News and statements
Does Lesotho really have the ‘highest suicide rate in the world’? Only if you rely on ranking data the WHO warns against
Lesotho is often said to top suicide-rate rankings. But the World Health Organization, which is consistently cited as the source of this claim, warns that the estimates are uncertain and not meant for country comparisons.
MISA/RSL Journalism Excellence Awards 2025 Celebrate Top Basotho Journalists
The MISA/RSL Journalism Excellence Awards 2025, themed “African Excellence,” celebrated media integrity by introducing a fully anonymised judging system for its record 53 entries. Rethabile Mohono was crowned Journalist of the Year for his rigorous social justice reporting, proving that excellence in Lesotho’s media remains “stubborn, bright, and undeniably present.”
Call for Judges: MISA/RSL Journalism Excellence Awards 2025
The Media Institute of Southern Africa - Lesotho Chapter (MISA Lesotho), in partnership with the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), is inviting applications and nominations for judges of the MISA/RSL...
Growing a Culture of Fact-Checking in Lesotho
“Fact-checking isn’t just a newsroom responsibility, it’s a civic duty,” says MISA Lesotho as it reflects on its first-ever CheckDesk, a milestone that has already debunked viral falsehoods, exposed scams, and planted the seeds for a lasting fight against misinformation.
MISA Lesotho Joins Regional Voices Advancing Digital Rights and Media Freedom at FIFAfrica 2025
At FIFAfrica 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia, MISA Lesotho added its voice to Africa’s collective push for digital freedom and inclusion.
FACT-CHECK: Lesotho Embassy Job Advert in Nairobi is a Scam
Officials warn the fake Facebook ad for 1,000 jobs at the Lesotho Embassy in Nairobi is a scam linked to fraud and human trafficking.
FACT-CHECK: No, Namibia Has Not Banned Lesbianism
A false Facebook post alleges President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah outlawed lesbianism in Namibia. Officials and media debunk the claim, warning it fuels stigma and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.
FALSE: Carbon dioxide generators in greenhouses does not mean the gas is good for the planet
Extra carbon dioxide in the controlled environment of a greenhouse can boost photosynthesis, but causes global warming and climate change in the atmosphere.
Launching the 2025 MISA/RSL Lesotho Journalism Excellence Awards
Submissions are now open for the MISA/RSL Journalism Excellence Awards 2025! Journalists across Lesotho are invited to submit their best work by 20 October 2025. Winners in each category will receive M5,000 and a trophy, with the Journalist of the Year chosen from the category winners.