…as men’s abuse claims expose the hidden side of domestic violence
…while women face charges in cases involving the deaths of their husbands
Kabelo Masoabi
BEHIND the doors of ordinary homes, disputes over money, alcohol, relationships and family pressures can escalate into violence, sometimes with fatal consequences.
While gender-based violence (GBV) is widely recognised as a serious problem affecting women in Lesotho, men who experience abuse in intimate relationships often remain silent because of cultural expectations, stigma and fear of humiliation.
In a society where masculinity is frequently associated with strength, authority and the ability to endure hardship without showing vulnerability, reporting physical or verbal abuse by a female partner can be difficult. Some men fear ridicule, while others worry that their complaints will not be taken seriously.
However, research and reports from the country’s child protection authorities suggest that abuse affecting men also deserves attention.
According to the Gender Links Lesotho GBV Indicators Follow-up Study, launched on 14 August 2026, 28.2 percent of ever-partnered men surveyed had experienced intimate-partner violence. The nationally representative study covered 4,254 people across all 10 districts and found that 60.2 percent of male survivors had experienced depression.
The findings highlight the psychological toll of abuse and the importance of ensuring that male victims can access protection and support without fear of discrimination or humiliation.
During a stakeholders’ roundtable discussion in 2025, the Maseru urban Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) reportedly indicated that approximately 13 percent of men who reported to the unit each month sought assistance over domestic violence and related forms of abuse.
Inspector Maphoka Khoeli of the Maseru CGPU said relatively few men reported abuse by their female partners. Some were reluctant to open cases because of cultural expectations, stigma and fear of humiliation.
According to Insp Khoeli, complaints included verbal insults and physical abuse by female partners, while some men also raised concerns about women allegedly failing to provide financial support for their children.
The Manup Association has separately raised concerns about what it considers unequal treatment of men under Lesotho’s legal system, arguing that women receive preferential treatment in matters involving rights and protection.
Such concerns highlight the need to examine whether existing reporting mechanisms and support services adequately address the experiences of all victims.
Recognising the challenges faced by men does not diminish the experiences of women, who continue to bear a disproportionate burden of gender-based violence. Rather, it broadens the discussion to include victims whose suffering might otherwise remain unreported.
The wider picture remains troubling. United Nations figures cited in reports on GBV in Lesotho indicate that 42 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced intimate-partner violence during their lifetime.
Against this backdrop, several police investigations and court cases have drawn attention to the potentially deadly consequences of domestic conflict. These include cases in which women are accused of killing their husbands or allegedly arranging for others to carry out the killings.
Although individual cases do not establish a national trend of women killing their male partners, they illustrate how conflict within intimate relationships can escalate into serious violence and, in some instances, death.
They also raise questions about early intervention, the management of domestic disputes and the support available to people experiencing abuse.
Quthing: A dispute over money ends in death
A 27-year-old woman from Cocobe is in police custody in connection with the alleged killing of her 30-year-old husband at Welkom in Moyeni on 4 October 2026.
Speaking to the Lesotho News Agency, Acting Deputy District Commissioner Senior Inspector Tuba Moloi said the incident allegedly followed an argument after the man arrived home at about 6pm, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, and demanded money from his wife.
According to Snr Insp Moloi, the woman had received money from a stokvel that day but told her husband she did not have any to give him.
The man allegedly took her wallet, prompting her to try to retrieve it. He reportedly threw it away, and an altercation followed.
Police allege that during the ensuing struggle, the woman took a knife from a kitchen drawer. Her husband reportedly tried to wrest it from her before the pair fell during the struggle.
The man sustained a stab wound to his left collarbone and was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Snr Insp Moloi further alleged that the couple frequently fought when the man was under the influence of alcohol.
The woman’s alleged role in the incident remains a matter for the legal process to determine.
Quthing: Another husband dies after alleged stabbing
In a separate case, ’Mareanetse Mohlabula, 35, of Mochotoane, appeared before Magistrate Palesa Rantara at the Quthing Magistrates’ Court on 10 March 2026, facing a murder charge involving her husband. Rantara is now an acting High Court judge.
Detective Police Constable Retšelisitsoe Telu of the Quthing Criminal Investigations Office said police received a report on 27 January 2026 that a woman had allegedly stabbed her husband.
According to police, the couple had been drinking at a house in the village before returning home. The man later went back to the drinking place, prompting his wife to follow him.
The pair allegedly quarrelled, but other people intervened and separated them. Another argument reportedly broke out after they returned home.
Police allege that Mohlabula then stabbed her husband several times in the chest.
He was rushed to hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged. However, he later died from his injuries.
Mohlabula was arrested and remains in custody at the Correctional Service pending trial. She is expected to appear in court again on 24 October 2026.
Lance Sergeant Bokang Sefako urged families experiencing conflict to seek assistance rather than resort to violence.
Maseru: Alleged hit on husband
In another case, ’Mathato Kao, 45, of Qoaling Ha Letlatsa, is accused of arranging for men to kill her husband, Mosheoa Kao, 56.
The case emerged after Kabelo Lenkoe, 34, and Fusi Tseko, 26, were allegedly found in possession of two 9mm firearms by members of the Lesotho Defence Force Rapid Response Unit in Maseru.
Maseru Criminal Investigations Office Commander Senior Inspector Limpho Masasa said investigations allegedly linked the firearms to the shooting of Mosheoa Kao as he entered his gate at Qoaling Ha Letlatsa on 3 January 2026.
Police allege that ’Mathato approached Tšeliso Machesetsa, 40, and offered him M20,000 to kill her husband. She allegedly told him that their relationship had deteriorated and that her husband had threatened to kill her.
Machesetsa is alleged to have recruited the other men to assist in carrying out the killing.
Investigators further allege that after the shooting, ’Mathato paid the men M8,000 and promised to settle the outstanding amount later.
The suspects appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court on 11 January 2026 and were remanded in custody.
The allegations against the accused remain subject to determination by the courts.
Mafeteng: Husband allegedly shot dead in planned attack
In Mafeteng, ’Manthatuoa Monosi, 40, of Leloaleng, Thabaneng, and Mahase “Namane” Ralekhetla, 23, of Malibamatšo, Leribe, who resides in Matheneng, Mafeteng, appeared before the Mafeteng Magistrates’ Court facing murder charges.
Detective Police Constable Fokothi Nyakane of the Tšakholo Criminal Investigations Office said police received a report on 4 August 2026 that a man had been shot dead at Kolo Ha Mohale.
Police allegedly found the 46-year-old man lying dead in a pool of blood.
According to investigators, Monosi, the deceased’s wife, allegedly recruited two men to kill him after meeting them at a traditional healer’s premises in Matheneng.
Police allege that the men initially agreed to carry out the killing for M45,000, but the amount was later reduced to M30,000.
Investigators further allege that the men travelled to Kolo with Monosi, who showed them where her husband was. They reportedly approached him under the pretence of seeking work as herders before opening fire.
The victim was allegedly shot several times.
One alleged accomplice remains at large. Monosi was arrested on 7 August 2026, while Ralekhetla appeared in court on 11 August 2026. Both were remanded in custody.
Sub-Inspector Tsotang Mokone urged couples experiencing conflict to seek mediation and warned against resorting to violence.
The charges against the accused have yet to be determined by the courts.
Botha-Bothe: Woman charged for husband’s death
In April 2026, a woman from Ha Shepeseli appeared before the Botha-Bothe Magistrates’ Court in connection with the death of her husband.
According to reports, the woman allegedly inflicted a fatal neck wound on her husband with a broken liquor bottle during a domestic altercation at their residence.
The incident reportedly occurred during a social gathering involving alcohol. The man allegedly accused his wife of infidelity before striking her on the head with a beer bottle.
The woman is alleged to have broken a beer bottle and stabbed him in the neck. Authorities indicated that he died at the scene from severe blood loss.
Botha-Bothe police confirmed that the couple had a documented history of domestic disputes before the fatal incident.
Men and the silence around abuse
Men who experience domestic abuse remain an important, though often overlooked, part of the discussion.
Reports from the Maseru urban CGPU indicate that some men seek assistance for domestic violence and related forms of abuse, but cultural expectations and fear of humiliation can discourage them from formally reporting their experiences.
Inspector Khoeli has highlighted these barriers, pointing to the reluctance of some male victims to open cases against their female partners.
Addressing these challenges requires reporting systems that are accessible, impartial and responsive to the needs of all victims.
At the same time, acknowledging violence against men should not obscure the evidence that women experience GBV at disproportionately high levels. Effective responses must recognise differences in the scale, nature and consequences of abuse while ensuring that no victim is denied assistance because of gender.
Support services should therefore accommodate all victims, taking account of their individual circumstances and the particular risks they face.
Early intervention is key
Leribe social worker, ’Malibuseng Katola, told the Sunday Express that addressing domestic violence in Lesotho requires stronger prevention measures, accessible support services and sustained public awareness.
She said both men and women should be encouraged to report abuse without fear of stigma, discrimination or humiliation.
Ms Katola emphasised that the CGPU should handle complaints impartially and ensure that victims receive appropriate protection, counselling and referrals to relevant services.
She added that community leaders, schools, religious institutions and the media also have a role to play in challenging harmful cultural beliefs, promoting respectful relationships and encouraging non-violent ways of resolving conflict.
Closer cooperation among the police, healthcare providers, social workers and civil society organisations could strengthen early intervention and help identify situations in which domestic disputes risk escalating into violence.
Equally important is ensuring that people experiencing abuse know where to seek help and can access assistance before a conflict becomes life-threatening.
Reliable research and consistent data collection are also necessary to establish the scale of the problem, understand barriers to reporting and develop evidence-based policies.
Ms Katola stressed the importance of protecting all victims through stronger support services, public awareness and early intervention.