• COMMUNIQUÉ Date: October 14, 2008 Institutions: Media Violation/issue: Legislation On October 11, the Lesotho Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mothejoa Metsing, addressed a MISA Lesotho strategic planning meeting and stated that he was ready to pass the media policy. Metsing said he had his “sleeves rolled up for the passing of the media policy”, adding that his ministry is still waiting for consultants to bring back the draft document that would be merged with the one that was developed by MISA Lesotho. MISA Lesotho has been pushing for the adoption of a national media policy, which would be used as a framework to develop the media, especially guaranteeing media freedom and developing the broadcast and telecommunication sector. • ALERT Date: December 2, 2008 Institutions: MISA Lesotho and UNESCO Violation/issue: Other On November 28, Lesotho’s local newspaper MoAfrika attacked and remonstrated against MISA Lesotho and UNESCO’s initiative to set up a radio station in Mafeteng, a district 93km from the capital, Maseru. In its issue volume 17 No.48 of November 28, 2008, MoAfrika noted in the editorial comment that by doing so, MISA Lesotho and UNESCO were helping the opposition in that constituency, which was won by the deputy Prime Minister Lesao Lehohla. The paper remonstrated that MoAfrika FM, a private radio station owned by the same media group as the newspaper, is already doing community broadcasting. Mafeteng has access to only two radio stations in the country: state-owned Radio Lesotho and MoAfrika FM, which has publicly declared its support for the ruling party and present government. The newspaper says the community radio station seeks to “kunyula bo-Morgan Tsvangirai ba Lesotho nako e sa le teng” (loosely translated: “to assist the Morgan Tsvangirais of Lesotho to campaign for the next election”). The MISA Lesotho / UNESCO initiative would be the first community radio station in Lesotho. All other radio stations are based in Maseru and do not address relevant adequately community issues in the country, as all private radio stations broadcast only in a 50km radius, according to MISA Lesotho. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -41- Media Institute of Southern Africa