MISA Lesotho notes the 2026/2027 National Budget Speech and its articulation of government priorities in infrastructure, agriculture, youth employment, digital transformation, and public sector reforms. While these areas are critical for national development, the budget’s complete silence on the media sector represents a significant oversight and a missed opportunity to strengthen democratic governance.
The budget speech contains no reference to media reform, the establishment of a Media Council, the creation of a Media Ombudsman or any policy direction concerning press freedom, digital journalism, or sustainability of the media industry. This omission is not neutral; it signals that media development is not viewed as a strategic national priority.
A national budget is a definitive statement of a government’s political and developmental commitments. To exclude the media sector from this framework, is to disregard its fundamental role in achieving the very objectives the budget outlines.
Accountability, transparency, service delivery, economic transformation and public sector reform are unattainable without a free, independent, and professional media ecosystem.
It is the media that informs citizens of their rights and available services, monitors public procurement and fiscal policy, holds power to account by investigating corruption, and provides a platform for the marginalized. These functions are not ancillary; they are central to a functioning democracy and the successful implementation of any development agenda.
Lesotho has historically been regarded as one of the more open media environments in the region. However, we must interrogate whether this freedom is institutionalised or merely fragile.
The persistence of criminal defamation and insult laws, periodic legal intimidation of journalists, the protracted delay in implementing long-promised media law reforms, and the absence of a fully operational, legally recognized, independent Media Council, all point to a sector under constant threat and without structural support.
Investment in communications infrastructure, while welcome, is not a substitute for media reform. Digital transformation and modernization of government systems do not automatically translate into support for digital journalism, address the scourge of online misinformation, protect journalists in digital spaces, build AI literacy in newsrooms, or create regulatory clarity for digital broadcasting. These require explicit policy and budgetary commitments.
The omission of media from the national budget is, therefore, a governance concern with tangible consequences:
It undermines institutional credibility: A robust media ecosystem enhances public trust by ensuring transparent and accountable governance.- It impedes development: Development programmes succeed when citizens are informed and engaged, a role uniquely filled by professional journalism.
- It damages international standing: Press freedom is a key governance indicator for international partners and investors. Lesotho’s media freedom rankings are a direct reflection on its broader reform agenda and investment climate.
A country that builds roads but neglects the information infrastructure that builds trust and ensures accountability is constructing a fragile future.
MISA Lesotho calls upon the government, parliament, and relevant regulatory bodies to recognize that media development is not an adversarial concept but a pro-democracy imperative. The absence of the media in national planning and budgeting frameworks is not a minor omission; it is a warning sign.
We reiterate our readiness to engage constructively with all stakeholders – government, parliament, regulators, and development partners – to ensure that media reform, the safety of journalists and the long-term sustainability of the media sector are integrated into Lesotho’s national development conversation.
Democracy without a free and functional media is merely theatre. Lesotho, and her people, deserve far more.
Issued by:
Nicole Tau
Acting National Director
MISA Lesotho
