Lesotho which is permissible by law - to allow the organisation an opportunity to refute the statements made on the programme. Although LCA ordered Ts’enolo FM to release a recording of the programme, the order was only processed after 3 months - the period within which complaints could be handled. As a result TRC was unable to continue with the complaint. Harvest FM is still awaiting a final decision by the LCA Board regarding BDRP’s ruling that the radio station should pay a fine of M10 000.00 (1 loti=1 rand). The ruling was made during a hearing of a complaint by Lieutenant Kernel Tefo Hashatsi when he sought a BDRP resolution regarding a programme run by Puseletso Mphana, Harvest FM’s ‘Raise and Shine’ host, during which it was alleged that the cost of Hashatsi’s case were covered by the Government of Lesotho at the tune of M100 00.00. Pressure from social media In Lesotho, Facebook is seen as a vibrant media platform for up-to-date information that is accessible and appealing to a diverse audience especially youth and the working class, so it is no surprise that it is used by citizens as a news platform and by numerous policymakers to reach out to constituents. Facebook is seen as a vibrant media platform that is accessible and appealing. 44 So This is Democracy? 2016 Through their Facebook pages, Lira Moeti and Mohato Seleke are considered important information sources as they are extremely active in providing news on political develop-ments, corruption and general state operations. They have formed a closed Facebook group called Countdown to Elections 2015, 16 and 17. Both social media advocates were allegedly arrested for their alleged activism on Facebook. Lesotho Mounted Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Masebina Ramone was suspended for allegedly being active on social media as Paul Sithole – once again a closed Facebook group that has been operating since March 2016. Paul Sithole of Facebook fame has been critical of the government especially the Lesotho police. Despite the suspension of Ramone, the Paul Sithole Facebook account is still up and running. The vibrancy and reach of social media has been picked up by politicians and over 80 percent of them have widened their reach and influence through their personal Facebook accounts. A recent study titled: Facebook and Political Participation in Lesotho indicated that there are 41 Facebook accounts and pages set up by political party leaders and political parties in Lesotho. Amongst these are the Minister of Trade and Industry Joshua Setipa, the Minister of Natural Resources Lebohang Thotanyana, Minister of Social Development Molahlehi Letlotlo and opposition political party politicians Sekhulumi Ntsoaole all of whom communicate their views and achievements through their Facebook pages. The Lesotho government responded by expressing its concern over the use of social media and threatened to close Facebook. The Minister of Home Affairs Lekhetho Rakuane is on record for the calling of a social media ‘ceasefire’. In August 2016, Rakuaoane was reported by Lesotho Times of urging the people to stop posting negative comments about the country on social media. Rakuane’s call came after the Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing announced the government was working on bringing people to book for using social media to post harmful threats. He stated that: “they were going to see to it that these people who are forever posting these lies are nabbed.” Going Forward The media has to continue exposing corruption, poor service delivery and incompetence in government, public institutions civil society and private sector. It also has to continue being platform for information exchange between the leaders and the public on national issues. Along with media freedom monitoring and policy advocacy initiatives there must be intensive capacity building for the media. Despite ever shrinking donor funding on media projects, Lesotho media needs special consideration, for the sector to fully and positively contribute to greater democratic attainment and sustenance for the country to play a needed role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the world at large. Of urgency for implementation is the Media Legal Reforms as recommended by SADC recent report on the Commission of Enquiry led by Judge Mphaphi Phomaphe which seems to be last on the list of priorities by government regarding the implementations of the Commission’s recommendations. So This is Democracy? 2016 45