DC wants access to state media
MASERU — The Democratic Congress (DC) party has demanded that Communications Minister Tšeliso Mokhosi give former prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili an opportunity on state media to respond to the minister.
The DC is also demanding that Mokhosi reconsider the government’s stance that state media refrain from covering the party’s rallies.
In a letter dated July 19 addressed to Mokhosi, signed by DC secretary general Ralechate ’Mokose and seen by the Lesotho Times, the former ruling party demands that Mokhosi allow Mosisili to issue a response on state media.
The letter was received by one Palesa Moea and signed for by ’Masenate Sekoala at Mokhosi’s office on July 19.
According to the DC, Section 14 (4) of the Constitution of Lesotho requires that “any person who feels aggrieved by statements or ideas disseminated to the public in general by a medium of communication has the right to reply or to require a correction to be made using the same medium, under such conditions as the law may establish”.
“On behalf of the leader of the DC and the party itself, I humbly request that an opportunity for the DC leader to reply,” ’Mokose says.
“I will appreciate if you can afford our leader the right to reply (as opposed to correction) as stated above and if you could reconsider your decision to prohibit your staff from covering DC because this is state media.”
“I am particularly aware that you still continue to cover other political parties in Lesotho. Your actions amount to discrimination, which our constitution does not allow.”
Mosisili, who is also former prime minister, on July 1, told a DC rally in the Mabote constituency that his party won the May 26 election but failed to form government because it did not garner the constitutionally required 61 seats for simple majority.
Mosisili added that he had relinquished power to incumbent Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s coalition government to “protect democracy and avert a bloodbath”.
Mosisili also took a swipe at the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP) tripartite, for cobbling their numbers to “gang up against one man”.
However, on July 5 Mokhosi, hit back at Mosisili on national TV accusing the former premier of inciting confusion with his speech.
Mokhosi, speaking in his capacity as government spokesperson, said Mosisili misled his followers in the Mabote constituency when he said the DC won the election because “it had 48 seats out of a 120-member parliament”.
“The government calls on the DC leader to immediately stop confusing the public with untrue statements.
“The DC leader, Honourable Pakalitha Mosisili, should please cease making statements that are meant to confuse the people,” Mokhosi said.
Last week Public Works Minister Keketso Rantšo declared at a press conference that the government had decided to ban coverage of the DC “for as long as Mosisili continues to incite violence by saying he won election”.
Rantšo said state media would only cover DC rallies “when the DC starts talking about constructive issues”.
But ’Mokose in the letter said Mokhosi should reconsider his decision to impose a state media ban on the DC’s coverage.
“I am therefore reliably informed that on July or thereabout, following your statement referred to above, you instructed your staff on both Radio Lesotho and LTV to refrain from covering DC in all respects,” ’Mokose says.
“Honourable Minister, I humbly request that if this is true, you reconsider your decision. In this regard, I wish to refer you to section 14(1) of the constitution of Lesotho which entitles every citizen to enjoy the right to freedom of expression and freedom to communicate ideas and information to the public.”
Section 14(1) cites that “every person shall be entitled to, and (except with his own consent) shall not be hindered in his enjoyment of, freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication be to public
generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence”.
’Mokose yesterday confirmed writing the letter to Mokhosi adding that he expected the communications minister to “comply with the constitution”.
“We expect that as a minister and by extension an instrumental part of governance, he understands the constitution well. It’s his responsibility to abide by it,” ’Mokose said.
“I cannot even in my wildest dreams, imagine Minister Mokhosi turning a blind eye on an issue of this magnitude, but more especially his responsibilities.”
Several attempts by this paper to solicit a response from Mokhosi hit a brick wall as his mobile number was not available.
Comment by Oa-Masupha on 26 July 2012:
These politicians are quite interesting, in some respects, though they are actually rather stupid: when in power, they treat all national assets including State media as their political party property; as soon as they are out of government, “hee!hee!our rights … constitution violated”! Self-serving morons!!
Proposal:
1. Right thing, for Lesotho and Basotho, is for this Coalition Govt to ensure that they strengthen the country’s institutions as well as rules of engagement, to fairly serve everyone regardless of their power or authority. Unless someone does that, Lesotho will remain underdeveloped and mismanaged to the benefit of the powers that be!!
Many people in the present Govt have been on both sides of the power divide and should know what it feels like to be in a commanding position one day, and then suddenly/one day lose it all!
2. However, I’d like to propose an “obviously absurd/irrational” implementation strategy: MCCD – for[L]CD/DC – has been in power for 15 yrs, abusing the public trust/resources all those yrs. It is perhaps NOT unfair, therefore, to suggest that, the current Govt strengthens,formulates institutions/laws/rules very carefully and slowly, to allow for [MC]CD/DC poison/nepotism/corruption to be cleared from the national institutions and agenda.
PM, ntate Tom, has been in Govt and also abused state media and other resources like many others. I therefore would imagine that he would sympathise with me on this: it actually does not improve the country’s development to maintain a stranglehold on state assets – particularly, given that we (the Masses) have the power to vote politicians in and out – though, we sadly have to wait for 5 yrs!
I hope that no-one will take this as a personal attack, because it is not. Unless we, the people of Lesotho, demand higher standards of performance and accountability from our political leaders [even though one hardly sees much leadership in a lot of these folks], we will continue to vote every five years and in turn complain.
I don’t know why we should remain silent even when we know and can see that Lesotho and Basotho should do better than this…. ! What a same .. It feels like a curse!!
Comment by Nthokasefubeng on 26 July 2012:
Hao banna!! Bekeng e fetileng mona re mobuelletse hore liboka tsa hae li phatlalatsoe le teng ha li sena boferekanyi ka hare. Bekeng ee hape ke eena hape o batla ho arabisa Letona ha ele moo asare o kopa ho lokisa phoso ekabang e entsoe ho latela temana ea molao oa motheho a e qotsutseng empa are o batla ho araba.
Khidik!! Hee osa ratile hoba mmutla lintjeng. Kapa ke hona hobane ele mofokeng.
Comment by semenekane on 26 July 2012:
Ntate Mokhosi ba lumelle ka pehelo ea hore ba seke ba ferekanya sechaba. A ka bua ka litaba tse ling molemong oa bats’ehetsi ba hae e seng lintho tse sa utloaahaleng.
State Media hase thepa ea motho, le teng motho a itlhomphe. Rona hare e mamele Radio Lesotho leha e laoloa ke rona tjena joale ke ba kopela mohau kaha le li-private Radio stations li sa ba ts’ehetse.
Ba fe le maleo hle Bro Tom, ke sono. Ke ba kopela mohau.
Comment by Bota oa seoli on 26 July 2012:
Bo phoqo akare borena.batho bana dc banahana hore batho ke bona fela lesotho.ha ba soabe bantse ba tsamaea ka likoloi tsa matona hothoe boeta pele ba bohanyetsi fela buda tom ba mo hanetse.hona tjena bare babatla liboka tse tsa bona tsa mantloane li coveroe ke ltv and rl fela haene ele bona bane ba sa covere party tse ling.ma menemene ana.xa
Comment by Halakashaa on 26 July 2012:
DC e hobula khoeli! Charity begins at Home!
Comment by 'Nete Feela on 26 July 2012:
The best way to test the objectivity and fairness of a law, rule, regulation or practice is to look at it from the opposition point of view. Majority rules: it is also very important that the views of majority are considered before certain crucial decisions are made.
I am shocked if the government has already made a decision to ban DC rallies coverage. The DC Mabote rally was the first mistake that DC did and please do not tell me that, that was enough to ban it from public media coverage. I sense a high potential power abuse here and which will sooner rather than later get out of hand. This is exactly how LCD/DC started in their 14 yrs in power: power corrupts.
Comment by Pompong on 26 July 2012:
Ntate Tom o ne are ha hona phetetso e monate ho feta ea ho etsa motho ea o entseng hampe hantle. Nna ke lumellana le taba ena mme ke nahana hore re mo tlohelle Mosisili a itlatlarietse ho fihlela a felloa. Ke eona phethetso eo ke lakatsang hore a e fuoe.
Comment by Khaebana on 26 July 2012:
It is good for DC to know how it feels to have little bargaining power when it comes to the use and control of state institutions and media. This will teach the party how to be a more responsible government the next time it wins elections. For the entire period in government, the national radio and television were used almost exclusively to benefit the then LCD and discriminate against the opposition.
However, it is also a perfect opportunity for the coalition to act as agents of change and allow DC airplay as long as the party understands that freedom of speech/expression has parameters; and if it is seen to be inciting instability and perpetuating hatred among the electorate, freedom to broadcast on state media can be withdrawn.
This is change coalition stands for, isn’t it?
Comment by Letebele la poho on 26 July 2012:
‘Muso ha e le oa batho ba selehe ba ts’abang ho hanyetsoa re o bona ka liketso tse senang motheo joalo ka tsena. Mosisili ha a tla ho ba bokotsa mona, ehlile o tlo ba hela hore a ba siee moo a ba lebetseng. Mokhosi ha a bo fule a bots’oha esere ba mo ts’oarisa serotsoana, kamoso a iphumana a setse le bokh’akh’i bohle ba itatola ba re ke eena ea neng a koasa ka state media.
Comment by Sentebale on 26 July 2012:
Moriana oo o’a baba ha o lokeloa ho nooa ke motho ea o ritetseng, ha a ne a o noesa ba bang o ne a sa hlokomele hore o’a baba. Ke hopola ka selemo se seng ha ba qeta ho tlola BCP, eaba ba bua hona mona LTV/RL hore ba bang ba batho ba komiting e kholo ea BCP nakong eo ba nkha lefotha polaong ea Motlatsi oa Moetellipele. Ntate Qhobela le ba habo bane ba batle ho ea otlolla litaba hona moo LTV/RL eaba motho eo e neng e le letona nakong eo (a seng a ithobaletse) o hana ho bafa monyetla ka hore o’a ts’aba. Ha ba ke ba utloe le bona NXAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Comment by selotho on 26 July 2012:
@letebele la poho…”‘muso ha e le oa batho ba selehe ba ts’abang ho hanyetsoa. . .”. kea tseba ueso leleme le theletse.
hantle-ntle litaba tsa hao u li lebisitse ho ‘muso o fetileng akere?
Comment by Vocalist on 26 July 2012:
@’Nete Feela The former PM made those remarks at Mabote and ea khalemeloa ka matla taba ea hae, the government gave him a chance again (hakesa hopola sebaka) where the former PM attacked Letona Mokhosi, and went on to mislead the nation again,u may remeber that incidence. therefore it is in two incidences and they are enough to warrant this reaction from the government.
my understanding is that the ghovernment does not have the problem of providing dc with coverage if dc leadership will not comfuse the citizens.
u may wish to note some past occurances where thabane was denied right to b leader of opposition, where other political rallies were not covered citing funds as the problem when infact dc had completed its own ralies, u may wish to remember when lcd was denied convention centre and coop college haene etlo khetha komiti ba bile ba hloma tente kahara qhafutso, u may wish to remeber when dc paid and booked for majority of buses prior to the final rallies. However i insist that hoseke hoa phetetsoa bobe ka bobe
Comment by Koankoara on 26 July 2012:
Khele ntate ‘Mokose! U hlokometse neng hore melao ee e teng Lesotho moo ele khale le ikoalla? Empa hee ha ke rate ba ba le koala ke batla ba lerute botho le hore boiphetetso ha boea loka. Empa taba ea bohlokoa ke hore le buoe taba tse hahang coz le teng Potoana re keke ra e lumella ho baka pherekano e ka isang ts’enyong ea naha ena eo ba seng ba ntse ba e tetebelitse tjena. Mosebetsi oa rona o mongata oa ho lokisa naha ena joale le lona le ikeme ka nqena “ehlotse likhetho, ehlotse likhetho…” cuoeeeee
Comment by 'Nete Feela on 26 July 2012:
Ke taba eo Vocalist! Two wrongs never make a right.
Ha re se keng ra phethetsa bobe ka bobe, or else we shall just be going round circles. The former PM was unfortunately a PM of his supporters only and most of the time he failed to address the nation’s issues becuase all the times he focussed his energy and attention on how to punish the opposition. That practice was very wrong, the current government once in power should be the government of all and not only of the LCD, ABC and BNP supporters…
The government should avoid at all costs the idea or the feel to treat DC like an outcast or else the history will repeat itself.
Comment by Malebo on 26 July 2012:
Hao melao ee e teng? Ntate Mokose aku re ba bang le bona ba utloe, khale le ipokelelitse.
Comment by Pong pong on 26 July 2012:
DC etsoa tsebella discrimination kae? E tsoa tsebella freedom of communication kae? Its such a short time and they are already complaining while they made other parties live that way for many yrs? How dare you ‘Mokose? You used to do d same n its gud dt you taste it. Its no good repaying evil with evil, but if other parties were able to endure, DC ha e ke mamelle le eona, re khathetse ke mashano a lulang a bolelloa sechaba ke batho ba baholo ba DC. Ho bona Ntate Mokhosi, its for a gud course…
Comment by Leraba on 26 July 2012:
Sesa feleng se ea hlola…
Comment by Limo on 26 July 2012:
Ne ke cho kere balaoli ba state media ha ba na problem ea ho cover DC rallies but na joale le teng hore etlebe ba etsa hantle ke hore ba tlohele sechaba se lieloe? Ke lumela ke boikarabello ba ‘muso ho bea taolong tse kang tseo. Ha kere DC haene winne likhetho ekabe busa,kapa joang? kapa ho wina lihetho ke horeng? Ha ske ba ipherekanya bo ‘Mokose, problem hase lirally but what they lie to the electorate there. Athe ntse bale hlooho li thata even today?
Comment by Limo on 26 July 2012:
Nthoeno hase ho phethetsa bobe ka bobe empa ke ho thiba bobe,batho bana batla bakela Lesotho le Basotho likhathatso.
Comment by lenasi on 26 July 2012:
ha hona media what what mona, batho bana ba tseba leano. Mccd ha ntsa pota mona ha hona letho la media la tla le fumana.
kea bona u hlolohetsoe li make-up tsane tsa TV Lesotho tse ne li mo etsa a ikutloe e le eena feela motho lefatsheng mona.
Radio LTV e ne lula e reka li mic mehlaena ka baka la bese ya mccd ha roaka sechaba. tlake ba saife chelete jwale…
Comment by Deborah on 26 July 2012:
Aha………. its called “tasting your own medicine”. Joale hee coalition, le ke le ba utluise nthoena eo esaleng ba le utluisa eona. Le ts’oare joalo………. le se kebe la ba utloela bohloko. Hee Ma DC a fosahetse hleng. Ba iketsa litsibi tsa Constitution ho tloha neng? Ke bona bana ba nahana hore re bana. A nyupile mabaka….. Ea fats’e DC… Ha se tebe sekepe… 5 years ke nako e telele hampe – Ba tla lla hore ba be ba tloaele.. “Ke tla le busa hofihlela le tloahela”… A nyupile mabaka….. Ho bona Ntate Tom.. Ho bona>>>> ha bake ba utloe serame sa hoba ka thoko…
Comment by Tjovitjo on 26 July 2012:
Ke bona eka boko ba khoho boea itshotla ka bonyanene le bofokoli ha bo bapisoa le ba Ma DC/DC. Its really soo funny how quick people forget or pretend to forget and have the audacity to claim descrimination and non compliance with the law.Buddies,U only reap what u saw and u should do unto others as u wish them do unto u, and after all what goes around will definately come around, Nomakanjani
However i would humbly and respectfully edge our beloved Lesotho Coalition goverment to act accordingly and rightfully in accordance with the constitution, which is what we put them on the throne for.
Bontshang Limphophotha tsena naa ‘Nete, Toka hoe sera le motsoalle naa ke eng, in practise not verbally(mocking & misleading).
Comment by Lepoqo la Masupha oa Gabashane on 26 July 2012:
Bo mme le bo ntate taba ena ha e hlake hore lea iphetetsa eseng le re DC e jala boferekanyi ka moetapele oa rona. Le leshano, le tsaba nnete, DC e hlotse likhetho, ea hloloa ho fihlela lipehelo tsa ho bopa ‘muso, joalo ka ha mekha eohle ea lona ea lipolotiki e sa ka ea khona ho bopa ‘muso ka bongoe. ke ka hona le nang le puso ea letsema kapa makipikipi, ka mebala ea nkoe. ka hona tlohelang leshano la hore ha Mohlomphehi moetapele oa Lekhotla la Sechaba Lesotho Dr. PBM a bua le sechaba se mo khethileng ka bonyata, a se hlalosetsa boemo bo teng ebe joale le a koata. le koatela eng? haeba oa hlanya mo tloheleng le bahabo re hlanye lona le buse, ke re ho lona, ke lona ba batlang ho jalal pherekano ka ho hana nnete e hlakileng ha kana. IEC ka commissioner Likoti e buile lialemoeeng hore DC e hlotse likhetho, lona le bo mang ho hana batho ba puso ea malaslapi? hela hoja la sebetsa la tlohella thotlolo, rona re bone ka mahlo matla a sechaba ka menoana ea sona, ha se re soaea mohlare, joale lona ha ke tsebe na ha lene le sentse kle khethuoe ka palo tse tlase tjena na le tla etsa joang le le mekha ka bo mong… Pakalitha Mosisili o bua nnete, joale kaha le tsába nnete eo, e le tsóarisa mala…
Comment by Senqunyane on 26 July 2012:
On both sides of the political spectrum, there are certainly good/bitter lessons to learn. First, Ntate Mosisili has to learn to be more tolerant and accommodate the Other (opposition). He should embrace and practise this lesson for life, even after winning the elections in 2017. Whether they give him the platform or not on state media to reply to the much-hyped ‘inflammatory’ statements he made, it’s up to their consciences. On the other hand, Ntate Tom, should learn to be tolerant and not call stayaways and make the country ungovernable after losing the elections. O ka nketsang ha e hahe motse, motse ho ahoa oa morapedi.
Bottom-line, there is need for political tolerance and granting the Other, total freedom, on both sides of the political divide. As former colleagues in the LCD cabinet and elder statesmen, they should rise above narrow political interests and build the nation together. They should serve the interests of the nation, diverse as we are.
Going forward, I think we need to mature as a country and embrace one another. Allowing ourselves to be constantly in a fighting mood, 24/7, all year round, will never solve our problems and build this country. Lesotho needs people who work more, and talk less in order to lift it out of ultra-poverty engulfing it. Whether you are a supporter of National or Congress party, the social and economic challenges we face are the same. There is more that binds us than what divides us. We must find and respect one another as a nation. As it is said, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” We have been divided for far too long as a nation along the political lines, and allowed ourselves to be a laughing stock of the world. THERE IS NEED FOR SOCIAL COHESION AND MORAL REGENERATION.
Comment by oa no 24 on 26 July 2012:
Helele lona lene le nahana letla busa LNBS ka hosaeng kae heneng le lona halene le busaene le matha hohle moo le setsoe morao ke camera le koasa lehanela bana babang ka eona le le chabetse haieaha mapotoana NETE KE THEBE SECHABA KE POHO.
Comment by BKC on 26 July 2012:
While this is quite ironic but it is only fair to access to Mosisili to respond to the Minister.
The irony of it is that while in power Mosisili would defenitely not have allowed anybody access to respond to him on the state media-ha a ntse are ho batho ba ts’oaroe ka libaki ‘ ba botsoe hore na ke khaitseli ea malomao ntho eo’!
Not that the opposition was ignorant of their rights to state media but his arrogant style of leadership would not have permitted him to grant such access.
Even if anybody would have taken the matter to the courts of law that would have been a vain effort-given that even the officials of the judiciary were scared deep of him!
But is, nonetheless, a good practice to allow him access by way of setting a precedence.
But all these must not make the coalition government to lose focus, because all these noise is meant to distract them and make them fail!
Everyone should have access to state resources in principle.
Comment by 'Nete Feela on 26 July 2012:
Well said Senqunyane!
Cheap politics shall never take this country anywhere! It is time the current government shows Basotho true leadership and democracy.
As the nation we expect our current ministers to tell us about their 5 year plans to combat the challenges this country faces than concentrate on fighting the DC and its rallies.
Comment by sugarmummy on 26 July 2012:
What is D.C? does ot still exist? all I hear is just dogs barking! hahahaha
Comment by Julia on 26 July 2012:
what comes around goes around, what goes up will definately come down!
Comment by Lekaota on 26 July 2012:
DC e re rutile hore esale ba sebetsa ka moea oa boiphetetso oa bo Nasi LE Conkerese ka lilemo tsee 15.Ho bohloko ho rona ha ele mona ma DC a llela ho shebella li TV tsena tseo rona re senamg tsona ke ho sotleha…Hoja le bile bohlale lare etsetsa li TV tsa Seterateng tsee shebelloang kantle mohlomong re ne retla le thusa ho lla..ako sokeleng koanaaa.. le llisoa ke li TV!! hoja la bolokela meekho eno ea lona mohla linyeoe li oang!!
Comment by mju on 26 July 2012:
BKC,
Can you stop speculations and write the facts. Your perception of Mosisili’s arrogance is based on hatred and jealousy. This does neither help you nor does it have potential to take this country anywhere near salvation.
Comment by Oa Lihlaba on 26 July 2012:
Indeed tasting your own medicine, sit down and learn hore na hoba opposition ho joang le tlohele ho hloliea batho. Mokhosi tiisa storopo ha poho ha e hana ho hula le likhomo tse ling, e tlabe e khethetse makoeba. Monongoaha ha se ngoahola ha batho ba ne ba ikhants’etsa ba bang ba hana ho fa Bro Tom tokelo ea hae opposition.Ba sitoa ho ea liradiong tsane tse ba neng ba re ke tsa makotikoti ho ba nyetse lehaha. Radio Lesotho ha se eona fela ka hara naha ka mona ho ja ba khutlela liradiong tseo ba kopa ts’oarelo hoba ebile bana ba lehlasoa.
Comment by Lefefooane on 26 July 2012:
Proverbs 26:’9 says “A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.”. Now I am ammused to hear that DC can quote the constitution of Lesotho. Kea qaboha kannete.
Where were they when the same DC used to bar musicians(Selomo, Mantsa, Chjakela) from LTV simply because thrio were supporters of ABC? Where was the constitution when when ABC was barred for 5 years from LTV and radio? Oh, please. Even during election campaigns, our rallies were never shown on mccd tv and ntate Mokose kept quiet. He batho bana ba lebala kapele kannete. He ke ne ke le bona I would have just shut up for atleast. Or maybe raise this issue through informal structures like radio callers.
Comment by Lefefooane on 26 July 2012:
So this |DC wants to have the best of both worlds? He batho. Mehlolo ea mehlolo ka tlung ea thapelo.
Comment by Young on 26 July 2012:
Ha ba oe koa!
Comment by Young on 26 July 2012:
@Mju…Hao banna. Ebe oena o utloa kapa o bona ha hole joang ha motho a le litanka. Mccd ea neng a sa ts’abe ho joetsa sechaba sa basotho hore “se molekane”,o tla re busa ho fihlela re tloela…etc?
Ha ke soka ke bona PM a neng a le litanka ebile a tella ho feta ntate Mccd.
Comment by Lepotoana on 26 July 2012:
Manasi a matoala butleng hleng banna.
Comment by mojota on 26 July 2012:
Hele bana ba se ke baq etsa LTV joalo ka e ka ke ea bo `ma bona ha ba fe ba bang monyetla.
Comment by Manane on 26 July 2012:
How about taking politics entirely out of state media until election time
Comment by Manane on 26 July 2012:
@ Lepotoana. Mohla tsa lona li hlahallang, motho o tla rohaka letsatsi leo a tsoetsoeng ka lona. That is not very far.
Comment by mojota on 26 July 2012:
kea i potsa na katana tsena li tla fella kae ka `muso ona oa bona oa kotanelo, kapa ke kopanelo ha ke sure.
Comment by Julia on 26 July 2012:
I call order here, in as much as we are given a platform to say our views, some of you ladies and gentlemen use this platform their own way.. please stop doing what you are doing.
Comment by Lepoqo la Masupha oa Gabashane on 26 July 2012:
Banna le Basalu ba makipikipi, sekeng la nna la ikoma, re tsoareng bo mme le bo ntate haeba lea tseba hore re utsoitse chelete ea sechaba. Tsoarang boetapele ba DC kahona. ke utloa everytime le ikeme ka hore tsa ba bang li tla hlahella. tsa lona tsona li se li bolile? Ha li sa tla hlaha? Tsa machaena a neng a kengoa lenyelenyele ke mohlomphehi e mong ha entse ele letona la home affairs? hela bo ntate etsang kapele le qale Tribunal, re tsebe ho hlaha ka mapaki batho ba kene setokising, joale re tsebe ho bona manyeloi ana ao ekang ase a le teng… Hela banna le basali ba heso ‘muso oa letsema ha o qale o etse investigate bohle ba bileng pusong, ho tloha 1993 to date re bone na ke mang ea senang molato… hahahahahahaaaaa!!! DC we ar e ready, and re ke ke be ra thola nnete hobane le re tsosa, re tla be re lo kena hona setokising mono, re ntse re bua eona nnete ena eo re ikanang ka eona. Lona le thabise Ramainoane, ke hauhela Ma LCD hobane ba ne ba nahana hore ba soetsa Tau ea Thaba joale ha ba tsebe se ba tjametseng, empa he, ha re li tlohele li hole mmoho r tle re li bone mohla kotulo… Nneteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Comment by Mohale oa malimo on 26 July 2012:
Ho ngoliloe ho thoe ea bolaeang ka sabole o tla bolaoa ka eona,ke nako ea hore lerumo lane le mafome leo esale le hlaba ka lona le hlabe lona(dc),hase boiphetetso empa ke ‘moofo oa teng se itebatse maDC khale le sebetsa tjena ha e le lona litulong.ke soabile ho utloa hore letseba le molao le le tjena kapa ke molao o fihlang (ralebokose) empa o etsoa neng paramente e so buloe.ke utloa le ntena,o kae mosotho chakela,eena ona sena freedom o speech ha pina tsa hae li emisoa ho letsoa RL kapa ono so be teng molao oo.sis!nxa.
Comment by Sesi on 26 July 2012:
Poor Mmokose, being smart by half. Now they know the relevant sections of the constitution. There is no where the constitution says a party that sow confusion should be allowed to do so with impunity. It is not personal, it is against a body politic with evil intentions. Only constructive criticism must be allowed on the state media. Agents provocateurs must be shown the door. They should not be allowed to usurp people’s power like they stole LCD power. They want to build their party at the expense of the nation. If they are aggrieved, there are courts of law where they can put their case forward, they seem to know too much about legal issues – liclever. Bloody crocodile tears!!! DC is a product of illicit gains and abuse of state resources.
Comment by LEO-TY on 26 July 2012:
This is not the right diplomatic handling of the whole saga . Mokose and his group should have done the following to show asense of remorse;
1.Write a letter of apology to the minister and if possible ask to meet him to apologised personally .
2 Give the minister assurance , not to repeate this again .
3. Be prepared to apologise to the public .
For Mokose to try to lecture the minister how the law says this and not that blaaa- blaaaaa is actualy kicking himself in the foot . This DC people are living in fools paradice . They have not as yet accepted that they are no longer a government . They seem to display arrogance even where it is not necessary . Those so called state assets are now run by different government, his responsibility is only to come begging .
Comment by Sesi on 26 July 2012:
It is barely two months ago that the very DC, during the height of highly contested elections, that they chose, through the daughter of the DC leader, to stop broadcasting other parties’ rallies, with the pretext that the Ministry had run out of funds. Bull!!! Who were they trying to fool? The rules were crystal clear that all campaigning parties should be given air coverage. Guess who got the lion’s share? DC. An illegal party just formed a month prior to elections. Damnn!!! WTF do they think they are? I think it would actually be a waste of time for Mokhosi to even attempt to respond to these arrogant people. They must learn just how it feels to be on the outside, learn humility, be humane and stop playing strong man tactics. We really do not give a F.
Comment by Tebang on 26 July 2012:
This is the true Tom,ha se le hobane a iphetetsa.if anyone claims him to be a good man let him practice what he has been preaching and show Basotho good leadership like he has been claiming to be good.hona ha le ikeme hore Mosisili o oa ferekanya,o ferekantse mang hoba batho bao a ntseng a bua le bona haba sore ba ferekane.Hoo e leng taba mona fela ke hore Ntate Mosisili banna ba bang ba otlanya lirope ha ba ‘mona,ba month tsaba le haba se ba moliikile.
Comment by Tebang on 26 July 2012:
Basotho a ke le bueng ‘nete le tlohelle hoba bohloko ka Ntate Mosisili,ha Ntate Mosisili ele Tona Kholo TV Lesotho ene e ntse e phatlalatsa mekoloko mona eo re tsebang hantle hore mohlomphihi Tom o ne a e tsehetsa ebile sepheo e le ho etsa destabilise puso ea nakong eo. Why did you keep quit if you were denied your wright.it it somebody’s business.
Comment by Eakhorong on 26 July 2012:
Ha ba tlohe mona!!
Comment by Mju on 26 July 2012:
Young,
U leshano, your judgment of Mosisili is based on jealousy and hatred. U n’u batla a arabele batho ba bitter ha ba mo phara ka mashano joang, ba hlotsoe ke likhetho? Le bua haholo ka ka ‘musonyana ona oa 0.5 cent.
Comment by bare on 27 July 2012:
Joalo ka seolo se senang bohloa lentsoe lere coalition gov furallang likhang khaohanang le basomi kapa bona ba lipuo lisa tlo tsoela naha ena molemo. Ntate mokose we have leant from the best (DC) so ho tla nka nako ho ntsa thokolosi ho rona. Ke hantle ho sheba molao 4 DC ho re ba bone na ba o tlotse ho le ho kae ha esale muso.qola eka leihlong la coalition lea ebona empa lepolana le ka leihlong la DC ha le lebone amazing
Comment by Leraba on 27 July 2012:
Hore na le kare ke muso oa makipikipi,0.5 cent,makotikoti.oa lilapa kapa eng le eng hoteng ke hore Mccd o bone hore na “Poho hao e pana e ntse bohla” e tla u roala le lijoko e uphunye malanyana ana.hoteng ke nyoe nyoe hona joale.Motho oa teng hona joale ke thapelo e senang Amen.Fotsek!!!!!!
Comment by mju on 27 July 2012:
Leraba tsa mo likela matjoing koana ha le na bolateli.
Comment by Lesholu Ipolaee on 27 July 2012:
@LEO-TY. You couldn’t be more accurate.
Meet the rest of Africa, and they’ll tell you how arrogant this former government was.
Revenge is no holy, but this people thought they would rule forever. But THE ALMIGHTY GOD saved this humbled nation.
It’s a pity nt. Tom is this old. We need a self-less leader who should only take the nation forward.
INTERESTING THEY EVEN QUOTE THE CONSTITUTION. How I wish Rev. Lekhoaba (RIP) would be here.
Time is the best healer – They will get used to it!
Comment by BaszT on 27 July 2012:
Shame on you DC!how dare you even have a nerve to lodge a complaint to the Minister of communications yet you have been gagging both the nation and the media during your rein? Remember the saying which goes “Do un to others as you would have them do un to you”.
DC’s Interim Secretary General further postulates that he was “reliably informed that on July or thereabout,the Communications Minister instructed his staff on both Radio Lesotho and LTV to refrain from covering DC in all respects”.These remarks speak volumes.Now, who could be this reliable source? .One doesn’t need to be Ralechate’s friend/ally to establish who the source of this information is.Obviousley it is the P.S. in the same ministry.This should therefore be a wake up call to the coalition government to relieve all the DC card carrying PS’s of their duties with emmediate effect. This is not to suggest that other PS’s should remain in office. They must also either shape up or ship out. A lot of damage has been caused since the inauguration of Ministers and none of us want to be witness to further damage.
Comment by Liteluu on 27 July 2012:
Guys i can feel from your tones that most you are still young, thus aspiring to be leaders of tomorrow, but the way it turn out in your comments you guys are already, which poses a very tough question what kind of leaders will Lesotho have in the future? most of us are still hooked up with the old politics of characters not the objectivity, hence even those who are clearer and having a potential to apply their minds rationally fails.The truth of the matter should be said DC won the elections and that was publisised the IEC on the 30th May 2012 as the party which has won most constituencies. But I fail to understand why the current Government its supporters are saying statement threatens the stability to the extend that forces the Comm. Minister to act irrationally like the former oppressors.Moreover as a leader he is failing to stick to truth that DC won the elections and go further to say even though they won, they did not form the required 61 seats majority to form the government, that would be super and objective.
I therefore humbly request you, young, fresh and capable boys and girls of tomorrow start learning the qualities of leadership today so that you can not be cursed during your tenure of governance tomorrow, even I understand that there is no rationality in politics but we should means to be apolitical when we approach the public matters especially those that affect prosperity of the country in the future.
With these patriots can we all agree that Coalition Government has messed and take a clear stance say, this un-forward looking governance should be stopped for the betterment of this lovely country!!!!!!!!
Likhomo mali eso.
Comment by lofo on 28 July 2012:
@ Liteluu, my friend. By winning here, we mean amassing enough votes to enable a party to form a government without necessarily having to cobble up coalition of contesting parties. That’s the meaning sir/madam. From what you know, and we know, no party fitted this description. All parties garnered votes below the required threshold. They were all losers, your DC was the best loser. But as the English saying goes: “a miss is as good as a mile” In some countries, this would have required calling of another/repeat election. But in Lesotho, the required threshold would still be made by parties coming together to form a coalition. 2 weeks were needed to do that for DC. DC failed to form that coalition because it smelt like a skunk to other parties except the one-minute show of one Ramathebane. It was a no-show for DC. The latter, with tail between the legs, called a press conference and told the nation that “we are hated by other parties, that is why we cannot convince any (except one-minute) to come to party. we therefore are going to be fierce opposition in parliament”. The followers and other DC party stalwarts were in tears – a real moving moment to watch on LTV. This paved way for Ntate Mosisili to hand over the reigns of power to Ntate Thabane in the presence of God and the whole Basotho nation. Ntate Mosisili made one of the best speeches of the moment for a loser (failure to form a government), this won him multitudes of admirers including myself – we saw him as a true statesman, an example to Africa and the world. Fast forward – “the coalition parties ganged up against me. Metsing has sold congress to nationalists, I averted war by giving up power, this government is not blessed by God, blaah, blaah”. What a bunch of bollocks!!! One would not mind if it were said to open-minded university students on campus. This was said to humiliated DC youth, ignorant rural folk and still-angry DC followers. Now if you were coalition government, you would still allow Mosisili to be feted with state media, when he actually proves by his utterances that he is bitter? This is not a campaign period, it is implementation period. He should be allowed to say these unfortunate and pure lies in the comfort of his constituencies without being given VIP treatment by state media. Waste resources on someone bent on destroying the goodwill that reigns in the country? After all, he said there was no budget to cover opposition parties’ rallies during elections. Now, where the hell should that budget come from? He should tell, or did her daughter (she is lucky to be acting ps) make virements to the line item that would be disbursed to cover his ill-intentioned rallies? THIS BERGS FOR ANSWERS.
Now you see my friend Liteluu what the meaning of winning elections is? Your DC sounds like an old record player in the 21st century. Parliament is open next week. They should exercise their cleverness there for all to see, including Ntate Nthunye-ka-Thipa whom we will very soon learn of his past shenanigans.
Comment by B on 28 July 2012:
‘Mokose & Co. sit down!… Oh & so please take your OLD Liteluu with you.
Comment by B on 28 July 2012:
Ka ba ka hopola mohla ‘Mapitso Ts’iu a hobosang nt Tom on LTV a mo ts’eha abile a sa mo fe le nako ea ho araba. I’ve never felt so small.
Comment by Qacha on 28 July 2012:
This gov. is working . Loc. Gov. Van H 1711 has been reposessed by LMPS while travelling along Kingsway.It was nicknamed’ mashodu’ here in Q Nek. HALALA Delilee Bra Tom ke eo. Who really bought it?
Comment by 'Mokose on 29 July 2012:
Feela ntate Tom ha u bone eka mccd oa pota, ‘na ke le ‘Mokose ke re Mokola, ke ile ka ba joetsa hore mona ba phutla ka mokotla o metsi.
Comment by Oa batho on 30 July 2012:
honeng re mamela mepoto ea mosisili ha a tlohe mona a lo potela tsoelike koana. mccd o hlotsoe ho bolella machaba le sechaba se neng se bokane stadium ha fana ka puso ka nako eo hore o qhekanyelitsoe ke eng khele motho enoa ha re mmatle kapa o batla ho bona joang ntate mccd a ku phomole o tsofetse u sebelitse moo o sebelitseng se ke oa re leka o tla buoa ka 20million neng fotshek
Comment by senatla on 30 July 2012:
na ke rata taba tsa Lesotho hoba ngoanenoa u ne asa nahane hore litla cha, Ha noe moriana ona oa hae, Ha ake a leke SABC, na aka bua joang le bo mosotho Chakela le bohle baka RSA.
Comment by senatla on 30 July 2012:
ke nahana now his ID can work, leba matatiele e ka sebetsa, hoba lekhoaba moea oa hae o phomotse ka khotso ka ea hae,kapa a kope thapelo e matla ho Banna le Bahlankana lihloa lekhoara,
Comment by Pitso on 30 July 2012:
Ke ea o tlatsa Ntate Mokhosi, DC ea tseba hore chelete ea ho phatlalatsi le boka tsa lipolotike e felile. Kapa baneng ba se phatlalatse bekeng ea ho qetela ea likhetho. Chelete e tla ba teng budgeting e tlang.
Comment by senatla on 30 July 2012:
mojota ngoana ‘Me’ pelo ena ea hao e rotha mali, utla lla u tla thula le kotanelo ena ea hao, hase liheleng mona uena, change, hantle kapa ha mpe
Comment by Abia on 30 July 2012:
Ladias and gentleman how ignorant you are is it not true that formar prime mininster had more popular votes than any party. Come on gus tau ea Thaba is the man how could someboby won the election with only three months party and defeat other parties which had many years of campaining. Seka iphapanyetsang nnete.
Comment by Selai on 30 July 2012:
Lerumo hale fetoha ho bohloko ha leja monga lona. Moccd dila fatshe Thabane ao buse o ko tlohelle ho lla jwalo ka ngwana nxa. Kajeko le tseba melao ele kgale le hatikela ditokelo tsa batho hakale, tsamaya mokose olo botsa kgaitsedi ya malomao.
Comment by semenekane on 31 July 2012:
@ Tebang
Oeso u mpa u its’ilisa ka mats’iliso a senang phoofo. Ke mang a ka otlanyang lirope ka toothless dog?.
Mccd is toothless dog barking @ moon ntate. Ho felile ka eena with his corrupt regime.
Ha e shoa, ea raha. Thiba!
Comment by Mohokare on 31 July 2012:
@Semenekane
Interesting to hear that it’s over with “Mccd … toothless dog barking @ the moon… Ho felile ka eena with his corrupt regime.” Great stuff and brilliant analysis! Who do you see winning the elections outright in 2017? It would be more interesting to hear your opinion/analysis on this one as a regular political commentator/analyst.
Comment by Leraba on 31 July 2012:
DC(Lija-mollo kapa Lipajero) ho o eleng hona keng?Mccd o tlameha a qeta bottle ea whisky ka 1hr.hee ea taoa tsotsi eno.
Comment by Lefefooane on 31 July 2012:
@Mohokare, it is still too early to ask the question of who will win elections in 2017? It is merely a month or two we got back from the elections. The Letsema guys have not even settled. They are still withing the 100 days so really the question is a bit misplaced. However, in going to 2017 I do not think any party will win elections outright. That is if LCD tries to gain some of its lost ground. In so doing it would dispose DC from some turf as the two compete on the same political space. It would be a bit difficult for DC to maintain its ground because DC will not be having all those reseources and state machenery to “keep the electorates busy”. However, DC will not just give in easily, especially in the rural Qach’s nek and Thaba Tseka. Mokhotlong, as usual will remain the mountain battle ground for all four main political parties with fircest battle being between ABC and LCD. The lowlands will remain with ABC for a simple reason that the urban folks kept voting for ABC when ABC was opposition. There would be no reason why thay cannot not vote for a ruling ABC. Thse people stayed loyal to ABC when ABC was out there in the cold so logically they will still stay with ABC.
In Summary:
ABC will increase its share of the cake but still not enough to guarantee it the 61 seats. Remember ABC grew its base from 11 constituencies to 26 amid all the difficulties of total blackout from state media. So, logically ABC will grow to maybe 45. Followed by LCD and DC. BNP will still mainatain its distant fourth place. The smaller parties will be the biggest casualties as there would be no fundemental reason to remain with parties like BDNP, BBDP, LLP etc.
Comment by motlatsi moqekela on 31 July 2012:
Hela!poho ea twelike are you aware that the now ruling system ase ea Lisoasi?U BATLA THE SECOND CHANCE so that o tlo ferekanya Basotho?inahane hantle moshana…………
Comment by sefaha on 31 July 2012:
Hey banna monoana hao its’upi,le lona le ne le hanela ba bang ka hoba le access to the madia.hobaneng le lla ele thuto ea lona.khuoe ke mosali moholo nthoeo.
Comment by Lefefooane on 1 August 2012:
I like this total blackout on DC. Now that we cannot hear what mccd is saying in the background we can concentrate on rebuilding the nation and rooting out corruption. At first I was against this so-called blackout on DC, but I now realise its importance. We now discuss issues of governance. La chaba Letsatsi.
Comment by Gaddafi on 1 August 2012:
@Lefefooane
I think you are not correct, you just mislead those people not following the happenings in this poor country. ABC is not voted for in the whole lowlands of Lesotho. Be honest with yourself, ABC had been voted for in Maseru district in 2007 and by 2012 ABC only gained votes in Maseru and other parts of Berea, and only obtained one contituency in Leribe and Mafeteng respectively. That means ABC has gained support only in two lowlands districts. If they want to get more support of Basotho from other lowlands districts, ABC will have to work hard and convince Basotho that they are in power to work for Basotho but not for self-enrichment.
The same thing applies to DC that it will have to work hard to attract back more hurtful Basotho, convincing them that it will never fail the Government employees again by showing much hatred for them. They have to convince Basotho in some other parts of the lowlands especially in Maseru that it can never impose unjust or ungodly policies or laws on civil servants. They will have to tell people that they will not hate government employees as they did during their regime.
They have massively increased salaries for teachers with 40%-100% in April 2010 but left out civil servants, They have increased salaries of armed forced and police with a massive increase but insult government employees with 3%. Unless they stop hating civil servants, they cannot come back to power because people are angry with them. How can you offer a massive increase to other workers and left out government employees, the people that you have to work with to deliver services to the entire nation? Recently Mosisili administration was a total disgrace to the nation of Lesotho especially government employees whom his government had much hatred for them. If you are the Prime Minister or the ministers, how will you work with the workers that you hate? Do you think your party policies and strategies would be achieved by the people that you hate? If you show hatred for your workers, you promote bitterness. Your workers will become bitter and defensive.
Comment by Gaddafi on 1 August 2012:
Hee Basotho le linoha tsa khale bo ‘mamothepane noha ea mabitla. Basotho le bo nkhate ke hlaname. Pusong ea LCD mehleng ea ha ntate Thabane e ntse ele letona, le ne le hloile ntate Thabane le eena ntate Mosisili le re ke lisatanist. Joale Basotho ting ba leshano, le se le ratile ntate Thabane neng hakale ha le hlolieana hakale baferekanyi ting ba Lesotho? Hee manashenale a tena naheng ena, a rata hampe ho jala pherekano hara sechaba sa Basotho. Tlohang mona baferekanyi ting ba babe liketso le lits’obotsi!!!
Comment by lekhoakhoa on 1 August 2012:
@ Lefefooane, couldn’t have said it better myself! Control, that’s the key word,thus as much as Mosisili a batla access ea state media,he can’t just go on and blubber whatever nonsense that comes to his mind, especially if its not in the intrest of the people. Where does he get the odercity to complain mehleng ea bona state media ene ele ea party ea hae!ka mmila lepantsola!
Comment by concord free on 8 May 2013:
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge about unexpected feelings.
Comment by Kabuliyan.Com on 23 May 2013:
Tila Tequila With Gathering On the Juggalos