News

Herbs that heal

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2023

MASERU – AFTER a long journey of suffering, ’Makena Setho-Letsie found a reason to help other people walking the same journey as hers.

That turned out to be a successful health and beauty spa.

Setho-Letsie, who is an endometriosis survivor, says her journey with the disease has been long, painful and unbearable, and left her with two major surgeries.

She says for two years, doctors could not properly diagnose her.

“Rather they misdiagnosed me with fibroids, hernia and ovarian cysts and the research I did about those conditions didn’t match my symptoms,” Setho-Letsie says.

She says it was difficult for her at work because the pain from her monthly periods would last up to three weeks.

“While I was undergoing my last operation, I made an oath to the Lord. If only He could spare my life, I would help his nation,” Setho-Letsie says.

After her recovery, Setho-Letsie established Healing Hands Health and Spar Wellness Centre as a hub which sells health herbs imported from China.

“We have recently introduced Koei herbs (Bara),” Setho-Letsie says.

The centre provides full body scan services, detoxing, stem cell therapy, which develops the cells from scratch, as well as tooth whitening.

The 36-year-old Setho-Letsie reckons she was inspired to establish the business by her suffering from endometriosis.

“I lived with endometriosis and I lost count of the number of operations I went through.”

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) 2021 article, endometriosis is a disease characterised by the presence of tissue resembling endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus outside the uterus.

It causes a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in the formation of scar tissue such as adhesions and fibrosis within the pelvis and other parts of the body.

Setho-Letsie says in 2017, she discovered that she had endometriosis after three years of struggling with symptoms.

“I was dealing with something which was hard to crack,’’ she says, adding that the disease was discovered when it was already in stage four.

According to an article by Sharon Liason published in the WebMD website, stage four is described as severe and the most widespread.

Despite several medical operations, she says the tissue continued growing.

“During my struggle I met a Chinese friend who is an Endocrinologist and she recommended some certain herbs. She then imported the herbs for me. After using them in 2019, I never had another operation. March, 2019 I had my last operation,’’ Setho-Letsie says.

She says people around her would refer others who had the same problems as her.

“I would take my herbs from my cupboard to help them for free,” she says.

Setho-Letsie says there were more referrals, which pushed her to start a business and her Chinese friend recommended several machines for use.

She says she then bought machinery for body scans and also a detoxing machine that detoxes harmful acids in the body.

“I even underwent training to operate the machines. I then used the machines on myself and also helped others. I was motivated by the feedback,” she says.

Setho-Letsie says the diseases triggered massive weight gain and her friend recommended buying a fat cavitation and non-surgical liposuction machine mainly used to break down fat without undergoing medical procedures.

“I was using the machine to break down the lumps which developed due to multiple operations I had,” she says.

In 2020, the demand for herbs increased. She would then call her friend to send more.

“During this time, I was not making any profit, I was helping people for free,” she says.

After she realised that the herbs seemed to work, Setho-Letsie conducted more research on the herbs through the support of her Endocrinologist friend.

During the lockdown in 2020, Setho-Letsie set aside a room to set up the machine from where she would help people.

She says she then put her first order of the herbs in March.

“I imposed the charges so that I could pay for costs, including shipping fee and tax. The motive was to help people and not to profit from the business.”

Among the people Setho-Letsie assisted in her trial were those struggling to conceive.

“One of them did not mention that she had this challenge, three months down the line, she conceived,” Setho-Letsie says.

She says she was then advised to buy a cupping therapy machine, which deals with problems related to blood circulation.

“The same machine is also a beauty machine for people who want to remove fat from specific parts of the body. Before buying any machine I would take short-term courses,” she says.

During 2020 and 2021, she realised that all her weekends were dedicated to helping people.

“I was at a point where I did not have my own spare time, even to go to church,” she says.

In 2021, Setho-Letsie hired a qualified massage therapist.

“I realised that as much as I had experience, I wanted to engage a qualified professional,” she says.

After engaging a qualified person, she had to professionally establish it as a business.

“I had to transform it into a business. That’s how the Healing Hands Health and Spar Wellness Centre was born.”

In 2022, she took a short term dentistry course on teeth whitening but since she is not a qualified dentist, Setho-Letsie hired a qualified dentist.

As time went by, she then realised that she needed another person qualified in podiatry to carry out detoxing operations.

“I currently have a staff complement of four qualified experts,” Setho-Letsie says, who had to rent space due to an increased number of clients and staff.

She says the business has now grown.

“I started with two packets of health tea all the way from China. Then people started coming in.”

Despite the financial and material growth, “I consider the large number of people I have assisted as the greatest achievement,” she says.

“We now have over 200 files of clients who come at least once a month. The chance I got to network with experts has instilled personal growth,” she says.

Despite the positive feedback and measurable achievements, Setho-Letsie also has to contend with many challenges.

“These kinds of businesses are regarded as mushrooms,” she says.

She says since she is selling imported products “these kinds of businesses are regarded as profit making ventures instead of businesses that are positively helping people.”

She says she complies with import licence requirements, although some in the industry import medicines without complying with regulations.

“This in turn affects our pricing since the non-compliant ones can set very low prices because they don’t carry the expenses that professional businesses incur,” Setho-Letsie says.

“There is also a challenge from the side of qualified doctors who seem to be supporting foreign health businesses over Basotho businesses.

“We were expecting to see support and guidance from qualified local doctors for Basotho businesses so that we can do the right thing,” she says.

As for the Ministry of Health, “instead of forming regulations and policies over the untested production of herbs which have been of great concern, they discourage some which are tested and this promotes a black market”.

“We don’t want the government to give us money, we just need the government to create a conducive environment for businesses (to thrive),” she says.

She adds: “The government should create a platform for this sector to establish herbal clinics that will work together with qualified pharmacists and doctors.

“There are many Basotho who have skills in mixing the herbs that heal. However, those people need support from the government and guidance from experts so that these can be tested and distributed in the international markets.”

Refiloe Mpobole

News

Knives out for Molelle

Published

7 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

7 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

7 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