Public Meetings Bill passed

Bongiwe Zihlangu
 
 

 
MASERU — Parliament on Friday unanimously passed a watered-down Public Meetings and Processions Bill 2009 that critics say is undemocratic.
In his submissions to parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Lesao Lehohla said at least 21 amendments had been made on the original version of the controversial Bill.
But the Bill was passed amid yet more drama as [...]

End of the road for top cop Ntaote

Tefo Tefo

 
MASERU — Deputy Police Commissioner Motsotuoa Nta-ote’s career is as good as over after the Court of Appeal convicted him of fraud on Friday.
Ntaote’s case reached the Court of Appeal after the prosecution had appealed against the High Court’s decision last June to acquit the top cop on two fraud charges related to false [...]

Billy now a free man

Nat Molomo

 
MASERU — When Macaefa Billy, the opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) party’s secretary-general, entered the gates to the Palace of Justice on Friday his future was uncertain.
With the Court of Appeal set to deliver judgment on the state’s appeal against his High Court acquittal on sedition and subversion charges Billy was obviously not at [...]

Cops terrorise villagers

Caswell Tlali

 
BEREA — Police in Teyateyaneng raided the Thota-Peli village in the wee hours of April 12, sjamboked and punted the villagers and ordered some of them to roll in the morning dew naked.
The police were searching for illegal firearms they suspected could have been used in a violent clash over grazing land between Thota-Peli [...]

Former central bank governor dies

Ntsebeng Motsoeli

 
MASERU — Former governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL), Motlatsi Matekane, has died.
Matekane died of cancer at the Olive Day Clinic in Gauteng on Thursday morning.
He was 64.
According to his sister, ‘Malirontšo Matekane, the former CBL boss was diagnosed of cancer last December.
‘Malirontšo said Matekane became seriously ill three weeks ago.
“He moved [...]

Cabinet to tackle dairy crisis

Caswell Tlali

 
MASERU — Cabinet is studying an investigative report into the alleged corporate malfeasance at the Lesotho National Dairy Board (LNDB) and Lesotho Dairy Products (Pty) Ltd, the Sunday Express can reveal.
Cabinet’s decision came after an investigation by a South African firm, Gobodo Forensic and Investigative Accounting, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance [...]

Phoofolo elected new BAC leader

Bongiwe Zihlangu

 
MASERU — Paanya Phoofolo was yesterday elected the new Basutoland African Congress (BAC) leader at the party’s elective conference held at the Emmanuel Hostel in the capital.
Phoofolo, 56, succeeds Khauhelo Ralitapole who retired this month after five years as BAC leader.
Phoofolo was appointed government secretary in 1993 under the Basotho Congress Party (BCP) regime.
He [...]

Sixteen charged with killing four men

Sello Morake

 
MASERU — Sixteen men from Ha-Maboka in Qacha’s Nek appeared in the High Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of four men.
One of the men they are alleged to have murdered was a police officer they allegedly stoned to death after he tried to stop them from attacking fellow villagers.
The murder of police [...]

Man burns love rival’s house

‘Mantoetse Maama

 
MASERU — A 32-year-old man from Quthing was last week sentenced to four years in prison for torching a house belonging to a man he allegedly found in bed with his wife.
The court heard that the two lovers were inside the house when Mavuso Tomose, in a fit of anger, lit the roof.
The man [...]

Lioli surrender title

Teboho Molapo

Likhopo…………(1) 1
Lioli………………(0) 0

 
MASERU — Matlama will be crowned Vodacom Premier League champions if they beat Mphatlalatsane this afternoon.
Their nearest rivals, Lioli, gave up the chase yesterday after crashing 1-0 to Likhopo at the Central Prison.
Lioli fans, after watching their team’s dream to retain the title go up in smoke, immediately tried to attack referee [...]