Eye Bethuel Thai and its reporter ‘Mathapeli Ramonotsi, who authored Manyeli’s discontent testified. A defamation case was brought against three accused members aligned to the ABC ‘Maketso Motjope, Qamako Nt’sene and ‘Methe Pekeche. The first two had turned away from the LCD to join the ABC while Pekeche is a former personnel aide of ABC leader Thabane. The three were charged with defamation following a publication of pamphlets claiming Prime Minister Mosisili and other cabinet ministers had extra marital relationships with other ministers and principal secretaries. During the period, a large number of defamation suits were filed against the private print media with Public Eye, a weekly English newspaper topping the list. The newspaper was also taken to court by the former National University of Lesotho Pro-Vice Chancellor Mahao. The newspaper had reported that Mahao had thrown the university into a steamy sex scandal. Mahao has demanded M800 000 in damages for defamation. The editor of Public Eye Bethuel Thai has testified in the suit. The hearing was postponed to March and April 2008. In another development, The Mirror newspaper faced litigation when Prime Minister Mosisili lodged a complaint against the newspaper’s reports that he was involved in theft of books from the National University of Lesotho. A judgment is yet to be handed down. Print and Broadcasting The year saw an emergence of several new weekly and fortnightly publications in the country ushering hope that the media would enjoy much freedom and freedom of expression as contained in the constitution. The print media kraal was joined by Weekly Mail, an English publication published fortnightly by Leseli Mokhele, a poet, The Lesotho Monitor published by former Agriculture Minister Dr Rakoro Phororo, The Voice which is published by the LCD bent youth group, The Informative that is published by BAM Consultancy and the weekly Family Mirror. Lesotho does not have any daily publication due to lack of human and financial resources. A bulk of these publications is manned with journalistically unskilled personnel posing a threat to their sustainable existence. The Government still dominates the airwaves as its state-run Radio Lesotho covers a larger spectrum of the country. The state also runs a commercial radio station Ultimate Radio Fm in addition to television under the ministry of communication, science and technology. Other radio stations are Catholic Radio, People’s Choice FM, Joy FM, Mo-Afrika FM, ThahaKhube FM, Jesu-ke-Karabo and Harvest FM. The stations broadcast in limited areas. Media policy The Government has consistently maintained that it would approve a media policy to lay a foundation for media operations and enhance democracy. Such a policy would enable an establishment of regulations providing as guidelines for state conduct, a move the Government would not entertain. The Access and Receipt of Information Bill is still in its draft form as well as the Broadcasting Bill. The government has since said it was studying the documents and it is unlikely the documents will ever gain life. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -36- Media Institute of Southern Africa