Climate change and environmental issues remain underreported in Lesotho, largely because “it does not sell”. They believe that community-based offices ought to provide information and responses without necessitating contact with central offices. Political issues are still generally regarded as newsworthy and more sellable than over any other content. . Access to information In 2022, the Afrobarometer survey on public opinion revealed that a mere 36% of Lesotho’s citizens were aware of climate change. Proposed legislation such as the Access and Receipt of Information Bill of 2000 has stalled for over two decades due to a lack of political will, therefore legislated access to information remains an illusion, especially for private media. This ignorance regarding climate change and environmental concerns may stem from inadequate coverage by the media. For public media, there is better access to information as they are government owned. Despite this the information is often censored and filtered to suit the government agenda. Journalists report difficulties in proposing climate change stories within their newsrooms, owing to widespread lack of understanding of the subject. Public broadcasters refrain from reporting content that could cast the government in an unfavourable light, nor do they foster governmental accountability. Nonetheless, initiatives to educate journalists about climate change and environmental issues are underway. Liapeng Raliengoane, one of a few reporters specialising in climate change and environmental protection in Lesotho, observed that such reporting does not receive the necessary emphasis in the country. The responsibility to uncover corruption, hold those in power accountable, and promote transparency falls predominantly on private media. Despite their efforts, these entities encounter considerable bureaucratic obstacles and face threats and intimidation when posing challenging questions or delving into sensitive issues. It is alarming that only a handful of reporters possess a comprehensive understanding of, and regularly cover, this critical issue. “Media coverage primarily revolves around politics, overshadowing reporting on climate change and environmental issues. On 15 November 2023, Mokoena Ramakatsa, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Law kicked out journalists from a scheduled open committee meeting on the basis that he was not “comfortable” with their presence in the meeting. The limited attention given to these crucial matters underscores the necessity for heightened awareness among editors and journalists.” The National Assembly’s public relations officer Neo Mokatsa tried to intervene, but the chairperson maintained his stance. The matter was reported to the committees clerk. While the government prioritises food security, reporters should actively inquire about the reliability of weather forecasting. The discrepancy between last year’s meteorological predictions, indicating March rains, and the ongoing rainfall demands inquisitive and critical questions from the media. Journalists in Lesotho await the passage of the media law — one of the pieces of legislation that the sector hopes, will enable the enjoyment of freedom of expression in Lesotho, in alignment with tenets of a democratic state. There remains a need to emphasise the importance of climate and environmental reporting in Lesotho as essential to foster a more balanced and informed media landscape. How the media communicates climate change and environmental issues A need for more reporters to be capacitated has been raised and for media houses to have weekly columns and radio programmess dedicated to climate change and environmental protection. 43 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023