PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 September 2026 | Maseru, Lesotho
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Lesotho) expresses severe outrage and unequivocal condemnation regarding the brutal abduction, interrogation, and physical torture of Newsday Media News Editor, human rights defender and a former Chairperson of MISA Lesotho, Mr. Kananelo Boloetse, on Saturday, 5 September 2026.
This act is not merely a conventional crime; it is an act of tactical terror, a calculated assault on press freedom, and a direct attempt to force self-censorship upon the media fraternity in Lesotho. To abduct a journalist from his home, inflict severe physical violence, and discard him in the remote terrain of Thaba-Bosiu under threat of death is a barbaric violation of human dignity. More critically, it signals a dangerous regression into a state of lawlessness that threatens the constitutional democracy of our country.
A Betrayal of Basotho Diplomacy and Democratic Principles
For generations, Basotho have prided themselves on a culture of peaceful discourse, mediation, and respect for the rule of law. The violent tactics deployed against Mr. Boloetse are entirely foreign to the spirit of Basotho diplomacy. They represent an insidious attempt to replace intellectual debate and legal accountability with brute intimidation and state-adjacent thuggery.
If our nation begins to normalize the targeting of media professionals and constitutional activists, we are walking a perilous path. These methods are designed to send a chilling warning shot across the entire journalism industry: speak the truth, and face retaliation. MISA Lesotho refuses to accept this premise. An attack intended to silence one editor is an attack on the entire nation’s fundamental right to know.
Courage Under Fire: The Integrity of Kananelo Boloetse
What makes this atrocity particularly egregious is the character of the victim. Throughout his distinguished career as both an editor and a civic leader with SECTION 2, Mr. Kananelo Boloetse has consistently conducted himself with the utmost diplomacy, professional calm, and ethical rigor. His work has always operated strictly within the parameters of the law, guided by a steadfast commitment to the Constitution of Lesotho and the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
To those who believe that physical violence and death threats can dismantle such resolve: you have fundamentally miscalculated. To Ntate Boloetse, MISA Lesotho salutes your extraordinary composure, dignity, and grace under extreme duress. Your composure in the face of violent intimidation stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of those who operate in the shadows. You carry the full, unyielding support of the entire media fraternity.
The Role of the Media and the Obligation of Society
The media in Lesotho is an indispensable pillar of our democracy. Rain or shine, in heat or freezing cold, under grueling economic constraints and operational pressures, journalists step into the field daily to keep the public informed, facilitate national dialogue, and hold power to account. The media has continuously partnered with state and non-state institutions to build an informed citizenry.
When the press is subjected to violence, the entire democratic architecture begins to crumble from within. We therefore call upon all sectors of society, civil society organizations, professional associations, faith-based institutions, and private sector leaders, to recognize that this crisis affects us all. Silence in the face of such violence is complicity.
Direct Demands for Accountability and Protection
MISA Lesotho demands immediate, transparent, and unyielding action from the government and law enforcement agencies:
- Uncompromised Police Investigation: We call upon the Commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to oversee an immediate, independent, and high-level investigation into Mr. Boloetse’s abduction, torture, and attempted murder. This investigation must thoroughly track the silver Toyota Starlet (registration A 887 BBC) reported by witnesses, secure physical evidence, and transparently investigate all reported leads, including allegations regarding the potential involvement of state security personnel.
- Executive Guarantees of Protection: We demand that the Government of Lesotho publicly disavow this act of violence and provide concrete safety guarantees for Mr. Boloetse, his family, and the Newsday Media team.
- Institutional Accountability: Those who executed this attack, alongside any individuals who authorized, financed, or enabled it, must be brought to justice. Impunity only emboldens perpetrators to strike again.
A Call to Journalists, Regional Partners, and International Allies
To our fellow journalists and media houses across Lesotho: do not yield to fear. The objective of this assault is to induce panic and force self-censorship. We must meet this attempt at intimidation with heightened solidarity, impeccable professional ethics, and an uncompromising commitment to investigative reporting. Fear cannot be allowed to dictate our editorial choices.
To our regional networks, including MISA Regional, and our international diplomatic partners: we urge you to join us in naming and shaming this horrific act. We ask our international partners to maintain unified pressure on the Government of Lesotho to ensure that journalists and human rights defenders can operate without fear of surveillance, abduction, or assassination.
When the truth is placed under siege, those who stand for truth must stand together. MISA Lesotho remains resolute. Journalism is not a crime, and we will not allow fear to rule our newsrooms.
ISSUED BY:
Nicole Tau
Office of the Acting National Director
MISA Lesotho Secretariat
