Access to information
In Lesotho, however, there is no legal right to access of information and it is difficult for the media to obtain official information. This makes it difficult for the media to fulfill its role as a watchdog of the government and other institutions.
MISA Lesotho actively advocates for the implementation of the Receipt and Access to Information Bill, which was drafted in 2000 but has still not progressed through parliament. We also support grassroots organisations in their push for information access and are active in public education on the importance of such legislation.
MISA Lesotho also celebrates Universal Access to Information Day (Right to Know Day) every year on 28th September.
Access to information news from our chapters
FALSE: HIV has been isolated and can be detected; viral video claims otherwise
Nicole Tau In September 2026, a video (archived here) circulating on social media falsely claimed that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has never been proven to exist. The footage is a classic case of HIV/AIDS denialism, heavily recycling arguments from the...
FALSE: Image of person of interest in Dobsonville rape case wrongly linked to Ekurhuleni women’s deaths
Nicole Tau On September 15, an image circulated on Facebook as that of a man allegedly wanted in connection with the deaths of eight women in and around Kempton Park. However, the post falsely links the image to the Ekurhuleni investigation. The image was shared...
PRESS STATEMENT: MISA LESOTHO CONDEMNS VANDALISM OF KEL RADIO STATION
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 September 2026 | Maseru, Lesotho The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Lesotho strongly condemns the reported vandalism and destruction of equipment and furniture at KEL Radio Station over the weekend. MISA Lesotho is...
“See the Person First”: Overhauling Disability Reporting in Lesotho
Nicole Tau When a citizen cannot enter a government building to access basic services, the limitation is not in their physical form. The limitation is in the architecture. When a voter cannot cast a ballot because a polling station lacks a ramp, the deficit belongs to...
ALTERED: Digitally manipulated video falsely shows South African woman physically assaulting a foreign shop owner
Nicole Tau A video (archived here) shared on Facebook claims to show a South African woman physically assaulting the owner of a foreign-run spaza shop, an informal township grocery store, during an argument over business licenses and regulatory compliance. In the...