News

Cattle disease hits Lesotho

Published

3 years ago

February 15, 2022

QACHA’S NEK – BOVINE ephemeral fever or three-day stiff-sickness (TDS) has hit the mountainous regions of Lesotho, affecting at least 50 cattle.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced the disease outbreak last week and warned farmers to be vigilant and report any symptoms to the nearest veterinary services office.
The TDS is an insect-transmitted disease caused by a virus transmitted to cattle by biting insects such as mosquitoes and midges.

Cattle with this disease have difficulty swallowing and suffer from constipation. They spend most of the time lying down as they suffer sudden onset of fever and their bodies become stiff, making moving around to graze difficult.
TDS subsides in three days hence the name “three-day stiff-sickness”.
Affected pregnant cows usually abort and milk intensely decreases in lactating ones. Experts say the disease suppresses the fertility of bulls.
TDS outbreaks happen when rains are above-average, say experts, noting that an infected animal usually develops life-long immunity.

Farmers in Lesotho’s mountainous regions panicked this week when the disease hit their area.
Tsekiso Mphutlane of Mphaki, in Quthing district, said his herdboy informed him on Tuesday evening that his cow was showing some worrying symptoms as it had not grazed the entire day.
“It left well in the morning and I was really surprised in the evening when I received the report,” Mphutlane said.

He said the cow looked very hungry that evening and they assumed it was suffering from gastro-intestinal disease, often referred to as nyooko by farmers, and he prepared a concoction of herbs for it.
“It didn’t move the next day and we tried another four litres of herbal remedy thinking it was an illness we could treat but we also failed,” he said.

He said he then decided to inject the animal with maxitet 13.5 %, a medicine for the treatment of heartwater, tick-borne gall sickness (anaplasmosis), pneumonia, navel-ill, joint-ill and foot rot in stock, but there was still no difference.
He said the cow took two days lying in the same place and it was only on a Sunday morning when it stood up and moved.

“I had already lost hope. I felt helpless and resigned to seeing it die under my watch. There was nothing I could do about it,” he said.
He said he met with a veterinary doctor during the ordeal but she did not provide him with any solutions, hence the decision to take matters into his own hands.
“I couldn’t just let it suffer. I had to do something.”
Another farmer, Mosola Molise, said he noticed that his cow was not well when it limped and struggled to stand.

“I really didn’t know what that meant until I read on social media that there was an outbreak of the disease but I did not believe it at the time,” Molise said.
He said it was his first time dealing with the disease “and those two days without it grazing or drinking were stressful”.
He said his father advised him to use traditional herbal concoctions.
“Hopefully they will help,” Molise said, adding that he was worried as the illness meant that he could not use his oxen in the fields.

“Worse, we are trying to cure a disease we do not know about. I am really worried and I don’t know what to do as our vet hasn’t said anything,” he said.
He said his neighbours are also stressed.
The Mphaki councillor of Ha-Peete, Karabo Lesala, said although villagers were panicking, the area’s Agricultural Extension Officer said the disease won’t last for long.
“It’s not something new hence animals will recover quickly,” Lesala said.
The village chief for Maqokho, Chief Tanyele Tanyele, said the outbreak hit early February, with at least 50 cattle affected in his village alone.

“At first we thought it was a gastro-intestinal problem but reports revealed otherwise,” Chief Tanyele said.
He said farmers were stranded as they did not know how to treat the disease and their efforts failed.
“We tried olives, potassium permanganate and Maytenus hetrophylla (sefea-maeba) and others with no luck. We are now waiting for God’s will (to be done),” he said.
He said he had since reported the matter to the Agriculture Extension Officer who promised to consult the vet on their behalf.
In Qacha’s Nek district, farmers were complaining that they were not getting any help from their district vet.

A farmer from Thaba-Ntšo Ha-Lepekola, Pelaelo Linono, said he was unable to figure out how he would survive without his cattle because they are his only source of income.
“What I saw that morning was shocking. My cattle were standing still; not moving, not grazing, not even drinking water,” Linono said.
He said the cattle started “coughing like people and saliva was coming out of their mouths yet at the same time they seemed tired”.

“I did not know what to do and I thought the coronavirus had infected our livestock. I lost hope because I was thinking if they are well this coming winter I will sell two of my cattle and have money for my family as usual,” Linono said.
He said when he was still thinking about that, the vet came and vaccinated the affected cattle in the village.
“We consider ourselves so fortunate that he came but unfortunately he did not vaccinate them all, so now the cattle that were not vaccinated are getting sick,” he said.
Another farmer, ’Maseabata Sefali of Tebellong, said she faced similar problems with her cattle.

“These are just what my husband left me when he died 10 years ago,” Sefali said.
“Although some of my cattle were stolen some time ago, I have more than 10 because two remained and they kept multiplying,” she said.
Sefali said she was afraid “this unknown sickness” would kill all her cattle.
“I depend on them. They are my only hope and they are helpful to me because I am able to feed the orphans I take care of,” she said, expressing gratitude that the vet had vaccinated the animals.

The Director-General of Veterinary Services, Dr Marosi Molomo, confirmed the outbreak of TDS, which the farmers of Quthing, Thaba-Tseka, Qacha’s Nek, Mokhotlong, and Semonkong in Maseru district have named litšika (muscles).
She said some cattle remain miserable until they are given supportive treatment or antibiotics.
“The outbreak is a result of the heavy rainfall,” Dr Molomo said.
She said the disease is common and the only difference is “the upsurge this year and it surprised us”.

“It’s not dangerous as some animals can still recover without any treatment and it hasn’t given us any problems all these years,” she said.
“Surprisingly this year most districts were affected at the same time in late January to date but we are addressing the matter in collaboration with farmers and agriculture officers at the district level.”
She said they were expecting to deal with quarter evil (serotsoana) this time of the year, especially when they have not vaccinated cattle.
The focus, she said, had been on preventing the outbreak of quarter evil while being unaware that farmers would encounter TDS this year.

She said most cattle that were infected by TDS are recovering.
“We are currently approaching farmers to assist them. Most of the animals are recovering and very few died, possibly because they already had some underlying illnesses before TDS attacked,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) Information Officer Mahlape Koali, last week alerted farmers about the outbreak in Thaba-Tseka, which she said has affected all areas.
“Many cattle died,” Koali said, although exact figures are yet to be compiled.

News

Knives out for Molelle

Published

3 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

KNORX Molelle’s appointment as the Director General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) in February 2023 could have been illegal.

The Law Society of Lesotho has told Prime Minister Sam Matekane that Molelle was appointed without being admitted as a legal practitioner in Lesotho, as required by law.

The society claims the information came from a whistleblower on January 2 and was corroborated by its roll of legal practitioners in Lesotho.

The society says the appointment violates section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act 1999 which states that a person shall not be appointed as the DCEO director general unless they have been admitted as a legal practitioner in terms of the Legal Practitioners Act.

In the letter, Advocate Ithabeleng Phamotse, the society’s secretary, tells Matekane that this requirement “is not a mere procedural formality but a substantive qualification essential to the lawful appointment of the Director General”.

“The absence of such qualification fatally impairs the appointment ab initio, rendering it null and void from the outset,” Advocate Phamotse says in the letter written on Tuesday.

The society argues that if left unaddressed the illegality undermines the credibility, effectiveness and legality of the DCEO’s operations and exposes the kingdom to serious risks, including challenges to the lawfulness of decisions and actions made by Molelle.

“Should it be confirmed that the appointment was made in contravention of the mandatory legal requirements,” Advocate Phamotse said, “we respectfully urge you to take immediate corrective action to rectify this glaring irregularity”.

Advocate Phamotse tells the prime minister that if the appointment is not corrected, the society would be “left with no alternative but to institute legal proceedings to protect the interests of justice and uphold the rule of law in Lesotho”.

“We trust that you will accord this matter your highest priority and act decisively to avert further damage to the integrity of our governance structures.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman, Thapelo Mabote, said they received the letter but Matekane had not yet read it yesterday.

Matekane is on leave and is expected back in the office on January 14.

Questions over the validity of his appointment come as Molelle is being haunted by the damaging audio clips that were leaked last week.

The clips were clandestinely recorded by Basotho National Party leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe.

In some of the clips, Molelle appears to be describing Matekane and his deputy Justice Nthomeng Majara as idiots. He also appears to be calling Law Minister Richard Ramoeletsi a devil.

In other clips, he seems to be discussing cases. thepost has not independently verified the authenticity of the audio clips.

Staff Reporter

News

Massive salary hike for chiefs

Published

3 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

THE government has increased the salaries for traditional leaders by a massive 88.5 percent.

This means that a village chief not appointed by a gazette will now earn M3 001 a month, up from the previous salary of M1 592. That means village chiefs will now earn an extra M1 409 per month.

A village chief, or headman, appointed by a gazette has moved from M1 966 to M3 567 per month.

Above a village chief is one with jurisdiction over a small cluster of villages, a category three chief, who now moves from M3 768 to M5 181 per month.

A category four chief, known as ward chief, has moved from M4 455 per month to M7 993.

The category five chief, who reports directly to a principal chief, will now earn M10 674, up from M9 939 per month.

There is no increment for principal chiefs.

The government says the budget for chiefs’ salaries has moved from M129.4 million to M208.3 million annually.

The hike follows a series of discussions between the Lesotho Workers Association, representing the chiefs, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship.

The revised salaries will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2025.

According to the settlement agreement, a discussion about raising the lowest salary of M6 000 for the lowest-ranking chiefs will be revisited in October 2025.

Chiefs who spoke to thepost have expressed satisfaction with the hike, saying it will significantly improve their lives.

Chief Mopeli Matsoso of Ha-Tikoe in Maseru said his previous salary of M1 500 per month would now be doubled, which would improve his life and help provide smoother services to the community.

He stressed that they used to close the offices while going out looking for jobs to compensate for their little salaries.

“Now the people will get smoother services,” Chief Matsoso said.

“The offices will forever be open,” he said.

Chief Matsoso said the salary hike will also serve as a motivation for other chiefs.

Chief Tumo Majara of Liboping, Mokhethoaneng, also expressed his gratitude.

Chief Majara acknowledge the positive impact the salary review would have, especially as a new officeholder.

“I guess we are all happy, that review will help a lot,” he said.

The Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu, Khoabane Theko, said the salary increase of chief is a welcome move by the government.

“I’m yet to study how the new salary structure looks like. But I welcome it as a good move by the government,”Chief Theko said.

Nkheli Liphoto

News

Maqelepo says suspension deeply flawed

Published

3 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Motlatsi Maqelepo, the embattled Basotho Action Party (BAP) deputy leader and Tello Kibane, who was the party chairman, have rejected their suspension from the party arguing it was legally flawed.

The BAP’s central executive committee on Tuesday suspended Maqelepo for seven years and Kibane for five years. The suspensions became effective on the same day.

The party’s disciplinary committee which met last Wednesday had recommended an expulsion for the two but that decision was rejected with the committee pushing for a lengthy suspension.

Maqelepo’s suspension will end on January 7, 2032 while Kibane’s will run until January 7, 2030.

Their suspension letters from the BAP deputy secretary general Victoria Qheku, say they should not participate in any of the party’s activities.

“In effect, you are relieved of your responsibility as a CEC member and BAP deputy leader,” Maqelepo was told in the letter.

“You were found guilty by default on all charges and the committee recommended your immediate dismissal from the party,” the letter reads.

On Kibane, the verdict states that the committee decided to mitigate the recommended sanction by reducing his suspension to five years.

“In the gravity of the charges, the suspension affects your membership in the BAP parliamentary caucus from which you are removed as a chairman.”

They were suspended in absentia after they refused to attend the disciplinary hearing, which they said was illegal.

In response to the suspension, Maqelepo wrote a letter addressing the BAP members in general, defying the committee’s decision to suspend them.

He has called for a special conference, appealing to party constituencies to push for it, citing the ongoing internal fight that includes the leadership’s decision to withdraw the BAP from the coalition government.

Maqelepo also said the central executive committee is illegally in a campaign to dissolve committees in the constituencies and replace them with stooges.

He reminded the members that there is a court case pending in the High Court seeking an interdiction to charge them in the party’s structures without approval of the special conference that he is calling.

He said the party leadership should have awaited the outcome of the case before proceeding with any disciplinary action.

“The party that is led by a professor of law continues to do dismissals despite the issue being taken to the courts,” Maqelepo said.

The party leader, Professor Nqosa Mahao, is a distinguished professor of law.

Maqelepo said they would write the central executive committee rejecting its decision to suspend them, saying they will continue taking part in party activities.

He said their fate in the party is in the hands of the special conference.

He appealed to all the party constituencies to continue writing letters demanding the special conference.

Both Maqelepo and Kibane received letters on November 28 last year inviting them to show cause why they should not be suspended pending their hearing.

They both responded on the following day refusing to attend.

Maqelepo, Kibane, Hilda Van Rooyen, and ’Mamoipone Senauoane are accused of supporting a move to remove Professor Mahao from his ministerial position last year.

They were part of the BAP members who asked Prime Minister Sam Matekane to fire Professor Mahao, who at the same time was pushing for the reshuffling of Tankiso Phapano, the principal secretary for the Ministry of Energy.

When Matekane ignored Professor Mahao’s demands, the latter withdrew the BAP from the coalition government much to the fierce resistance of the party’s four MPs.

Maqelepo started touting members from constituencies to call for a special conference to reverse Professor Mahao and the central executive committee’s decision.

The central executive committee issued a circular stopping Maqelepo’s rallies but he continued, with the support of the other MPs.

In the BAP caucus of six MPs, it is only Professor Mahao and ’Manyaneso Taole who are supporting the withdrawal from the government.

Nkheli Liphoto