• ALERT Date: March 3, 2007 Persons: Rev. Adam Lekhoaba Violation: Expelled On March 3 2007, Harvest FM morning programme (Rise and Shine) host Rev. Adam Lekhoaba was told by security agents to cut short his wedding and “go back to his home”. This was after he returned (from South Africa) to Lesotho to marry his fiancée Ntoetsi Moshoeshoe. Rev. Lekhoaba had left Lesotho after being tipped off that some security agents were looking for him just after the Lesotho National Assembly election. Rev. Lekhoaba was handed a letter by a National Security Service officer from the immigration department ordering him to cut short his wedding ceremony and go back to his “home” because he was in Lesotho illegally. This letter followed a circular to all borders that instructed immigration officers not to allow him to enter Lesotho. Rev. Lekhoaba who is originally from Lesotho but holds a South African passport after leaving Lesotho as an infant, said he was given thirty days by the immigration officers when he crossed into Lesotho for his wedding, justifying his legal stay in Lesotho. Rev. Lekhoaba has been at odds with the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy officials who accuse him of biased reporting and supporting the newly formed All Basotho Convention. • ALERT Date: February 13, 2007 Persons: Thabo Thakalekoala, Adam Lekhoada, Molika, Malehloka Lalitapole Violation: Threatened On February 13 2007, MISA confirmed that several journalists in Lesotho are being inundated with anonymous threatening calls, and accusations that they are at the forefront of a campaign to cause confusion in the country and within the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD). The targeted journalists, Thabo Thakalekoala and Adam Lekhoada of Harvest FM radio station, Molika of People’s Choice (PC) FM radio station, and Malehloka Lalitapole of PC FM radio station, are also accused of promoting negative perceptions about some members of the government of Lesotho. On February 13, 2007, Thakalekoala described to MISA an incident that took place in the early hours of February 10, that prompted him to fear for his life and the safety of his family. According to Thakalekoala, he awoke to loud banging on his front door at approximately 1:00 a.m. (local time). His harassers called to him to open the door to receive a gift: a tombstone intended to “minimise the cost of his funeral” as he would die before the scheduled elections on February 17, they told him. When he refused to venture outside, his harassers responded by warning him that his “days were numbered” and that his wife and children would soon be mourning his passing. Thakalekoala has since registered an official statement with the police. Members of the Lesotho Police have questioned eyewitnesses. Journalist Adam Lekhoada was summoned by local police to produce certified travelling documents. According to them, his citizenship was in question and therefore his right to freely practice journalism in Lesotho. Lekhoada complied with the request on February 13. MISA has arranged for armed security personnel to guard the homes of the affected journalists. • ALERT Date: January 29, 2007 Persons: Malehloka Ralitapole Violation: Threatened People’s Choice FM morning programme (Thahameso) anchor, Malehloka Ralitapole, has been threatened and told not to cover the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) rallies So This Is Democracy? 2007 -41- Media Institute of Southern Africa