Politics & Rights
The Independent Electoral Commission has commissioned a three-tier audit of Lesotho's voters' roll covering data integrity, technology security, and system functionality ahead of the 2028 National Assembly elections. New Director of Elections Tebello Nthakong has taken office and will oversee preparations under a roadmap that schedules
Politics & Rights
The All Basotho Convention will hold a special conference on 30 October after 36 of its 80 constituency committees demanded leadership accountability following the resignation of five senior officials this month. The party faces internal turmoil, financial crisis with M400,000 in unpaid rent, and potential new elections for its
Politics & Rights
Ombudsman Advocate Tlotliso Polaki has been shortlisted among 17 candidates for eight vacant High Court judge positions by the Judicial Service Commission. Polaki's candidacy comes as she remains locked out of her office amid an ongoing legal dispute with the government over whether her tenure as Ombudsman has
Politics & Rights
The Lesotho government is holding stakeholder consultations on the Cybersecurity Bill 2026, which separates previous cybersecurity and cybercrime legislation into two distinct bills to address concerns raised by civil society and media organizations about human rights safeguards and freedom of expression. The consultations involve regulators, financial institutions, law enforcement and
Politics & Rights
Human rights organization Hands Off Basotho is planning a march to Police Headquarters on October 8, 2026, to demand action on the unresolved abduction and alleged torture of Newsday editor Kananelo Boloetse. Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution has documented a pattern of inconsistencies between police public statements and
Accountability
Defence lawyers in the treason trial of former army commander Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli and politicians Mothetjoa Metsing and Selibe Mochoboroane have accused police of tampering with evidence by repairing a bullet-damaged door at Police Headquarters while the case remains before the courts. The allegations emerged during cross-examination
AI in Business
First National Bank (FNB) has progressed beyond initial AI experimentation by implementing measurement frameworks to track business impact across revenue, costs, fraud reduction, and employee workflows. The bank is systematically assessing the measurable value generated by its AI deployments rather than pursuing AI initiatives for their own sake. Source: ITWeb
Accountability
Lefa Mabusane, accused of murdering two nurses in 2014, has pleaded guilty to strangling a woman in April 2024 but his defence is seeking acquittal arguing the injuries do not meet the threshold for aggravated assault. The case has been postponed to September 2026 for a court ruling on whether
AI in Business
Artificial intelligence is transforming human resources processes across recruitment, management, and employee offboarding. The adoption of AI in HR presents both operational opportunities and associated risks that organizations must navigate. Source: ITWeb
Water & Infrastructure
A University of Chicago study projects that El Niño heat will cause 42 deaths in Lesotho between September and February, with the highest toll expected in January and February during the lean season when food stocks are lowest. The Lesotho Disaster Management Authority admits it lacks funds for preparatory measures,
Policy & Regulation
The Pentagon is requesting $30.3 million over five years to develop Polygraph+, an AI-powered lie detection system using machine learning algorithms and non-contact physiological sensing technology. Multiple scientific bodies including the National Research Council have found polygraph evidence to be weak or unreliable, and experts warn that
AI in Business
A security operations center director argues that defenders must automate their response capabilities to match the automated attacks that adversaries can deploy. The statement reflects growing industry consensus that manual security processes cannot keep pace with AI-driven threats. Source: ITWeb