latest this situation unexpectedly, in our dynamic and Herbert advises driving slowly seductive bloodline. and steadily through while in • Jaguar E-PACE – Jaguar’s first or second gear. first compact SUV is a unique If the car stalls and you are notcombination in danger of of looks, being agility swept
and dynamic driving. • Jaguar F-TYPE – F-TYPE is a true Jaguar sports car that delivers the look, the feel, the away, don’t restart the car, performance and handling of rather get a mechanic to make a Jaguar. sure that no water has made its • Jaguar XJengine. – Seductive design, way into the intuitive technology and Once you’ve made it through theexhilarating water, it performance: is advisable XJ to lightly touch yourthan brake pedal is much more a luxury a few times in order to dry the sedan. brakes. With the above-mentioned Ja g u a r p ro d u c ts , L e ts e ka What happens if I get caught in ex p l a i n e d , fo r o n e ge t to an unexpected flash flood? experience premiumcaught qualityinina If you find yourself
every aspect of the vehicle. “It def ines the art of performance, making Jaguar the alpha in its class,” Letseka said. full-blown flash flood and you After the launch of the New can feel your car losing grip Jaguar Letseka said with theE-PACE, road, the best thing Jaguar experienced a “wide to do is to open the door to let interest inin, our product and some water which might help especially different weight thefrom car down andmarket allow the tyres to grip the road again, segments”. Herbert advises. “Jaguar is definitely setting if you are in danger theHowever, trend in premium automotive of beingand swept away, itwhich mightour be design technology, best to abandon the car, if it is market truly appreciates and possible to do this safely. enjoys at the same time.”
Friday 29, 2018 Friday June December 13, 2019 8Public Eye
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Public Eye Public Friday June 15, 2018Eye 7
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EYE ON
Property CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENTS
Green City scoops best developer award
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Friday December 13, 2019
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Green City scoops best developer award MATŠELISO NTHABANE
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ahesh Patel, is the director at OM Investment Private Ltd, popularly known as Green City Housing Project. Last week Standard Lesotho bank recognised and honoured the company’s hard work by giving them with the best property developer award. What made the company to stand out among several other developers is the fact that their current project, Green City, is more reliant on nature like solar, recycled water, and maintenance of an ever-green landscape around the property. OM investments is a locally registered private company engaged in construction and property development whose vision is to organize and execute construction and renovation projects for commercial and private use.
Their processes involve negotiations with investors and lending institutions such as banks and insurance, architects, lawyers, general contractors, government officials and other interested parties. The company aspires to become the most successful real estate firm in Lesotho, providing quality residence to all people willing to have a home within a more secure environment. They are located at Ha Pena Pena along Kofi Annan road in Maseru. The company has gone through some challenges in the previous years which resulted in delays to the projects. Despite the temporary disappointment for everyone who had known Green City three or four years ago, finally the much-awaited project is taking shape. So far Green City has built 20 houses out of which 15 are already sold out, with eight
house owners already residing in the completed units. They are expecting to build more houses ranging from two bedroom houses, three bedroom houses, four bedroom houses and double story house. The company tailor-makes
houses according to individual tastes and designs. Among other facilities which will be enhancing the green city project are commercial sites which are allocated for a mall, hospital, private school, hotel and resort plus a filling station.
There is maximum security with security guards operating 24/7 with the aid of surveillance cameras, paved roads and solar street lights. Upon completion the whole project is expected to have 850 residential stands in total.
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SLB Car & Home Expo 2019
Friday December 13, 2019
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Friday December 13, 2019
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As we reflect upon our success in 2019, we could have not done it entirely without you, Thank you for your support and co-operation Our Company sends you our warmest Christmas greetings. Your continued Patronage of Green City blesses your business. Happy Holidays.
World Perfect Aluminium wishes everyone a Merry Christmas surrounded by family. Warmest wishes for a joyful Christmas.
Reliable Mosamo Transport Services is a company located in Maseru Lesotho we offer door to door services. Contacts: +266 50159204/ +266 69376925 for local and international tour, we take clients as our first priority. We would like to wish Basotho a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
PH Construction would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and many blessings for the coming year.
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Public Eye
Friday December 13, 2019
Eye On Property
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Friday December 13, 2019
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Political View Public Eye
Friday December 13, 2019
MCC second compact sparks debate STAFF REPORTER
M
ASERU - Lesotho’s re-selection to develop the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has sparked debate on whether Lesotho really fulfilled requirements by the MMC, with analysts saying the re-selection was done out of pity. A n a lysts a rg u e t h a t government has not fulfilled requirements and that the fact that the decision comes after a much longer time, could mean that the country did not meet the requirements. They said a chance to continue developing a compact does not guarantee the release of funds as there are still evaluations to be made. Also, analysts said, the evaluation and review could take a longer time again. Independent political and economic analyst, Authur Majara, said until funds have been released “there is still a long way to go, considering also that the political relationship between government and China could spoil things.” He added “the relationship we have with some of the Eastern countries might affect our chances with the compact.” Majara also pointed out that the recent stand by Lesotho to support Morocco in the Western Sahara conflict could negatively a f fe c t L e s o t h o ’s c h a n c e s ; noting further that a number of international organisations have voiced concerns over the country’s spending. “What we can’t ignore is that it took a long time to re-select Lesotho, there must be something we are not privy to that might have posed a challenge,” he said. On the other hand, Qalabane Member of Parliament (MP) from the opposition Democratic Congress (DC), Motlalentoa L e ts o sa , sa i d n o n e o f t h e conditions set by the MCC has been met by the current government. Letsosa holds an opinion that the ongoing national reforms have given the Americans hope that all will be well and are giving the government a chance. Letsosa said corruption remains at its peak and there is no rule of law, adding that government never investigated the acts of police brutality that even attracted attention from the international community, including the US. “Nothing has been done to police officers who were involved in the acts of police brutality,”
DC Dep Leader Motlalentoa Letsosa
he said. He added: “Although it will take a much longer time to develop the compact, when funds finally arrive they will go a long way in answering many challenges that we are faced with as a country.” All Basotho Convention (ABC) spokesperson, Montoeli Masoetsa, also weighed in and said Lesotho has been selected out of pity. Masoetsa said it is clear that all the areas that MCC interrogates - good governance, corruption and respect for human rights have not been achieved. He cited cases of corruption that occur not only in the awarding of tenders but within the public service as well where he said service delivery remained at its lowest while primary health care remained a challenge. “While the MCC is said to have selected Lesotho based on those aspects, it is a sad reality that it is not what Basotho are experiencing on the ground,” Masoetsa said. Masoetsa is also of the opinion that Lesotho could have been selected because of the progress on the national reforms but argues that there has not been sufficient political will to push through faster. The government was pushed into the reforms by the SADC facilitator to Lesotho, Cyril Ramaphosa, he asserted. However, Masoetsa said although government will have
to wait until the funds have been released, the fact that Lesotho has been selected would go a long way in meeting the many challenges of service delivery. He noted that with other o rga n i s a t i o n s s u c h a s t h e European Union withdrawing their budget support, Lesotho will have to find its own ways to deliver services. MCC board of directors reselected Lesotho to continue developing a second compact – an MCC five-year grant programme – to reduce poverty through targeted investments that spur economic growth. “As part of their annual selection process, the MCC Board of Directors reselected Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Lesotho, Malawi, Timor-Leste, and Tunisia to continue developing bilateral compacts,” MCC announced in a statement on Tuesday this week. It added: “This allows MCC to continue working with these countries to determine if there are potential regional programmes that meet MCC’s strict investment criteria that could be supported through concurrent compacts.” The MCC was created in 2004 as a new and different model of development assistance – one focused on reducing poverty through economic growth. Built on the lessons of decades of development experience, MCC provides time-limited grants to developing countries that
meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights, as evaluated on MCC’s scorecard. M C C ta ke s a b u s i n e ss like approach, with bedrock commitments to data, accountability, and evidencebased decisions. Its investments are improving the lives of millions of people around the world. MCC signed the first compact with Lesotho worth US$362.5 million in July 2007. By the end of the compact in September 2013, Lesotho and MCC had spent nearly 99 percent of anticipated compact funds to improve water supply, increase access to essential health services, and remove barriers to private sector investment. The first compact funded work with other international donors on the infrastructure improvement projects like the Metolong Dam, as well as work with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to mitigate the negative economic impact of poor maternal health, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases. In December 2013, Lesotho was initially selected to develop a second compact, however, the MCC’s Board deferred its vote on continued eligibility in 2015 and 2016. Following that two-year
haitus, the board re-selected Lesotho in 2017 as eligible to develop a second compact. This decision was taken in recognition of concrete steps taken that year that demonstrated a commitment to addressing MCC’s concerns about rule of law. In February this year, the United States Ambassador to Lesotho, Rebecca E Gonzales, indicated that although great strides had been made on the way to the finish line of finally signing a second MCC compact in the future, reports of corruption in government and police brutality c o n t i n u e d to t h rea te n t h e compact’s future. On June 27, on the occasion of the United States’ Independence Day Celebration, G onzales reiterated that she was deeply concerned by indications that “corruption is on the rise”; that “political space is shrinking”, that institutions of accountability, which must be independent and properly resourced, “are being politicised and undermined”. She said she was concerned for rule of law and for the reforms process. “ Fa i l u r e t o i m p l e m e n t reforms – the comprehensive, transformative, and inclusive reforms that Basotho have identified for themselves as the way to reach the Lesotho they want – failure to implement those reforms could have far worse consequences for Basotho t h a n i n te r r u p te d c o m pa c t development,” she said. Those consequences, Gonzales said, could last far beyond our current generation. “When we act like we have all the time in the world, we are really borrowing time from our children and grandchildren. With the speed and complexity of today’s technology, a moment’s delay can put us years behind. “Lesotho cannot afford such delays. Your country’s future cannot be left behind with fingers pointing to a pile of roadmaps or draft legislation collecting dust. All of you here have the power to act, to determine whether or not this country stays on the right path. “As the representative of your long-standing and most steadfast diplomatic partner, I implore you to take action and move forward with commitment, accountability, and urgency on the reforms process. The future of your nation depends on it and time is short to demonstrate progress,” she said.
PV 2
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
Political View
EFF in Lesotho – a turn towards populism? KANANELO BOLOETSE
M
ASERU – In October 2011, thousands of the South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) Youth League’s members marched over 60km from Johannesburg to Pretoria to hand over a memorandum of demands at Union Buildings. Led by the then youth league’s president maverick Julius Malema, the triumphant march was titled ‘Economic freedom march.’ The march’s demands included, among others, expropriation of land without compensation, the nationalisation of key sectors of the economy and a more aggressive foreign policy geared to improving trade. Less than a month after the historic march, in November 2011, Malema along with league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu and secretary general Sindiso Magaqa were suspended from the ANC. In February 2012, Malema was expelled by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee (NDC). Shivambu and Magaqa received a lighter punishment, with the pair being slapped with some three-year suspensions. M a g a q a ’s s a n c t i o n w a s suspended for three years, provided he did not violate ANC disciplinary protocol again. He was shot and killed in July 2017. In 2013, at the age of 32, Malema and allies formed a new party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). After the general election in 2014, the EFF became the third largest party in the national assembly and the official opposition in North West and Limpopo provinces. The party has since made an impact on South African and African politics. Several parties in various African countries drew their inspiration for their establishment from Malema’s EFF. These include Zimbabwean EFF which has the same ideologies and far-left politics as the South African party. Lesotho, it seems, is the latest country to jump onto the bandwagon. A Lesotho EFF Facebook group emerged on social media earlier this month and the group has already attracted over 50 000 members, most of which are young people. These youths seem to speak with one voice that the current ruling four parties; All Basotho Convention (ABC), Alliance of Democrats (AD), Basotho National Party (BNP) and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) can never provide a sustainable solution to the country’s
developmental problems and condemn both government and the opposition parties as incompetent. The emergence of Lesotho EFF on social media has been met with mixed reactions. A local political commentator Mohale Motloang said he believed “Lesotho EFF is a failed attempt”. Motloang told Public Eye: “I am neither a judge for the quick or slow nor am I a thought expert. But as much as I admire Julius Malema and the significance change the EFF has brought into South African politics, I believe the underpinning principles of EFF Lesotho are its damning flaws.” He indicated that having positioned themselves from the onset as the advocates of “hate doctrine,” against old age politicians rather than political tolerance, the Lesotho EFF seem to be paying no homage to anyone other than Malema and his cohorts “whom they have copied and pasted in our backyard”. “Making rounds on social media with over 50,000 subscribers in less than two weeks, Lesotho EFF group members are adamant that the 45 year olds and above are not welcomed, that no one who possess less than a Bachelor’s degree must never be allowed to contest the election,” he said. Motloang further indicated that the members of the so-called Lesotho EFF were also explicit at the age of 50, every government employee must be retired to make way for younger blood. He said: “It is on this ground that I believe Lesotho EFF is not an inclusive solution to poverty and unemployment stricken young people but another exclusive highend social club for well-meaning lads trying their luck into the public cookie jar at the expense of the most vulnerable disadvantaged youth.” He added that while it was of paramount importance that youth are weary of a hostile political climate in their country, hence the inevitable need to challenge the status quo and strive for a balanced political equation, “the Lesotho EFF members’ rage as is, is the kind that is detrimental to this noble cause”. “Precisely for taking off on the wrong foot of preaching no unity amongst the politically torn youth, rather entertaining the old hate tactics that divided us in the first place. “To transform this nation into well governed and matured democracy, we need not advance the needs of one group over the other,” Motloang said. It is not clear when this new
Local political commentator Mohale Motloang political platform will officially be registered as a political party but its leaders who spoke to Public Eye this week indicated there was an intention to register formally. “We are not in a position to talk to the media at the moment as we think it is too early for such. We will contact you once we have put everything in order and have elected someone to represent the party to the media,” Morakabi Morakabi said on Wednesday this week. Morakabi’s colleague, Hopolang Mosoang also refused to comment when contacted on Wednesday. “It is too early to be talking about this initiative on the media. We will only be in a position to talk to the media when all is done and dusted,” Mosoang said. Bokang Ramatšela, a firebrand politician who has been linked to this new kid on the block denied on Wednesday that he had anything to do with “the so-called Lesotho EFF”. Ramatšella indicated that he was all for African renaissance. “Africa must integrate. We must do away with the borders which were imposed on us by the colonisers. That is what I stand for,” he said. One way western countries control poor African countries is by controlling the markets of those individual countries, Ramatšella also said. He further indicated that once the markets of a country are controlled by an external force, it is almost impossible for that country to gain economic freedom and that is the problem facing the poorest Africa countries today. “We do not benefit from these fragmented markets, that is why integration is important. We need an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, as was agreed by our African leaders in 1963,” he said. After South Africa’s EFF was elected to parliament in 2014, some commentators raised concerns that the party’s electoral success re p re s e n te d a t u r n towa rd s a dangerous populism in South African politics. What then is populism? The answer to this simple question is by no means clear.
Ac c o rd i n g to M p u m e l e l o Mkhabela, a political analyst with the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa, there are two types of politicians or political parties – the pragmatic and the fanatics. Mkhabela says the pragmatic politicians develop policies that can bring about long term solutions to national problems. He says: “The fanatics usually referred to as populists, offer shortterm measures that appeal more to voter sentiments than to the mind. Populist measures are either unrealistic or destructive in the term. He also suggests that the failure of pragmatic politicians, the progressives, to implement their ideas has led to the ascendance of populists’ in different parts of the world. Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, the authors of Why Nations Fail, explain that populism is a ready-made electoral strategy that generally succeeds only when specific political conditions prevail. Ismaël Emelian and David Amiel, two former advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron, show how strategic mistakes by mainstream political parties have created a space for insurgent movements and candidates. And Andres Velaso, Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics, noting the presence of populist governments in countries with sound economic conditions, argues that the phenomenon must have its roots in politics, and specifically in failures on the part of elites. Velasco is an economist and professor. He served as the f inance minister of Chile from March 2006 to March 2010, the whole of the first presidential period of Michelle Bachelet. R a g h u ra m R a j a n o f t h e University of Chicago points out that populism is often a necessary response to the effects of unbridled capitalism. Simon Johnson traces the phenomenon to failures of economic policy, but notes that populists also rely on a breakdown of public trust and commonly held truths.
Johnson is the Ronald A. Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. In his article, Understanding the Global Rise of Populism, Professor Michael Cox explains that populism reflects a deep suspicion of the prevailing establishment; that this establishment in the view of most populists does not just rule in the common good but conspires against the people; and that the people, however defined, are the true repositories of the soul of the nation. Cox is Director of London School of Economics IDEAS – a foreign policy think tank at the London School of Economics and Political Science – and professor of International Relations. He says populists also tend in the main to be nativist and suspicious of foreigners (though this is more likely to be found on the right than the left). Also, more often than not they are sceptical of the facts as provided to them by the establishment press and in most cases (and again this is truer of the right than the left) they do not much like intellectuals. Cox also says about populists: “Nor in general do they like big cities and the metropolitan types who happen to live in them. They are (to use a term made popular by David Goodhart) the ‘somewheres’ – that is to say people who want to be part of somewhere as opposed to those who are the ‘anywheres’.” Understanding the Global Rise of Populism was published in February last year. The paper argues that when populists actually assume power, they will create an authoritarian state that excludes all those not considered part of the proper people. Beware the populists, therefore. They may talk the democratic talk. But hidden behind all that rhetoric is a dangerously anti-democratic impulse. Is South Africa’s EFF a populist party? Ta s n e e m E s s o p o f t h e University of Witwatersrand says contemporary debates about the Continued on page PV 4
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
Polictical View
PV 4
Political View
Origins of political left and right
The terms are metaphors today but they began as “literal descriptions,” says Sophia Rosenfeld, a professor of European and American intellectual and cultural history at the University of Pennsylvania. Here’s how historians explain the terms’ surprising evolutions. The story begins in France, in the summer of 1789, explains Patrice Higonnet, professor emeritus of French history at Harvard University. As the French Revolution gained steam, an angry mob had just stormed the Bastille. T h e Na t i o n a l A s s e m b l y assembled to act as the revolution’s government. And the assembly had a principal goal: writing a new constitution. One of the main issues the assembly debated was how much power the king should have, says David A Bell, a professor of early modern France at Princeton University. Would he have the right to an absolute veto? As the debate continued, those who thought the king should have an absolute veto sat on the right of the president of the assembly, and those who thought he should not — the more radical view — sat on the left of the president of the assembly. In other words, those who wanted to hew closer to tradition were on the right, and those who wanted more change were on the left. So these groupings became known as the left and the right, and that’s where we trace the origins. The seating pattern repeated itself in subsequent legislatures and parliaments, and it entered popular vernacular quite quickly. These terms were used in the newspapers reporting on the national assembly.
EFF in Lesotho – a turn towards populism? Continued from page PV 2 EFF have taken numerous forms, oftentimes in deeply polarised way – from those who argue that the EFF is pejoratively populist or fascist to arguments that the party is a crucial left alternative. Its style of parliamentary politics though, according to Mkhabela, where it often plays opposition not to the governing party but to fellow opposition parties – goes beyond acceptable rules of engagement. He says it’s typical of populists in the long run not to follow the rule of law which often constrains majoritarian thinking. If these definitions and explanations are anything to go by, they are a signal that the season of growth of populism is upon Lesotho. Maybe the storm will turn out to be less severe than the warnings, and there will be a sigh of relief after the fact.
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
The good intentions that brought us here… A
layman’s perspective on how Basotho arrived at a defective government Modern day political betrayal remains etched in the political chronicles of each nation, and is a constant reminder that a people’s history is not always marked by acts of goodwill as hastily assumed. TEBOHO KHATEBE MOLEFI looks into a few of the Lesotho electorate’s well intended decisions to transform governance - which handed them a dysfunctional government they can no longer trust. A powerful sense of betrayal has shrouded the country’s political landscape, and just like how Stalin betrayed Lenin, Brutus betrayed Caesar, Japan betrayed Britain and Indonesia betrayed India, it has become evidently clear that governments betray people, and now the electorate in Lesotho posit the 4x4 quartet government has betrayed them. It has now come to everyone’s attention that as the proverb says the road to hell is paved with good intentions, as Lesotho is fast advancing to some kind of political hell. These good intentions have, regrettably, been bushwhacked by the law of unintended consequences which often frustrates even the best of intents; and I have identified the three undermentioned as reformatory steps that influenced the electorate’s vote that put the incumbent government in power – only to degenerate into a monster administration some have begun to hate. Following his return to power in February of 2015, speaking to Global Briefing former Prime M i n i ste r Pa ka l i t h a Mo s i s i l i observed that many countries have experienced different shades of political turbulence in the past few years, and that Lesotho had not been an exception. He continued: “But the level of turbulence experienced in Lesotho can in no way compare to what some countries experienced in other parts of Africa, the Middle East and Europe. “The results of the February 2015 elections in Lesotho caught us all by surprise – a most unexpected exit poll. But these results taught us all that we can no longer take the electorate for granted and wallow in the age-old belief that their support is guaranteed.” Having been voted out of power by a popular vote that sought not just a change in government, but a reformation of governance to propel the development and betterment of their lives Mosisili appeared aware that the most important outcome of the year’s election result had been the need to bring different political persuasions to the table of negotiations in order to be able to form a government to serve the people. The vote was neither his, his family and his circle of friends nor the party he led, he could not boldly say the nation returned the Democratic Congress (DC) to power, rather to become humbled by the trust the other six coalition partners rested in the DC to allow the pact to lead the 7de Laan
coalition government. As we eschew some of the decisions of the current government the key drivers of the existing political dysfunction must remain stamped in voters’ minds, perhaps something could be learned from looking back, to give the same voting masses a chance at restoring political civility. Constructed political reality Beginning with the advent of the 2012 general elections, a new trend of political campaigns emerged, with coverage and broadcast media content often a manufactured version of events; this became the age of media-constructed versions of the country’s reality – both in social and political life, perpetuated by news reporters themselves, various campaign teams and/or other faceless political fanatics that flooded the airwaves in most radio talk shows aimed at fighting political battles. What passed for political news, however, frequently lacked substantive discussion of campaign issues. Political news stories were often framed around entertaining some strategic frames that privileged wh o eve r wa s c h o s e n a s t h e ‘right’ candidate for a particular constituency or party off ice, campaign tactics and the battle to gain the upper hand was sold for radio talk-shows as well as madefor-media campaign events that really held no substance but the swaying of public opinion regardless of the watery messages carried – sometimes outright lies. Particular segments of political party supporters and followers as well as executive officials of such parties competed for control of messages that emerge in the media – oftentimes to the detriment of reality, the truth. This media-constructed political reality skewed information dominated by one side’s message spin, at this time the All Basotho Convention-led quartet of parties; we had the pooling of all the parties’ views with the majority of media outlets acting as the final intermediary that abandoned other players’ message inputs and created a purely media spawned version of reality – a well-intended media framing comprising a set of concepts and perspectives that determined how the electorate perceive and communicate about reality. This is something that totally shattered the very fibre of media ethics, which unlike gatekeeping in media houses decides what a newspaper or broadcaster covers or does not cover; this new era brought an overreaching practice of how the various stories are treated once they are covered. The media may not have necessarily dictated news consumption preferences, we did, and for good intents and purposes. And as the law of unintended consequences dictates, the masses ended up consuming only news that reinforced their already existing political leanings; rarely encountering contrary views and facts opposed to individual
Former Prime Minister Dr Pakalitha Mosisili preconceptions. This, without doubt, led to well-intended decisions and choices on a future government without consideration of the moral and legal justification of whatever opposing or different side presented. Constituency candidature Unlike in gerrymandering, which remains an inherently suspicious p o l i t i c a l m a n e u v e r, i n t h e 2017 poll most party executive committees cherry-picked particular candidates of their liking to the detriment of those which individual constituencies preferred; other parties even pleaded for a sympathy vote during primary elections to see the candidates they want representing them at such constituencies. Most voters who supported the big name parties that contested these elections can bear testimony to this. This trend unconsciously led to a scenario in which voters didn’t choose political leaders, instead politicians chose their voters; and these voters fell in line with all that was being dictated because they def initely received their news from one-sided sources, or lived in intellectual isolation that encourages contempt for conflicting views. Cherry-picking constituency candidates by party leadership may have been a well-thought, wellintended approach, but it led to a National Assembly full of men and women who won their respective constituencies not because of the quality they possess to serve their people but party or a leader’s interests. They basically don’t give a damn what you think as a voter, you didn’t choose them – the party chose them for you, yours was to make sure they win the constituency. An unrestricted choice of news outlets D i a n a O we n , G e o rge tow n University, Washington, USA, in her book The age of perplexity: Rethinking the world we knew says the media environment is dynamic and continues to develop in novel, sometimes unanticipated, ways that have serious consequences for democratic governance. “The media has radically
altered the way that government institutions operate, the way that political leaders communicate, the manner in which elections are contested, and citizen engagement,” she says. And with the freeing of the press space for broader unrestricted activity the local media soured the concept of a free press, setting trends ahead of the 2017 poll that undercut the ideal aims of a democratic press. The media disseminated a tremendous amount of political content, but much of the material wa s t r iv i a l , u n re l i a b l e, a n d polarising; its watchdog role, which should be performed largely by trained journalists focused on uncovering facts surrounding serious political content, was left to young untrained reporters. Almost all political content was defined by coverage of a neverending barrage of sensational stories - real, exaggerated, or entirely fabricated, and often peripherally related to governing. So when most voters received their news from these media platforms they had limited choice, for none offered their audience balanced coverage; they alienated those with opposing views as far as they could. Media houses generally took extreme positions and did not support a political culture in which as American Senator, Arthur Vandenberg, in 1947 on the Senate floor put it we must ‘stop partisan politics at the water’s edge.’ It may have been well-thought, well-intended, for the media troops to choose sides and bring down the then loathed Pakalitha Mosisili’s administration; but the decision in itself brought in the 4x4 coalition, a dysfunctional government. What has been observed here is a lethal cocktail of well-intended decisions, choices that have pushed this country into an abyss of debilitated extremes evidenced in long-drawn-out governance bungles that have punctuated this administration’s tour of duty since coming into power. The nation feels betrayed by a government they elected. The choices that voters make remain blocks that build us a future, so we must be careful what we wish for.
Leaders
Friday December 13, 2019
Editorial Comment
Why our democracy is doomed Lesotho as a country is very polarised. In all facets of people-to-people engagement, politically and otherwise, there is no centre that is still holding. This is evident in the way things have been working out in parliament in the past few weeks where the sitting government is being unnecessarily cushioned against a motion of no confidence by both the Speaker and his deputy. This is despite the fact that the government – as even its cabinet make up note – is ineffectual because it has but become an aloof ‘minority’. As per the constitution, Lesotho follows a Westminster style of parliamentary procedures: the Speaker controls proceedings in the House with his supposed roles which include allowing members of the august House to express their views, ensure they adhere to rules of debate, that is, as required by the Standing Orders. The Speaker also should rule on any dispute as to the procedure to be followed by the house and to protect the rights of the minority acting in the best interest of the parliament as a whole primarily and practically ensuring to fulfill his roles without prejudice, partiality or partisanship despite the political party that sponsored his speakership. It is sad to say that in Lesotho, under the current parliamentary Speaker Sephiri Motanyane – a man with extensive and possibly unparalleled experience in parliamentary procedure - the office has failed its parliament and its people. In what can easily be seen as partisan protectionism, Speaker Motanyane has pulled all tricks in the book to derail and block any attempt to censure the government by any opposition parliamentarian. The result - parliament remains polarized, confused and confusing – eventually in danger of losing sight of its mandate. It is unfortunate that a Speaker who is supposed to be impartial seems to be taking sides and deliberately sabotaging the ‘minority voice’. The current legacy being left in parliament over how to file and execute a motion of no confidence is nothing but worrying. Many a professional voice has raised concern and noted that the Speaker has contributed to the immense confusion and chaos that erupted in parliament two weeks ago because he took sides instead of fulfilling his roles as defined by the Westminster system. Because the public at large is keenly aware that the factional fights that have broken the sinew of togetherness and trust among Basotho have unfortunately divided even the ‘chosen’ parliamentarians, it is our fervent prayer that the Speaker rises above the so-called ‘Likatana vs the socalled Malumara’ factions and leads parliament for Lesotho and Basotho with a style and motive to do right. There is an increasing perception that the Speaker has a subjective, personal reason to protect Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane from being removed. This is worrying in the main and embarrassing since it would be the second time a Speaker ‘protects’ a prime minister who has lost his majority to lead. Many would well remember the year 2012, where then Speaker Nlthoi Motsamai gave a 45-member newly born Democratic Congress lee way to become government. They were in the minority and the perception that the Speaker was personally interested in saving then Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili haunts the country and its politics to this day. The most unfortunate part of that blemish in history is that Speaker Motanyane was Deputy Speaker at the time. His current escapades would mean he learnt from the best then. We wish to admonish the Speaker to think positively for this country and generations of essential service for needy Basotho – that maybe, just maybe, it is time the government acknowledges defeat and allows elections for a fresh mandate. If the Speaker fails to heed this admonition, our democracy is doomed.
Public Eye
EDITORIAL: [email protected]
The growing threat of water wars Frank Talk
JAYATI GHOSH 1. The severity and frequency of conflicts over water are set to increase, as climate change alters rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent, intense, and prolonged droughts and floods. 2. The dangers of environmental pollution receive a lot of attention nowadays, particularly in the developing world, and with good reason. Air quality indices are dismal and worsening in many places, with India, in particular, facing an acute public-health emergency. 3. But as serious as the pollution problem is, it must not be allowed to obscure another incipient environmental catastrophe, and a potential source of future conflict: lack of access to clean water. We may live on a “blue planet,” but less than 3% of all of our water is fresh, and much of it is inaccessible (for example, because it is locked in glaciers). Since 1960, the amount of available fresh water per capita has declined by more than half, leaving over 40% of the world’s population facing water stress. By 2030, demand for fresh water will exceed supply by an estimated 40%. With nearly two-thirds of fresh water coming from rivers and lakes that cross national borders, intensifying water stress fuels a vicious circle, in which countries compete for supplies, leading to greater stress and more competition. Today, hundreds of international water agreements are coming under pressure. China, India, and Bangladesh are locked in a dispute over the Brahmaputra, one of Asia’s largest rivers, with China and India actively constructing dams that have raised fears of water diversion. India’s government has used waterflow diversion to punish Pakistan for terrorist attacks. Dam-building on the Nile by Ethiopia has raised the ire of downstream Egypt. And cross-border conflicts are just the beginning. Water-related tensions are on the rise within countries as well, between rural and urban communities, and among agricultural, industrial, and household consumers. Last year, water scarcity fuelled conflicts in parts of eastern Africa, such as Kenya, which has a history of tribal clashes over access to water. In fact, there are long histories of conflict over the waters of many major rivers, including the Nile, the Amazon, the Mekong, and the Danube. But the severity and frequency of such conflicts are set to increase, as climate change alters rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent, intense, and prolonged droughts and floods. Making matters worse, dwindling water reserves are increasingly contaminated by industrial pollutants, plastics and other refuse, and human waste. In middle-income countries, less than one-third of wastewater is treated; in low-income countries, the share is
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much smaller. Roughly 1.8 billion people get their drinking water from faeces-contaminated sources. The depletion of aquifers and inadequate investment in water infrastructure are exacerbating these problems. Water stress affects everyone, but the agricultural sector – which accounts for 70% of all water consumption globally, and as much as 90% in the least-developed countries – is particularly vulnerable to constrained supplies. Lack of water makes it difficult to keep livestock, since every drop has to be preserved for crops or human consumption. Urban areas are also headed for disaster. Last year, Cape Town faced such severe water shortages that it began preparations for a “day zero,” when the municipal water supply would be shut off. (Thanks to supply restrictions and other government measures, that day never came.) Similarly, Mexico City has struggled with a water crisis for years. Indian metropolises are lurching toward even bigger catastrophes. A 2018 government report warned that 21 cities (including the capital, Delhi, and the information-technology hub Bengaluru) would reach zero groundwater levels by next year, affecting at least 100 million people. As with climate change, the most severe consequences of water stress disproportionately affect those in the world’s poorest regions – especially Africa and South and Central Asia – who contributed least to the problem. In one part of rural Maharashtra, India, women and girls walkup to 25km per day to collect drinking water. In other villages, as local wells run dry, households have had to designate a member to be on full-time water-collection duty. Wealthier families might pay someone else to do the job, but most households do not have that luxury. Meanwhile, the advanced economies not only avoid many of the consequences of water stress (at least for now); they also maintain the lifestyle excesses that have propelled climate change and environmental degradation, including water depletion. Rice cultivation is often cited as a major water guzzler, but a kilogram of beef requires five times more water to produce than a kilo of rice and 130 times more than a kilo of potatoes. And since agricultural crops account for a significant share of many developing countries’ exports, these countries are, in a sense, exporting the limited supply of water they have. Moreover, current land grabs in Africa are actually about water, with foreign investors targeting areas with big rivers, large lakes, wetlands, and groundwater, and thus with high agricultural potential and biogenetic value. (As it stands, less than 10% of Africa’s irrigation potential is being used.) In 2015, United Nations member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, which include an imperative to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. Yet, in the last four years, matters have deteriorated significantly. The international community might be able to fool itself for a while – as it has proved so adept at doing, not least with regard to environmental destruction – but the threat of water wars is only drawing nearer. For many in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, it has already arrived. - BM
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 15
Opinion News
Plastic in South Africa: Is it foul or fantastic? Guest Column
TESSA KNIGHT
T
here is no getting around the fact that plastics are useful, but how useful are they after consumers throw them into the trash? And how well is the country whose ‘national flower’ was once a plastic bag doing compared with the rest of the world Plastics are durable, and are widely used in infrastructure as well as in the medical and food industries. But their durability has also made plastics a serious environmental hazard. From microplastics at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, to the ever-growing Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it is clear that plastics have permeated every facet of life on Earth. Most consumers encounter plastic in the form of packaging – from milk bottles to bubble wrap, it is almost impossible to shop for anything that has not been packaged in plastic at some point. But according to Johann Conradie, director of the plastic recycling company MyPlas, plastic packaging is beneficial to consumers. “There are nearly eight billion people in the world. Think of a cucumber. Without plastic, that cucumber is rotten in a few days. With plastic, it’s still edible in a week or more. We just couldn’t feed everyone without plastic.” But once plastic has been used, it does
not automatically have to become waste. In a circular economy, virgin plastics are used by consumers, then recycled and converted into new plastic products. In a linear plastic economy, virgin plastics, whether single or multi-use, are discarded by consumers and left in landfills. Addressing the Plastics Colloquium on 22 November 2019, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Barbara Creecy said that the most important aspect of the circular economy is the conversion from “waste into worth” How much do South Africans recycle? Despite what people may think upon seeing litter-lined streets, South Africa already recycles 46.3% of plastic waste that is collected in this country. According to Conradie, who is also chairman of the South African Plastics Recyclers Organisation (Sapro) board, there are about 300 recycling plants spread across the country. South African recycling is primarily financially motivated, Conradie believes, as opposed to the European market, which is driven by environmental principles. European households, for example, have separate rubbish bins that are collected by municipalities, whereas most South Africans have to manually drop off recyclables at designated sites. (To find a site near to you use MyWaste.) According to Sapro, 64% of South Africans have access to waste management, although Lorren de Kock, project manager for WWF’s circular plastics economy programme told Daily Maverickthat most waste centres are localised in cities, leaving rural areas to fend for themselves. In their 2018 study, Plastics SA found that more than half the recycling plants
are located in Gauteng, with about 17% in KwaZulu-Natal and 14% in the Western Cape. The South African industry is far less automated than it is in other countries. MyPlas employs 150 people working fulltime to sort and process products, whereas Conradie believes the company would have about 10 employees if it was operating in Europe. About 51% of all recycling plants across the country are small-scale, entrepreneurial businesses. According to Plastics SA, only 21% of the industry is white minorityowned. According to Sapro, plastic recycling created 7,892 formal jobs in recycling centres in 2018, with a further 58,470 people benefiting from the supply chain, including informal waste pickers and small or familyowned businesses. The informal economy Informal waste pickers comprise a large portion of the waste economy. For 59-year-old Nompumelelo Njana, collecting recyclable waste gave her the opportunity to put extra food on the table. Njana started collecting recyclables in 2007 as an unemployed woman living in Khayelitsha. Now, she works with a group of about 200 informal waste pickers in her community. “I love my job. Some people think I should be ashamed that I pick up waste, but it’s not waste. It has value, and I get to clean up my community,” Njana told Daily Maverick. Waste pickers sell recyclables to buyback facilities. The facilities vary in what they accept, but in general informal waste pickers can expect to cash in on certain
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plastics such as clear bottles, soda cans and other metals, and glass. Njana gets R8 for a kilogram of soda cans, making the tin cans the most lucrative items on the waste-picking market. But storing the valuable waste is particularly difficult for Njana and other waste pickers in her area, as they do not have access to storage space. “We don’t have land, so we just keep the waste in our houses. My neighbours keep complaining because they say it brings mice and flies. But the City won’t give us land,” said Njana. The 59-year-old wants the City to provide designated land for waste pickers to keep their collections safe, but has struggled to communicate her desires to people in power. Njana said she has asked the City on multiple occasions to assist her community of waste pickers, and will continue to make demands until her work is formally recognised. Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste Xanthea Limberg told Daily Maverick that the City is investigating the current state of the informal recycling economy “to best inform the most appropriate ways to assist the informal waste collectors.” According to Limberg, the City also incorporated informal waste pickers into its recycling projects years ago, with what she termed “positive and negative results.” On the positive side informal waste pickers were able to generate income and divert waste from landfills. But Limberg said the working schedule did not work, as participants were not able to to maintain “structured working scheduled that are required in delivering municipal services.”DM
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
Interview News
SA can’t remain indifferent to Lesotho’ s woes: B
LOEMFONTEIN – Chief T h e s e l e ’ Ma s e r i ba n e, leader of the Basotho National Party (BNP), which has just emerged from a bruising and divisive elective conference, is now preaching unity and urging erstwhile contenders and their supporters to reconcile “for the greater good of BNP”. Speaking on the sidelines of the 1982 Maseru Massacre commemorations in Bloemfontein under the auspices of that country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), where he had just delivered his lecture, ’Maseribane told Public Eye in a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday, that his wish was for his party to regroup from the elective conference and strive toward unity. ’Maseribane added South Africa and Lesotho’s destinies were intertwined hence the bigger economy should review its foreign policy to facilitate for investment in and development of Lesotho, adding that the neighbouring country relies on Lesotho’s water through the Lesotho Highland Water Project (LHWP) to generate trillions of rand while Lesotho’s economy stagnates. “If Lesotho is to cease being a social problem to South Africa, our neighbour must not only invest in our development but the country should also allow us access to their developed health and education system,” ’Maseribane said. It was at the same event that he publicly declared reconciliation with his political nemesis and former coalition government partner under Thabane’s first such administration of 2012 to 15, former Deputy Prime Minister and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing. Below are excerpts from the interview with PUBLIC EYE’S BONGIWE ZIHLANGU: PUBLIC EYE (P.E): Speaking of unity, you have just emerged from an elective conference whose lead-up was very divisive, with the drama playing itself out in the public space where all Basotho were spectators. What are you and your new NEC doing towards reuniting and reconciling the BNP members, both contestants and cadres for the greater good of the party? THESELE MASERIBANE (T.M): I respect the word unity. It is not just about saying it. It is also about doing something tangible. I talked about unity in my last rally. And I must register that I appreciate Chief Joang Molapo’s attendance of the rally, along with the likes of Moorosi Moshoeshoe and Lesojane Leuta. It shows that we are a mature political party that understands that elections are just that, elections. After that we are still one family. As leader of the BNP, I want those who were contesting and their supporters to put their differences aside and remember that Lesotho needs the National Party (BNP in short). We need to work together to
help not only our party but the country at large. And we cannot see our hopes and vision come to life for as long as we continue to promote warring camps. It should about a national programme that we must share with Basotho, of a prosperous Lesotho, to be where it was back in the day. We are not the Leabuas (Leabua Jonathan) and ’Maseribanes (his father late Sekhonyana ’Maseribane) of this world. But that history of their success is in our hands. We have the strategies with us. I mean, I am going to invite people with my NEC, to come and be in the sub-committees, to play a role in the party. It’s not about camps. It is about BNP membership, where they can be engaged in so many issues such as campaigning for BNP. It does not matter who was where during the election campaign. It is water under the bridge now, as long as we all adhere to the BNP constitution. P. E : S t i l l o n u n i t y a n d reconciliation, you called LCD leader Mothetjoa Metsing and declared that you have made peace despite your political differences. Please tell us the significance of this step you’ve taken to reconcile with him, in the bigger scheme of things. T.M: I’m a leader of the BNP and one of the principles forming BNP is our belief in God, as well as our customs and traditions. I never use personal issues to drive any agenda, especially when I am in my leader seat. It is said that when the Pope is in his regalia, he is holier than when he is not. The same goes for me, I don’t mix leadership business with personal issues. I’m not that young man anymore who would sulk at the sight of his adversary. He and I are still talking. We are in talks
about reconciling. It is not to say whatever wrong we have each done in our personal capacities should be swept under the carpet. Recently, the LCD invited BNP to attend its Ntsu Mokhehle commemoration and I deployed my deputy leader. I cannot deny my party to hold up that peace torch. But when it is time for me to put my foot down on issues I don’t agree with, I will say it. When it is time for me to identify those issues that qualify as criminal offences I sure will say it. I do step on people’s toes as well, I am no saint. P.E: Of what significance would you say is the 1982 Massacre Lecture to BNP and today’s Lesotho? T.M: It begins and ends with the two countries’ foreign policies: what is our foreign policy towards South Africa and vice versa? South Africa’s foreign policy towards Lesotho should be unique. It has to be a specialised foreign policy that has to address issues that are unique to the two countries. In a similar breath Lesotho has to have a harmonised foreign policy focusing solely on South Africa. For instance, the foreign policy I envision for these two countries should talk about how to gain access to institutions of higher learning in Lesotho by South Africans. It should talk about Basotho accessing primary schools in South Africa that are more advanced than what we have here, all because of their economy which we contribute to as we give water to them, for being our only neighbour. It should be a flexible foreign policy that is cognisant of the fact that Lesotho has rural, semirural and villages where highly intelligent children are born but never receive quality education as
we cannot freely send our children to South African schools because of a list of demands. But you keep wondering why this is the case when Lesotho provided free education to South Africans who had fled their country during the apartheid era. I am not even saying we should be given free education by South Africa, I am merely saying they should make things easier for us. Now let us look at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and the royalties therein. There is what we call development in that agreement. But in any country, there is no development that can be achieved without that element of education in it. So, if either Lesotho or South Africa has been sleeping all this time, it is time to wake up from the slumber and hold hands towards developing Lesotho’s economy, especially if the country has become a social problem for it neighbour. There are a lot of other factors. South Africa needs to seriously consider investing in Lesotho in pursuit of balance. There’s trillions and trillions of money that South Africa generates as a result of the water it gets from Lesotho. But the country is now planning to build a coal station for the generation of electricity in the face of load-shedding. South Africa is doing this at the time when the world is moving towards clean energy and Lesotho has lots of clean water that can be used to generate electricity. All that is required is infrastructure for that. Secondly, we are situated more one thousand metres above sea level, meaning we have the kind of air required to generate wind power. That is to say Lesotho can be a very strategic partner for the advancement of South Africa’s
economy and we have had that potential for the longest time. Yo u w i l l re ca l l t h a t t h e a pa rt h e i d gove r n m e n t gave Basotho six-months permits to cross the border to South Africa so that they could go and work in the mines such as those in Welkom. We had free access because all one had to do was produce their passport with the permit then you we good to go. But things have changed and now the cancellation of the permit has proven to be a burden on the Lesotho economy because of passports that run out prematurely due to being stamped day in and day out. Government cannot afford to produce passports at that rate, it is too expensive for our small economy. Now onto the issue of accessing health services in South Africa. T h ey h ave t h e l u x u ry o f a developed health system while our small economy only has the Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital. Experienced doctors and specialists are dumping their own country and moving to South Africa because of its attractive economy. Not to mention very own referral hospital sends patients to South African hospitals because our economy cannot facilitate for the provision of certain services. The saddest part is that even poor Basotho take buses from Lesotho to South Africa for the sole purpose of securing that country’s IDs so that they can access the health system. P.E: Has the Lesotho government engaged South Africa on the issues that you are raising? T. M : To d ay we a re i n d e e d discussing issues at this level. The question now is, how do we escalate them to parliament and to Pretoria? There is nowhere else we can
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 17
Thesele Orphanage seeks to unleash world-ready youngsters march to beyond this level. We now have to sit and plan how our people can live better. We are Africans and we should feel that we are in Africa. South Africa must hold the AU flag high. Apartheid made us angry, now we are deeply saddened by the Xenophobia. That word is scary especially to us frontline parties as we are the ones who fought the apartheid system. Those frontline states like Lesotho and others must be seriously considered. They are talking about political education. Lesotho and countries like Namibia sacrificed themselves in order to fight apartheid. All in all, I Thesele ’Maseribane, believe in the doctrines of our King Moshoeshoe I, who was one of the best democrats with vast knowledge although he was without formal education. He knew that without peace the economy would not thrive. That is why he was known more for being an advocate of peace. We need to strive for peace between us and with our neighbours. It is through advocating for peace and unity that we can achieve all that we desire. P.E: Your government has come under f ire for being a corrupt administration and the opposition has fanned the fires by outlining all your ‘wrongdoing’ from the teachers’ strike to the wool and mohair saga. Kindly address the ongoing accusations. T.M: Let me register now that I cannot defend any illegal or corrupt acts. If there are any, I cannot defend them. Mine is to shed the spotlight on positive things being done by government. If there are incidences of corruption, there are institutions whose mandate is to investigate such, such as the DCEO. Government’s role in that regard should be capacitating such institutions with finances and tools to help them execute their functions with efficiency. That includes the swift arrests of suspects as well as speedy court appearances of suspects. There is no way that I can speak for a corrupt government. It’s like defending someone who has committed murder just because they are part of government. Yes, the police should follow it up, investigate. My position is that government will just instruct the Commissioner of Police to launch investigations. We cannot afford to have police who kill people. Those I cannot defend at all cost. I will only speak for government on positive issues and cabinet resolutions. P.E: The opposition has been going to town about failures o f th i s gove r n m e n t . W h a t milestones has your government achieved since it assumed power in June 2017? T.M: Before we close for the Christmas holidays I will convene a major press conference as the official spokesperson to outline what we have achieved thus far and our plans going forward.
KANANELO BOLOETSE
S
EMONKONG – Tucked a wa y i n t h e M a l u t i Mountains some 110 kilometers from bustling Maseru, Semonkong is widely known for its iconic and mighty Maletsunyane Falls, one of the highest single dropping falls in Africa. There also lies the Maletsunyane Abseil, the longest commercially operated singledrop abseil in the world, operated by Semonkong Lodge which received the Guinness World Record Certificate in October 2005. However, not many writings m e n t i o n t h a t S e m o n ko n g, meaning the “Place of Smoke”, was apparently first established as a place of refuge for Basotho displaced by the Gun War in the 1880s. Almost 140 years later, the relaxed and ice-cold small town, apart from being a fanciful base for holidaymakers reeled in by the cascading falls, is still a safe haven but this time for children and young people in distress or separated from loved ones for various reasons. The plight of these orphans and vulnerable children has become a passion for Rethabile Mahopolo, the manager who maintains the day-to-day running of the Semonkong Children Centre. The centre traces its roots back to 2006 when Jill Kinsey, a British missionary started working with 21 of the most desperate orphans in the area. In 2015, the centre was handed over to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa which in the 1980s built a hospital in Semonkong. T h e Me t h o d i st h os p i ta l apparently became a shining star of the church in health care but
had to close down in 1995 due to financial difficulties. In 2017, the centre also nearly closed its doors because of lack of funds. It was reported then that the children, some of them living with HIV, were daily eating pap and potatoes a sad state of affairs which was due to dwindling sources of income. “We are in a better financial position now,” Mahopolo told Public Eye when it visited the centre recently, which she joined in winter this year. Her main task is to fully revive the centre and crystallise it into a safe, caring and stimulating environment for orphans and vulnerable children. But Mahopolo told this publication about how she needs to do more than just the chores involving child care, she actually hopes to help the children develop into healthy, productive adults and would also have to devise a viable exit strategy for children aging out of the centre. There are currently 41 children at the centre; some brought by local chiefs, others by police while yet others were brought by social workers. “When they leave this place, they must be able to face life and its challenges. We need to turn this into a place in which children can develop well like children growing up in a proper family setting,” she said. Moving out of the Semonkong Centre, Mahopolo said, should mark the time in the children’s lives when they start becoming real adults taking care of themselves – finding a full-time job or starting a small business, potentially getting married, building a house and having children. “Most children who grow up in orphanages are totally unprepared for real life. We do not
want that to be the case with our children here. We do not want to be one of the centres which are, for all intents and purposes, just a breeding ground for criminal groups,” she said Mahopolo also suggested that traditionally, the orphanage system created a vicious cycle that was next to impossible for graduates to break. “We need to break that vicious cycle. Many university graduates in this country live with their parents. They depend on their parents for money. Their parents do not get rid of them just because they have graduated, they are given the necessary support until they have found jobs. Why can’t we do the same with children who grew up in the centres? They also need support,” she said. The reason most of the graduates still depend on their parents for money is the weak job market that makes it difficult for them to find jobs that Rethabile Mahopolo
Feature News pay enough to be completely financially independent. According to the Central Bank of Lesotho, while the number of university and college graduates increases from year to year, most of these graduates are not able to get employment. In its economic review titled: The Economic Impact of Youth Unemployment in Lesotho. Youth unemployment is escalating…, the bank noted that of the 7,500 graduates who enter the labour market each year, half do not get jobs. Even those who are employed are mainly working in subsistence agriculture where they do not earn salaries or if at all they do they earn very meagre wages. The orphans are not immune to unemployment and underemployment. In fact, studies show that they are the ones mostly bearing the brunt of joblessness. In 2013 about 25 percent of the population was unemployed. Thirty-five percent of these were young people while 30 percent of the general population of the unemployed were women. The unemployment rate increased to 27.42 percent in 2016 from 26.52 percent in 2015. The proportion of unemployment is linked to l ow l e ve l s o f e d u c a t i o n a l attainment and to vulnerability of households, their structure and living conditions. “For a child leaving this place, that should not feel like landing on the moon, where nobody knows them. If they are not fully prepared to face the world out there, they should be given support until they can stand on their feet,” Mahopolo said. If that is not done, she continued, they will spend the rest of their lives in a “spacesuit”, since nobody will be taking any interest in them.
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Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019
Sport News From The Terraces NTHAKO MAJORO
Nothing beats healthy sponsorship May the best team win as the delayedIndependence Cup gets underway at Sestoto Stadium tomorrow. The fact that it is finally happening must be a relief to the four teams who qualified for the tournament, namely; Matlama, Bantu, Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) FC and Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) FC. Just like any other cup tournament in the world, having qualified for the Independence Cup is the biggest moment to every local team. Therefore, failing to hold the competition would have been suicidal for Lesotho’s football since this is the tournament which has a huge significance to the players individually, being the current crop or former players. It has a meaning to everyone; coaches, managers, sponsors and fans alike. It’s one cup tournament which we are all proud of as the Basotho nation. It has inspired so many players over the years and some of them are current coaches with the premier league clubs. You can talk about coaches like our own Lehlohonolo Seema, who is the current mentor for the Absa Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa. Other current coaches with top clubs in the country are the likes of LCS FC coach Mpitsa Marai and LDF FC coach Motheo ‘Six to Six’ Mohapi. Mpitsa, Motheo and Seema played at the Independence Cup before and they continue to inspire the current players in and outside Lesotho. Tumelo ‘Makhopo’ Khutlang, who is the current Black Leopards player in the Absa Premier League in South Africa and Bloemfontein Celtic striker Motebang ‘Nyepetsi’ Sera, both played at the Independence Cup. Nkoto Masoabi and Motlomelo Mkhonadzi who are playing for the South Africa National First Division clubs, Real Kings and Tshakhuma FC respectively, also played at the Independence Cup. This shows how important is the Independence Cup. Don’t take me wrong, I am not saying other tournaments are not important. In fact, all the competitions we have are very important. You can mention Top 8 and the league alike. They are also important and together with the Independence Cup improve our football standard. That is why we need more of sponsorships because without them no sporting event can be successful. You can name any tournament in the world and you will see that it is happening because it has sponsorships. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is sponsored by Heineken and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League is sponsored by Total. My point is, like anywhere in the world, for Lesotho’s football to improve we need more sponsorships. South African football is now a big deal because they are partnering with big companies who invested big money in their football. Even Botswana’s football is now a lot better because of sponsorships. But the same cannot be said about us. Because of lack of sponsorships our Independence Cup almost failed to take place, and our football administrators should be more concerned and take this as a wake-up call.
Young leads Roof of Africa race
SA’s Wade Young
NTHAKO MAJORO
M
ASERU - South Africa’s Wade Young won the Roof of Africa for a record five-time last Saturday, prevailing over Graham Jarvis from United Kingdom and New Zealand’s Chris Birch. Jarvis, who did not compete at last year’s Roof Africa was expected to give Young a tough time. This time around he could not even come near Young who registered 13:16:08 over two days for the main race. Instead, coming closely behind Young were his two fellow South Africans, Scott Bouverie and Kyle Flanagan on second and third position in 13:36:25 and 13:37:46 respectively. Jarvis came on fourth position in 13:37:48, while Birch finished on position 10 in 15:36:25. The latter made the
record by winning the race three times consecutively before, from 2008 to 2010, while Jarvis won it four times so far. “The race was won by Wade Young of South Africa, as we have said that for the past 11 years it has always been dominated interchangeably by Chris Birch of New Zealand, Graham Jarvis of UK and Young,” said Lesotho Off Road Association (LORA) spokesperson, Kekeletso Malebo, in an interview with Public Eye on Monday this week. “Young started winning it in 2012, if I am not mistaken, and he has won it for the fifth time this year. We thought we would have a new winner but Young won it again successfully (after winning it last year), proving that the title is between him, Jarvis and Birch only.” Malebo further said: “Jarvis, if I am not mistaken, came on fourth position and
Chris Birch far behind even though I don’t remember his position.” Malebo said the competition was rather between the South African riders, Young, Bouverie and Flanagan. He said eight Basotho riders out of 11 finished the race, including Nkhasi Matete who was the youngest rider at the competition at 17 years old. “The competition was very stiff and our local riders have prepared well, and that is why most of them finished the race. “And remember we are talking about guys like Nkhasi Matete who has just turned 17 this year, and this was his first time competing at the Roof of Africa,” Malebo said. He said the fact that Matete has managed to finish the race shows they are improving as Lesotho which gives hope that soon there will be a local rider winning the race again.
Lioli rope in technocrats NTHAKO MAJORO MASERU - In a bid to make Lioli a strong team again Tse Nala’s new executive committee has roped in the club’s technocrats, Moses Maliehe and Khethang Khohloha. According to Lioli’s outgoing communications and marketing manager, Lekhoetsa Mokhole, the two have been temporarily roped in to help the team’s interim coach, Soai Mosola. Mosola, who is the former Lioli player, has been guiding the Lioli team single-handedly since the resignation of Thabile Secker as Tse Nala’s mentor in October this year. Lioli, under the guidance of Mosola, have never lost after he guided the team to two straight wins and one draw. But Public Eye has heard that Lioli management is planning to appoint a coach to fill Secker’s post next month. “Soai Mosola is currently still in charge. But in the meantime Maliehe and Khohloha will be his technical advisors together with one Mokhele,”
said Mokhole. “He (Mosola) has not performed badly so far, but we decided to get him people to support him.” Mokhole further said: “We are in fact planning to have a new coach in January.” Mokhole said Khohloha, Maliehe and Mokhele are also going to serve as players’ disciplinarians. He said they brought in Khohloha and Maliehe because they were part of the Lioli team before. “Khohloha coached Lioli for a very long time and also worked as a development mentor before, just like Maliehe who former Lioli player and coach,” Mokhole said. Rumours, however, suggest Lioli already wanted Maliehe to be the team’s coach but in an interview with this paper, Maliehe denied this. However, he said there are other teams who want him day and night. “That is absolutely not true. I am just part of the coaches who have been called to help the team for now,” said Maliehe. “Apart from that, my health condition
is still not fine and I would not take a full-time coaching job now. But I can tell you there are teams who me want day and night, and soon you will know which team I will be joining.” Maliehe’s illness started while he was still the national senior team (Likuena) coach five months ago. And he could not lead Likuena to this year’s COSAFA Cup and African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers. This saw Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) having appointed its technical director Leslie Notsie as Likuena’s interim coach, and later Thabo Senong from South Africa as fulltime Likuena mentor. Lioli are currently lying on fifth position on the 14-team Econet Premier League log table with 15 points from nine matches. All the four teams above them have played more games, Bantu and Matlama on pole and second position respectively one more match apiece, while the third and fourth-placed LCS FC and Lifofane respectively played two more games.
Public Eye Friday December 13, 2019 19
Sport News
Battle lines drawn at Independence Cup NTHAKO MAJORO
M
ASERU - If last weekend’s Econet Premier League results are anything to go by, Matlama and Bantu will be through to the final of the Independence Cup this Sunday. Matlama face Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) FC in the first semi-final of the Independence Cup at Setsoto Stadium tomorrow, the same team which Tse Putsoa beat 2-0 in a league tie at the same venue last Saturday. Bantu are, on the other hand, once again facing Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) FC in the second semi-final after also beating the latter 2-0 in a league tie at Setsoto Stadium last Sunday. Of course the 2019 Independence Cup final between Bantu and Matlama will be a dream final. Despite being the league defending champions, Matlama are however not the favourites to win this year’s Independence Cup over the ons o n g
Bantu captain Litšepe Marabe with LCS Sepiriti Malefane coming behind him
Bantu, if the expectation that the two teams are going to meet in the final comes to pass. The former league champions Bantu are the only teams which are yet to lose since the beginning of the season in September this year. They are on top of the log with nine wins and one draw which saw them collecting 28 points, while the current second-placed Matlama have collected 20 points from the same number of games (10).
Bantu have also conceded less goals (three) and scored the highest (21). However, a blow for Bantu going to the Independence Cup will be the absence of Ts’epang Sefali. The gifted attacking midf ielder i s g o i n g t o miss what wo u l d be his debut
Independence Cup due to a collar bone injury which he sustained in a league encounter against LCS FC last Sunday. Bantu assistant coach Teboho Tsiu confirmed that Sefali was ruled out of the tournament following the injury. “Of course Sefali is already out. Our medical team has alerted us today that his two collar bones cracked,” said Tsiu in an interview with Public Eye on Monday this week. He said the player would be able to play again in January. “His season is (unfortunately) closed. He will return to action in January.” Tsiu, who led the Bantu team to a 2-0 victory over LCS FC last weekend in the absence of head coach Atang Bob Mafoso, said they already had an alternative in the absence of Sefali. “We already have options, even though we are going to miss him as this happens at the time when he was jelling well with the rest of the team but, unfortunately, he is now out,” Sefali said. Talking about the LCS game, Tsiu said it is going to be a tough encounter, especially after they beat them five days ago. “We played against LCS and they now have an idea of how we play. So I don’t think they are going to let us beat them again. But we also don’t have a choice because we want to play in the final and win the cup,” Tsiu said. “It is therefore going to be a tough encounter because for us to go through to the final we must beat LCS (again).” LCS coach Mpitsa Marai, said they did not rest after the Bantu defeat. He said they made a recovery looking at the fact that they are going to play two games, one after the other. “We have prepared well for the Independence Cup, and we are determined to go all out against Bantu on Saturday,” said Marai in an interview on Tuesday this week. LCS are, however, going to play without their four key players, namely; Setho Moshoeshoe, Makara Ntaitsane, Thabo Seakhoa and James Motjotjela. Marai said all these four players are nursing injuries. Seakhoa and Motjetjela sustained the injuries in a league match against Bantu last Sunday, while Ntaitsane and Moshoeshoe were already out with injuries. “It is true the absence of Seakhoa and Setho (Moshoeshoe) is felt but we will play. We trust each and every LCS player,” Marai said. Former Bantu striker Tsebang Lebata also predicted a tough semi-final tie between LCS FC and Bantu. But he said
Matlama would have an easy match against LDF FC. “Watching the Bantu-LCS league match last weekend you realise that Bantu dominated the play but coming to the Saturday cup match things will be different,” said Lebata. “I predict a draw, even though I still give Bantu the upper hand following their current good performance.” Lebata said Bantu’s concentration would be very high coming to the Independence Cup. “Bantu are quite a motivated side and on top of that they are used to the Independence Cup,” he said. Lebata, however, said despite being the underdogs, LCS are a better side. “LCS maybe the underdogs, but their cup game performance is quite good. They are always there and fought to the end.” Owen, as Lebata used to be called during his playing days, said in other semi-final match Matlama would be through to the final at the expense of LDF. “Matlama will definitely advance to the final at the expense of LDF, who are not playing well as we talk,” Lebata said. LDF, who are the defending champions of the Independence Cup, had their whole team suffering an unexpected illness during a training camp three weeks ago. This forced the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) to postpone their two league matches. Their last week’s 2-0 loss against Matlama was their first match after the incident, with some of their players yet to recover. This year’s Independence Cup had to be delayed due to lack of sponsorship following the withdrawal of Metropolitan Lesotho as co-sponsors of the tournament last year. Now the tournament is being sponsored by six companies, with Standard Lesotho Bank as the main sponsors. The other companies are: Maluti Mountain Cement, Econet Telecom Lesotho, Builder’s City, Salman and Metropolitan. The latter made a surprise bounce back at a late stage this year after PLMC approached them. All these six companies contributed M1 million sponsorship towards the competition, the same amount which Standard Lesotho Bank and Metropolitan used to contribute between them as cosponsors in the past years. The winners will pocket M200 000.00 and runners-up M100 000.00, while the third and fourth-placed will receive M70 000.00 and M40 000.00 respectively.
Sport Public Eye
There’s someone to rely on in Lesotho
Friday December 13, 2019
Battle lines drawn at Independence Cup Page 19
Makoanyane XI thrashing blasted NTHAKO MAJORO
M
ASERU - Makoanyane XI’s dismal performance at the ongoing Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Men’s Under-20 Championship in Lusaka, Zambia has been blamed on coaches who are accused of lacking focus and not scouting enough for talent. This is after Makoanyane XI failed to go beyond the group stages of the tournament after they were hammered 4-0 by South Africa’s Amajita on Tuesday. The 4-0 defeat at the hands of Amajita came after Makoanyane XI were trounced 3-0 by Madagascar last week Thursday and held to a 2-2 draw by Mauritius last Sunday respectively. This is the replica of last year’s performance where once again the Lesotho team could not go beyond group stages, after putting up an impressive performance at the 2017 competition when they reached the semi-finals. At the time, Makoanyane XI’s coach was the current Lesotho Football Association (LeFA)’s technical director, Leslie Notsi. Atang ‘Bob’ Mafoso, the current Makoanyane XI coach, was part of the technical team as the assistant coach before he was appointed head coach last year. Rapelang ‘Shane’ Vantonder, who is an expert in development coaching, said the attention by Mafosa and the current Makoanyane XI assistant coach Bafokeng Mohapi is totally not focused on youth competition as both are with the premier league teams, hence the Under-20 team is not doing well. Mafoso is a full-time coach of the current Econet Premier League (EPL) log leaders Bantu, while Mohapi is also a full-time coach of the premier league rookies Lifofane FC. “Our Under-20 team coaches were more focused on the topflight football as both are premier league teams’ coaches, and as a result they don’t have time for youth football,” said Vantonder in an interview with Public Eye on Tuesday this week. Vantonder said that’s why
it was possible for Mafoso and Mohapi to call up the premier league players at the Under-20 national side. Among those premier league players Vantonder is talking about is Lioli’s goalkeeper Jessy Matsie. Others were from FC Likhopo, Kick4Life FC and Lijabatho, amongst other premier league clubs. Therefore, the expectation by a lot of local football fans was that Makoanyane XI would shine in Zambia but the result was the opposite. “This clearly shows that they did not have time for scouting,” Vantonder said. He said what also counts is the kind of programmes Mafoso and Mohapi did with the little time they had to prepare the team for the tournament.
“For example, if you have three weeks your planning should also be within that time, not the one you would make if you have a month to prepare a team,” Vantonder said. He also said the biggest mistakes local coaches used to make from the premier league downwards is not giving attending to individual players. “Our coaches don’t have time to help individual players (to perfect their skills) and most of the time that affects the whole team.” In a nutshell, Vantonder said for Lesotho’s football to improve it needs coaches who have time and pay attention to every aspect of the game. “Like now, if we continue to rope in coaches from the premier league clubs, it means
they will not have time to scout players from the A Division teams because they will be more focused to the clubs in the topflight league.” However, former Lioli coach Rets’elisitsoe Lephaila had a different opinion about the dismal performance by Makoanyane XI. He said the problem is the coach and not the players. “I think the problem is the coach. I mean, he has been given all the support any coach would need to produce but after all this he failed,” said Lephaila. Mafoso, Lephaila said, is the luckiest coach to ever lead Makoanyane XI. He said LeFA supported him all the way with regard to preparations for the tournament, including the Bidvest Wits
Under-19 team friendly, Orlando Pirates reserve side and two friendly matches against the Botswana Under-20 side ahead of the Zambia tournament. Lephaila further said on top of that, Mafoso went to the tournament with big players (from the premier league) but still failed to deliver. “Unlike before, things were very smooth for him this time around. He had friendlies against Bivest Wits, Orlando Pirates and the Botswana national Under-20 side. “And on top of that, he picked players from the premier league teams,” Lephaila said. Makoanyane XI have never won the COSAFA Under-20 tournament before. Their best performance at the tournament is reaching the semi-finals.