AGP Executive Report

Women in Politics: A fresh call to “give women in politics real power” argues that while women are already the backbone of city life, they’re often only appointed once municipalities are in crisis—so the focus must shift from maternal praise to real competence. UNDP Equality Role: Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso has been named UNDP Lesotho National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, pledging to back girls and young people while linking equality to Basotho cultural values. Youth, Culture & Tourism: Thaba-Bosiu’s identity logo launch is set to boost youth mentoring through culture, with groups like Linotsí pushing young people toward heritage-led opportunities and tourism. Media & Trust: Lesotho’s information minister warns that broadcasters are losing credibility by chasing social media trends instead of doing original, in-depth reporting. Health & Justice: The Tshiamiso Trust says it has paid R2.53bn to 26,300 ex-miners for TB and silicosis, but claimants still report delays and access problems. Sports Business: Lesotho Football Association and Radisol Global Investments announce a strategic partnership to professionalise and commercialise football in the kingdom. Community Safety: Learners at Sefate Sa Bophelo were warned against drugs and gangsterism as probation and police teams step up school campaigns.

UNDP & Equality: Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso has been appointed UNDP Lesotho National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, pledging to back girls and equality while framing it as part of Basotho culture’s values. Youth, Culture & Tourism: Thaba-Bosiu Mokhibo group “Linotsí” launched a Thaba-Bosiu identity and branding push to get young people into cultural activities and use tourism to tackle unemployment. Community Music & Discipline: Berea conductor Samuel Motšoeli says choral music builds discipline and responsibility, urging teachers and children to stay healthy and avoid alcohol and cigarettes ahead of inter-district competitions in Mohale’s Hoek. Health & Compensation: Tshiamiso Trust says it has paid R2.53bn to 26,300 mineworkers with TB and silicosis, but many still wait—especially in Zimbabwe—due to documentation and medical access delays. Sports Business: Lesotho Football Association and Radisol Global Investments announced a strategic partnership aimed at professionalising and commercialising football in the Kingdom. Public Safety for Learners: Sefate Sa Bophelo learners were warned against drugs and gangsterism as probation and police teams step up child-focused prevention campaigns. Tourism Branding: The Ministry of Tourism soft-launched the Thaba-Bosiu identity logo as part of Lesotho’s 60th independence build-up and a bid to attract domestic and international visitors. Learning & Media Trust: The Information Minister warned that broadcasters are losing credibility by copying social media without depth or verification, calling for stronger local-language skills and original reporting.

UNDP & Royal Advocacy: Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso has been appointed UNDP Lesotho National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, pledging to push inclusive change while framing equality as part of Basotho culture. Youth, Culture & Discipline: Sefate Sa Bophelo learners were warned against drugs and gangsterism, while Berea conductor Motšoeli says choral music builds discipline and responsibility—urging adults to model good behaviour. Health & Justice for Mineworkers: Tshiamiso Trust says it has paid R2.53bn to 26,300 TB and silicosis claimants, but ex-miners and widows report delays and access problems as the mandate nears its final years. Tourism Identity & Heritage: Tourism officials soft-launched the Thaba-Bosiu identity logo ahead of Lesotho’s 60th independence celebrations, and the Linotsí group is gearing up to mentor youth through culture and tourism. Sports Development: Lesotho Football Association and Radisol Global Investments announced a strategic partnership to professionalise and commercialise football. Education & Skills Links: Nine Basotho students are heading to China on scholarships, as Lesotho-China cooperation deepens. Community Safety: A drug lab bust in South Africa reportedly included a Lesotho national among five foreign suspects.

Thaba-Bosiu Identity & Tourism Branding: Lesotho’s Tourism Ministry soft-launched the Thaba-Bosiu identity logo in Masekoeng, aiming to brand the heritage site for both domestic and international visitors and link culture to livelihoods. Youth Mentorship Through Culture: The Thaba-Bosiu Mokhibo group “Linotsí” launched a Mokhorong oa Khotla logo and branding push to pull young people into cultural activities, with tourism seen as a route to jobs. Princess Senate in the Spotlight: Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso was unveiled as a UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, building on her earlier work on girls’ rights and child marriage. Football Development Deal: Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) and Radisol Global Investments signed a strategic partnership to professionalise and commercialise the sport, creating new opportunities across the football ecosystem. Public Service Implementation Focus: Lesotho will host the AAPAM summit in Maseru (8–11 Dec 2026) under “From Ambition to Implementation,” tackling the policy-to-results gap. Drug Bust Cross-Border Link: Police arrested five foreign nationals, including a Lesotho citizen, after a R1m hydroponic dagga lab discovery in Sedibeng. Health & Resilience: An El Niño preparedness action plan is being developed in Leribe after a district workshop, while livestock deaths in Mokhotlong highlight disaster-preparedness gaps for winter storms.

Thaba-Bosiu Identity & Youth Mentorship: Lesotho’s Thaba-Bosiu Mokhorong oa Khotla branding was soft-launched in Maseru, with the Linotsí group pledging to mentor youth through Basotho culture and use tourism to tackle unemployment. Royal Advocacy & Equality: Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso was unveiled as UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, linking her child-and-girl rights work to Lesotho’s 60th Independence push for inclusion. Football Development Deal: The Lesotho Football Association and Radisol Global Investments announced a strategic partnership to professionalise and commercialise football, aiming to turn the sport’s social and cultural value into sustainable opportunities. Tourism Branding Push: The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture launched the Thaba-Bosiu identity logo to position the heritage site as a branded destination ahead of the golden jubilee. Digital Connectivity for Remote Work: Vodacom Lesotho rolled out enterprise satellite broadband to keep institutions online where terrestrial networks are hard to deploy. Culture on Stage: Lesotho Wine Festival returns for its 13th edition on 10 October, spotlighting wines plus artisans, fashion, food and live acts. Climate Preparedness: An action plan for anticipated El Niño impacts is being developed in Leribe after a disaster-management workshop, with food insecurity already flagged. Livestock Losses Expose Gaps: Winter livestock deaths in Mokhotlong are raising calls for stronger disaster preparedness beyond warnings.

Tourism & Identity: Lesotho’s Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture soft-launched the Thaba-Bosiu identity logo in Maseru, positioning the mountain as a branded destination ahead of the 60th independence celebrations. Football Business: The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) and Radisol Global Investments announced a strategic partnership to commercialise and professionalise football, aiming to create sustainable opportunities across the sport. Disaster Preparedness: In Leribe, an action plan is being developed to prepare for El Niño impacts, after warnings that food insecurity could worsen. Digital Connectivity: Vodacom Lesotho launched enterprise satellite broadband using Starlink tech, targeting reliable connectivity for businesses and public institutions in hard-to-reach areas. Culture & Lifestyle: The Lesotho Wine Festival returns for its 13th edition on 10 October in Maseru, promising curated tastings, gastronomy experiences, and live entertainment. Environment & Livelihoods: Winter livestock deaths in Mokhotlong are highlighting gaps in disaster preparedness and protection for subsistence farmers. Health & Women: New research highlights the growing burden of tuberculosis and drug-resistant TB among women of childbearing age, with projections to 2030. Heritage Skills: UNESCO and partners are running training for return and restitution of cultural property, including participants from Lesotho.

UNESCO & Heritage Training: UNESCO, AUDA-NEPAD and the University of Pretoria are running two Southern Africa certificate courses (11–28 Aug) to build legal and ethical skills for the return and restitution of cultural property, with Lesotho among nine participating countries. Lesotho Wine Festival: The 13th edition returns to Maseru on 10 October, spotlighting 240+ wines, curated high-end food experiences, and local arts and live acts. Connectivity for Business: Vodacom Lesotho launched enterprise satellite broadband in Maseru, aiming to keep organisations online where land networks are slow or costly. Livestock Winter Shock: In Mokhotlong, heavy snowfall has killed dozens of sheep, exposing gaps between weather warnings and the infrastructure farmers need to protect animals. Watershed Volunteer Legacy: Sebapala’s four-year integrated watershed project is closing after restoring rangelands and strengthening community action in the Lower Senqu Basin. Tourism Sector Workshop: LTDC is taking a tourism sensitisation programme to Qacha’s Nek, focusing on service standards, tourism data reporting, and community participation. Lesotho–China Talks: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly dialogue in Maseru to speed up cooperation and follow through on past agreements. Regional Livestock Support: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to protect farmers’ cattle, sheep and goats.

Livestock & Disaster Readiness: Winter snowfall is killing large numbers of sheep, goats and cattle in Mokhotlong, exposing gaps in infrastructure and financial protection even when weather warnings reach farmers. Community Restoration: The Sebapala Integrated Watershed Management project in the Lower Senqu Basin is officially closing after four years of rangeland and watershed rehabilitation—driven by nearly 1,000 volunteers across 123 villages. Digital Lifestyle & Business: Vodacom Lesotho has launched enterprise satellite broadband (Starlink-powered) to keep connectivity steady for businesses and public institutions in hard-to-reach areas. Wine & Culture Calendar: The Lesotho Wine Festival returns for its 13th edition in Maseru on 10 October, spotlighting wines, curated gastronomy, and local creative talent. Education & Human Capital: Lesotho has held its first quarterly China talks under a new cooperation mechanism, while Chinese scholarships continue to send Basotho students abroad to build skills for home. Tourism Sector Push: The LTDC is running tourism sensitisation workshops (next stop Qacha’s Nek) to improve service standards, compliance, data reporting and community participation. GBV Justice Training: Magistrates’ dialogues in Eswatini focus on stronger Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act implementation, aiming to close handling gaps and improve access to justice. Regional Health & Farming Support: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to protect herds and livelihoods. Women’s Economic Empowerment: FWAA is reframing awards from trophies to real economic empowerment—spotlighting women’s business impact beyond ceremonies. Youth Creativity for Change: In Maseru, youth were urged to use creativity to campaign against gender-based violence, substance abuse and mental health.

Migration & Remittances: A South Africa-based economist warns that intensified migrant departures could hit remittances and household spending across the SADC region, as thousands are repatriated from South Africa. Xenophobia & Accountability: President Cyril Ramaphosa tells Parliament perpetrators of xenophobic violence against foreign nationals will be arrested and charged, while also saying some anti-foreigner activity may be influenced from outside SA. Lesotho–China Cooperation: Lesotho and China hold their first quarterly dialogue under a new cooperation mechanism, aiming to make agreements more action-focused and faster to implement. Education & Scholarships: Lesotho hails Chinese scholarships for building human capital, with students urged to return skills to support national development. Tourism Sector Push: The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation takes a sensitisation programme to Qacha’s Nek, focusing on service standards, tourism data reporting, and community participation. Health & Livestock Support: Botswana donates 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to help protect Basotho farmers’ herds, stressing regional disease control. GBV Justice Focus: Magistrates in Eswatini meet to strengthen Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act implementation, with attention on gaps in how cases are handled. Youth & Creativity: In Maseru, youth are encouraged to use creativity to campaign against gender-based violence, substance abuse, and mental health challenges. Women in Business: Lesotho’s FINITE Magazine Women Appreciation Awards expands beyond galas into women’s economic empowerment. Sports & Community: Maluti Mountain Cement sponsors the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament with M100,000, boosting regional athlete opportunities. Refugee Rights: Refugees in Lesotho say a freeze on identity cards and travel documents is trapping them in limbo, blocking access to services and opportunities.

VAR & Football Governance: South Africa’s Sport, Art & Culture minister Gayton McKenzie questioned why VAR isn’t in the PSL for 2026-27 and threatened to recall R30m paid to SAFA, reigniting pressure over how referees and football bodies handle the rollout. Migration & Human Impact: A report on xenophobic anti-immigrant violence in South Africa says it derailed SDG progress and left tens of thousands of Africans stranded, with Malawi alone reporting 56,723 citizens repatriated after four months of crisis. Lesotho Tourism Push: The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation is taking a sensitisation programme to Qacha’s Nek, focusing on service standards, tourism data reporting, community participation, the tourism levy, and quality star-grading. GBV/SODV Court Training: Magistrates’ dialogue in the region highlights how courts are tackling gaps in Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act implementation, with warnings that manipulative abusers can pressure survivors to withdraw cases. Lesotho Refugee Rights: Refugees in Lesotho say a government freeze on identity cards and travel documents has dragged on for a second year, leaving them unable to access money, healthcare, education, and referrals. Culture & Community Support: Rotary and Vodacom Lesotho Foundation renewed disability support with wheelchairs and mobility aids reaching hundreds, while Econet’s education bridge programme tops M100m for thousands of learners. Sports & Youth: Maluti Mountain Cement sponsors the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament with M100,000, and a Maseru spelling-and-business pitch event encouraged youth to tackle real community problems through entrepreneurship.

Tourism & Service Standards: The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation is taking its tourism sensitisation programme to Qacha’s Nek, pushing better customer service, compliance, tourism data reporting and community participation, with talks on statistics, the tourism levy and quality star-grading. GBV Justice Focus: Magistrates across Eswatini met to strengthen Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act implementation, aiming to close gaps in how gender-based violence cases are handled and improve access to justice for survivors. Youth Activism Through Creativity: In Maseru, youth were urged to fight gender-based violence, substance abuse and mental health using creativity, with UNFPA backing and local education leaders supporting the approach. Women in Business: Revenue Service Lesotho marked Women in Business, highlighting tax education and support for women entrepreneurs and encouraging stronger business registration and planning. Disability Support: Rotary Club of Maloti and Vodacom Lesotho Foundation donated wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility equipment to improve healthcare access and independent living for persons with disabilities. Education Investment: Econet Telecom Lesotho says its education support now exceeds M100 million, backing thousands of Basotho learners from secondary school to tertiary and abroad. Lesotho–China Ties: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly dialogue under a new cooperation mechanism to speed up implementation of agreements and follow up on recent high-level visits. Livestock & Environment: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, while Mafeteng communities were urged to protect grazing lands and ‘Matsa Mountain’ through better pasture management. Entrepreneurship & Skills: A national spelling competition in Maseru paired spelling with business pitches, pushing young learners to build solutions for real community problems. Refugee Rights Alarm: Refugees in Lesotho say a government freeze on identity cards and travel documents has left them trapped for a second year, cutting off money, healthcare, education and referrals. Sports Boost: Maluti Mountain Cement sponsored the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament with M100,000, aiming to grow a regional flagship event.

Women’s Economic Empowerment: Lesotho’s FINITE Magazine Women Appreciation Awards is evolving beyond trophies into a wider platform for women’s economic empowerment, with organisers pushing for recognition that changes real livelihoods. GBV Court Challenges: A magistrates’ dialogue heard warnings that narcissistic, manipulative abusers can derail sexual and domestic violence cases by persuading survivors to withdraw. Refugee Rights Under Freeze: Refugees in Lesotho say a government freeze on identity cards and travel documents is now in its second year, leaving them unable to access services like healthcare, banking, education and work. Lesotho–China Cooperation: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly dialogue in Maseru to speed up action on agreements, focusing on political trust, high-level visits and follow-ups to earlier commitments. Livestock & Regional Health: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, with leaders stressing cross-border cooperation to protect cattle, sheep and goats. Education & Youth Skills: Econet Telecom Lesotho’s education support tops M100 million, backing thousands of young Basotho learners locally and abroad. Disability Support: Rotary and Vodacom Lesotho Foundation delivered mobility and medical equipment to people with disabilities, reaching over 1,500 beneficiaries since 2023. Entrepreneurship for Students: Spelling a Business Africa (SABA) combined spelling with business pitches, encouraging youth—especially girls—to build solutions for community problems. Sports Boost: Maluti Mountain Cement pledged M100,000 to sponsor the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament in Maseru. Governance & Heritage: A lecture on Moshoeshoe’s statecraft frames his governance ideas as a blueprint for navigating today’s fractured world.

Migration & Identity: Lesotho’s refugee community says a government freeze on identity cards and travel documents has dragged on for a second year, leaving people “trapped” and unable to access banking, healthcare, education, and even referrals for treatment abroad. GBV in court: A magistrates’ dialogue warns that narcissistic, manipulative perpetrators can derail Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence cases by persuading survivors to withdraw. Local justice: In Maseru, a man accused of maliciously damaging a DMA-built home was denied bail and will return to court on 1 September. Community support: The “Help ‘Nete Heal” campaign clarifies donations amid public confusion, while ‘Nete, 12, returned home after treatment in South Africa and received a thanksgiving Mass. Education & youth: Econet Telecom Lesotho’s education support tops M100 million, and FIFA Football for Schools will pilot in 10 primary schools in Mokhotlong. Sports & culture: Maluti Mountain Cement sponsors the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament with M100,000, and SABA spelling plus business pitches are boosting youth entrepreneurship in Quthing. Environment & livelihoods: In Mafeteng, the environment minister urges herdboys and farmers to protect grazing lands and stop harmful practices like burning the mountain. Regional ties: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly dialogue under a new cooperation mechanism, and Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to protect Basotho livestock. Women & business: Revenue Service Lesotho marks Women in Business, spotlighting tax education and support for women entrepreneurs.

Migration & Identity: Lesotho refugees say a government freeze on identity cards and travel documents is now in its second year, leaving them trapped—unable to access banking, healthcare, education, and even referrals for treatment. GBV Court Reality: A magistrates’ dialogue heard how narcissistic, manipulative perpetrators can derail Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence cases by persuading survivors to withdraw. Sports & Youth: Maluti Mountain Cement pledges M100,000 to sponsor the Lesotho International Basketball Tournament (Sept 4–6, Maseru), backing regional athlete development. Bilateral Ties: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly dialogue in Maseru to speed up cooperation under a new action-focused mechanism. Livestock Livelihoods: In Mafeteng, the environment minister urged communities to protect grazing lands with better pasture management, with Sentebale and CRS support. Disability Support: Rotary Club of Maloti and Vodacom Lesotho Foundation donated wheelchairs, crutches, walking frames and beds to improve mobility and healthcare access. Education Access: Econet Telecom Lesotho says its education investment has topped M100 million, supporting over 2,000 learners since 2011. Entrepreneurship for Students: SABA ran spelling plus business pitches, with leaders urging youth to build solutions—not just profits. Women in Business: Revenue Service Lesotho marked Women in Business, highlighting tax education and support for women entrepreneurs. Community Safety & Housing: A man accused of maliciously damaging a DMA-funded home was denied bail, with the case set for Sept 1.

IEC & Voting Trust: IEC chair Mosotho Moepya says an estimated 10-million eligible voters remain unregistered, and that the problem isn’t voter education alone—it’s voters’ lived experience and disappointment with parties. Refugee Rights Under Freeze: Refugees say a second year of halted identity cards and travel documents has left them trapped—unable to access banking, healthcare, education, and referrals. Gender Equality in the Region: Southern Africa’s expanded Gender and Development Index scores 58% overall, with Lesotho among the few above 60%. Entrepreneurship & Youth Skills: Spelling a Business Africa (SABA) pushes learners to pitch solutions, while Quthing and Quthing’s SABA events spotlight girls and business-minded youth. Disability Support: Rotary and Vodacom back persons with disabilities with wheelchairs, crutches, and mobility aids reaching over 1500 beneficiaries since 2023. Education Access: Econet Telecom Lesotho’s education bridge tops M100 million, supporting 2,000+ scholars since 2011. Justice in the Spotlight: Editorial urges the Khubetsoana drug case to go to trial, warning against winning cases through procedural moves. Local Business Mentorship: PEKA MP Mohopoli Monokoane vows to connect small entrepreneurs with established tycoons through learning and consultations. Domestic Violence & Shelter: A DMA-funded home in Maseru is allegedly damaged during a dispute over alleged infidelity, leaving a family at risk of losing shelter. Regional Heritage & Culture: Commonwealth conservation training brings heritage specialists—including from Lesotho—into hands-on restoration work. Lesotho–China Ties: Lesotho and China hold their first quarterly bilateral cooperation dialogue, reaffirming the One-China principle and follow-ups to FOCAC.

Refugee Rights Under Strain: A government freeze on issuing identity cards and travel documents is pushing hundreds of refugees into a second year of limbo in Lesotho, cutting them off from healthcare, banking, education and even referrals to South Africa. Gender & Community Progress: Southern Africa’s gender scorecard shows Lesotho among the few countries above 60%, even as pressure on rights gains grows across the region. Youth, Skills & Business Mindset: Econet Telecom Lesotho’s education bridge tops M100 million, supporting 2,000+ learners since 2011, while SABA spelling-and-business pitches in Maseru and Quthing are nudging students toward entrepreneurship. Disability Support: Rotary and Vodacom’s Maloti partnership delivered wheelchairs, crutches and mobility aids to 1500+ beneficiaries since 2023. Health & Protection for Children: ‘Nete Leotlela, 12, returned home after surviving a dog attack and receiving treatment in South Africa, with further procedures planned. Local Justice & Safety: A bail denial in Maseru follows alleged damage to a DMA house, highlighting how domestic disputes can quickly become legal crises. Regional Diplomacy: Lesotho and China held their first quarterly bilateral dialogue, reaffirming cooperation under the One-China principle. Heritage & Learning: Commonwealth conservation training brought heritage specialists including from Lesotho into hands-on restoration work.