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The nightmare on our roads

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The ever increasing population density in Maseru and probably in other urban areas of Lesotho, coupled with the fast deteriorating roads and no improvements to our road networks have rendered driving within Lesotho’s metropolis a pain in the back.
This does not only distort personal schedule but in real terms, it carries in it a financial loss of some sort, especially for those people who are in business. Short journeys take forever to complete.
After receiving a tip from my colleagues at work regarding a sale of items in a certain grocery store in the south-western part of Maseru, I decided to visit that store during one of the days the sale was still running.

One evening at around 16:35hrs during the week, I left my office for the store, which would approximately be seven to nine kilometres away. Two and a half kilometres into this short journey, I joined a queue of the traffic that was flowing at a snail’s pace. I thought to myself that the reason for this could have been an accident or a traffic police road checkpoint up ahead. A few kilometres on, there was neither an accident nor a road block.

The music CD I was listening to played all the songs and had restarted the playlist from the beginning when I realised that the traffic flow may have dragged for only two kilometres. It started getting dark. When I finally arrived at my destination, the time was around 17:50hrs and the shop was almost closing.

This is the situation from all angles coming into and going out of Maseru City in the mornings and evenings respectively. Fifteen years ago things were very different until Basotho discovered an affordable market for vehicles from the Far East.
Within a short time, there is such congestion on our roads that one has to make sure they have got enough fuel in the tank to last a 35 kilometre journey when in fact theirs is only eight kilometres.
When one looks around, there is not even room to have the current roads expanded to the side so as to increase the number of lanes, nor is there room to construct alternative by-pass roads so as to relieve the congestion from the current roads. This has resulted in so much impatience and intolerance in our roads that time and again, there are accidents every now and then.

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I am here not talking about serious life threatening accidents, but those annoying ones involving jolting collisions and scratches as vehicles maneuver their way around the congested traffic flow. They are annoying because of two reasons. First, I have already talked about road networks that throttle the flow due to increased number of vehicles. A minor accident is such roads therefore magnifies the nightmare multiple fold.

The second reason is that of our non-existent emergency responses by the traffic police. Whether this is a result of personnel that is not committed to their job probably because for most of them, joining the police service was about getting a job other than passion for that job; or if indeed it is inadequacy of resources that hampers their desire to do their job, the appropriate service is not provided effectively.

Having spent a little more than five years in Europe, a friend of mine was telling me that in Europe, they have got lanes for cars and an extra lane for buses, which would clearly be marked as such.
In fact, this has often been cited as one of the ways to deal with congestion. He would tell me that even during the time of congestion and slow flowing traffic, private cars would never drive in the bus lane, even though there would not be any bus in there.
Such observance of traffic laws is unheard of in our country. I thought this obedience was strange considering what goes on in my own country where a clearly marked disabled parking space would never deter people who are not disabled from parking right in that spot, even if there are spaces in the other areas.
On the flipside, private cars offload and park freely on clearly designated ‘Taxis Only’ spaces. I earlier alluded to impatience and intolerance on our roads, which manifests in cars cutting off in front of other vehicles in such a reckless manner that it often draws out loud honking and outbursts of profanity.
These have in a few occasions regrettably resulted in physical assaults and loss of lives as the recipients fail to withstand or ignore insults hurled at them. Speaking of intolerance and loss of lives, every road in this country has huge and deep potholes which force motorists to maneuver and at times skip their lanes and drive in the wrong lane in a quest to avoid them.
This led to an unfortunate case where a driver fatally shot a fellow motorist in a case of road rage. One of them was avoiding a pothole and the sides of their cars scratched.
Now, enter the taxi and cab (popularly known as 4+1s) drivers! These people are definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. A friend of mine has joked that you would swear that they come from the same pool or they are born of one mother.

If there existed a barometer capable of measuring the levels of impatience by motorists at any time of day, these people’s readings would surely be found to be over an acceptable limit.Taxi drivers never find it necessary nor prudent to stick to the queue no matter how relatively short the queue might be. When it comes to cutting off other motorists, they are experts.
A normal human being, upon making a flawed decision to cut you off, would at least spare you the courtesy to signal his intentions, either by the use of the vehicle’s indicators or by the use of a hand, not the taxi drivers.

Does this suggest every other motorist is afraid of them? Absolutely not, but it is impossible to compete with them on the road because should you decide to go toe to toe with him, and your car gets scratched, you are going to have to wait for two and half hours for the police to arrive and do their job.
When they finally do arrive, such a driver is given an opportunity to fix your vehicle of which you are denied a chance to decide where your car will get fixed. The next day you try to make a follow up with him, his mobile number is no longer available. You begin searching for the original owner of the taxi.

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When you finally get hold of him, that driver is no longer under his employ and he himself does not want to take responsibility. During these long queues that I talked about, you drag for hours, and the taxi drivers would use any available space on the left hand side to bypass the queue and ‘join’ it upfront at the junction.
A jolting for spaces upfront begins and we end up with a gridlock that soon descends into a stalemate where nobody moves forward or backwards. Amid all that, two or more vehicles bump on to each other and that brings the flow to a total stand still.

Some of the problems outlined above do not necessarily involve large government expenditures. They just need appropriate government departments to be effective. An example is that of malfunctioning traffic lights, which take months before they are fully functional again.
We already have street lights, but the bulk of them are not working. Maseru is very dark at night and this is simply not in order.

We obviously have a problem with the terrain of this country and this becomes evident during rainy seasons where we get exposed for poor drainage systems and the quality of roads quickly deteriorates because the roads are waterlogged which forms ponds that do not wash off.
Other issues have to do with observance of the law and unless police presence is felt at all times, especially during rush hours at and around junctions and intersections, then there will always be problems. I acknowledge that compared to other African and Asian countries, we certainly still fare better, but if we continue with this trend, we are only going to get worse with time.

By: Mosito Ntema

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Insight

Down in the Dump: Conclusion

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I closed last week by recording the dreadful news that trashy Trump had been elected called to mind WB Yeats’s poem “The Second Coming.” This is the poem whose opening lines gave Chinua Achebe the phrase “things fall apart.”

Yeats observes “Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

It was written in 1919 and controversially uses Christian imagery relating to the Apocalypse and the Second Coming to reflect on the atmosphere in Europe following the slaughter of the First World War and the devastating flu epidemic that followed this.

It also reflects on the Irish War of Independence against British rule.

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In lines that I can now read as if applying to the recent American election, Yeats mourns: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.”

And then I can visualise Trump in the poem’s closing lines: “What rough beast is this, its hour come round at last, / Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born?”

Trump is certainly a rough beast and isn’t the choice of verb, slouching, just perfect? For a non-allegorical account of the threat posed by the Dump, I can’t do better than to quote (as I often do) that fine South African political journalist, Will Shoki. In his words: “Trump’s administration simply won’t care about Palestinians, about the DRC, about the Sudanese.

It will be indifferent to the plight of the downtrodden and the oppressed, who will be portrayed as weak and pathetic. And it will give carte blanche [that is, free rein] to despotism and tyranny everywhere.

Not even social media, that once revered third-space we associated with subversion and revolution in the first quarter of the 21st century can save us because Silicon Valley is in Trump’s back pocket.”

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So what follows the triumph of the Dump? We can’t just sit down and moan and bemoan. In a more recent piece of hers than the one I quoted last week, Rebecca Solnit has observed: “Authoritarians like Trump love fear, defeatism, surrender. Do not give them what they want . . . We must lay up supplies of love, care, trust, community and resolve — so we may resist the storm.”

Katt Lissard tells me that on November 7th following the confirmation of the election result, in the daytime and well into the evening in Manhattan, New York, there was a large demonstration in support of the immigrants Trump despises.

And a recent piece by Natasha Lennard gives us courage in its title “The Answer to Trump’s Victory is Radical Action.”

So, my Basotho readers, how about the peaceful bearing of some placards in front of the US Embassy in Maseru? Because the Dump doesn’t like you guys and gals one little bit.

One last morsel. I had intended to end this piece with the above call to action, but can’t resist quoting the following comment from the New York Times of November 13th on Trump’s plans to appoint his ministers.

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I’m not sure a satirical gibe was intended (the clue is in the repeated use of the word “defence”), but it made me guffaw nonetheless. “Trump will nominate Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host with no government experience, as his defence secretary. Hegseth has often defended Trump on TV.” You see, it’s all about the Dump.

  • Chris Dunton is a former Professor of English and Dean of Humanities at the National University of Lesotho.

 

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A question of personal gain

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Recently, an audio recording featuring the distressed MP for Thaba-Bosiu Constituency, Joseph Malebaleba, circulated on social media. The MP appears to have spent a sleepless night, struggling with the situation in which he and his associates from the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party were denied a school feeding tender valued at M250 million per annum.

In 2022, Lesotho’s political landscape underwent a significant shift with the emergence of the RFP led by some of the country’s wealthiest individuals. Among them was Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, arguably one of the richest people in Lesotho, who took the helm as the party’s leader and ultimately, the Prime Minister of Lesotho.

The RFP’s victory in the general election raised eyebrows, and their subsequent actions have sparked concerns about the motivations behind their involvement in politics.

In an interview with an American broadcasting network just after he won the elections, Matekane made a striking statement, proclaiming that he would run Lesotho exactly as he runs his business.

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At first glance, many thought he was joking, but as time has shown, his words were far from an idle threat. In the business world, the primary goal is to maximize profits, and it appears that the RFP is adopting a similar approach to governance.

Behind the scenes, alarming developments have been unfolding. A communication from an RFP WhatsApp group revealed a disturbing request from the Minister of Communications, Nthati Moorosi, who asked if anyone in the group had a construction business and could inbox her.

This raises questions about the RFP’s focus on using government resources to benefit their own business interests.

The government has been embroiled in a series of scandals that have raised serious concerns about the ethical conduct of its officials. Recent reports have revealed shocking incidents of misuse of public funds and conflicts of interest among key government figures.

Over the past two years, the RFP has been accused of awarding government contracts to companies affiliated with their members, further solidifying concerns about their self-serving agenda. For instance, vehicles purchased for the police were allegedly sourced from suppliers connected to a Minister’s son and MP.

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The MP for Peka, Mohopoli Monokoane, was found to have hijacked fertiliser intended to support impoverished farmers, diverting crucial resources away from those in need for personal gain.

Such actions not only betray the trust of the public but also have a direct impact on the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Monokoane appeared before the courts of law this week.

While farmers voice their concerns regarding fertiliser shortages, it seems that Bishop Teboho Ramela of St. Paul African Apostolic Church, who is also a businessman, is allegedly involved in a corrupt deal concerning a M10 million fertilizer allocation, benefiting from connections with wealthy individuals in government.

The procurement of fertiliser appears to be mired in controversy; recall that the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Thabo Mofosi, was also implicated in the M43 million tender.

The renovation of government buildings with elaborate lighting systems was contracted to a company owned by the son of an MP. The RFP’s enthusiasm for infrastructure development, specifically road construction and maintenance, is also tainted by self-interest, as they have companies capable of performing these tasks and supplying the necessary materials, such as asphalt.

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Minister Moteane finds himself in a compromising situation regarding a lucrative M100 million airport tender that was awarded to his former company. Ministers have even gone so far as to award themselves ownership of diamond mines.

Meanwhile, the nation struggles with national identification and passport shortages, which according to my analysis the RFP seems hesitant to address until they can find a way to partner with an international company that will benefit their own interests.

The people of Lesotho are left wondering if their leaders are truly committed to serving the nation or simply lining their own pockets. As the RFP’s grip on power tightens, the consequences for Lesotho’s democracy and economy hang precariously in the balance.

It is imperative that citizens remain vigilant and demand transparency and accountability from their leaders, lest the nation slide further into an era of self-serving governance.

In conclusion, the RFP’s dominance has raised serious concerns about the motives behind their involvement in politics. The apparent prioritisation of personal profit over public welfare has sparked widespread disillusionment and mistrust among the population.

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As Lesotho navigates this critical juncture, it is essential that its leaders are held accountable for their actions and that the nation’s best interests are placed above those of individuals.

Only through collective effort and a strong commitment to transparency and accountability can Lesotho ensure a brighter future for all its citizens.

Ramahooana Matlosa

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Insight

Down in the Dump: Part One

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Attentive readers will recall that some weeks ago, I scribbled a series of pieces on elections due to be held in the UK, France, South Africa, and the USA. These elections were unusually critical for the well-being of their countries and even that of the world.

The results of the last of these elections are now with us and we are faced with the devastating news that Donald Trump is heading back to the White House.

I can hardly think of worse news to swallow or to equip the world to survive the years ahead.

The Dump, as I call him, is one of the most odious, dangerous, untrustworthy individuals currently inhabiting planet Earth. To cite a few of his demerits: he is a convicted felon; he believes climate change is a hoax; he is a sexist and a racist (one of his former military advisers has gone so far as to describe him as a fascist).

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He is a snuggle buddy of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and will probably discontinue aid to Ukraine as it resists invasion by Russia. Western European allies such as France, Germany and the UK are dismayed at his victory, as he holds the principles of democracy and constitutionalism in contempt.

As for Africa, well, he once described it as a “shit country,” so don’t look forward to much support from him.

Readers who spent time at the NUL will remember my dear colleague Katt Lissard who is now back home in New York. She spent some years with us as a Professor specialising in Theatre studies and was the Artistic Director of our international Winter / Summer Institute for Theatre for Development.

Many activists in the USA like Katt, who don’t see themselves as part of the political mainstream, chose to campaign for the Democrats and Kamala Harris in the hope of keeping Trump and the far right out of power. Confronted with the news of Trump’s victory, she sent an email to friends noting this was “just a brief check-in from the incomprehensible USA.”

She then explained: “We’re in shock and the early days of processing, but white supremacy, misogyny and anti-immigrant bias are alive and well and driving the boat here.” So, how do Katt and millions of decent, like-minded Americans plan to weather the storm?

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Katt explained: “We were deeply depressed and deeply furious as it became clear that one of the worst human beings on the planet was going back to the White House, but we are still breathing and know that we will in the days ahead begin to formulate plans and strategies—and not just for heading north across the Canadian border.”

Picking up on that last point, it may well be that many decent Americans might just up and off across the border; Canada had better prepare for an avalanche of applications for residence permits.

And not just from Americans; in, for example, the American university system alone there are many many Africans employed in high positions (Professors and such-like), who must now face the fact they are living in a country whose leader despises them and who may opt to get out.

In her email written to her friends, once the news from hell had been confirmed, Katt quoted a piece by Rebecca Solnit, one of the most exciting writers at work in the USA today (readers may remember that I have previously reviewed two of her books for this newspaper, Whose Story is This? and Recollections of My Non-Existence).

Now Solnit is a feminist and at the heart of her work is a dissection of the way women have been marginalised in the USA (let’s remember that Kamala Harris, the Presidential candidate who lost to Trump, did so partly because so many American males could not bring themselves to vote for a woman.

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I am thinking of the kind of male who invaded the White House when it was announced Trump had lost the 2020 election, bare-chested and wearing cow-horn helmets on their numbskull heads).

Solnit has this to say on our response to the Trump victory: “They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them.

You are not giving up and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving.

You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in.

Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is.” And then: “A lot of us are going to resist by building solidarity and sanctuary.”

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What is so morale-boosting about Solnit’s piece is not just her vision but also her command of language.
Her writing is so crisp and elegant. Language comes at us at its best, of course, in literature, and when I heard that the Dump was on the move back to the White House, I immediately recalled one of the most startling poems in the English language, “The Second Coming” by the Irish poet WB Yeats.

I’ll kick off with that next week.

To be concluded

Chris Dunton

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