Lesotho The only government-run weekly newspaper, Lesotho Today, was closed in February, 2017 by order of the then Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Serialong Qoo. The minister, who was appointed in the dying moments of the 7 political party coalition led by Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili seemed to see it as his main duty to silence any media house which appeared to be unsupportive of the second coalition government. The then ministry’s Principal Secretary Ts’eliso Khomari was on record saying that Lesotho Today was not reporting government stories in a fair manner. His statement was taken as a criticism that the newspaper was providing partisan coverage in favour of the opposition political parties at that time, especially the All Basotho Convention (ABC), led by Dr. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, who got the prime ministership post following the 3 June 2017 national assembly elections. Lesotho Today was still not in circulation by the end of 2017 although the staff continues being paid their salaries. On a negative note for the year in review, police questioned newspaper reporter Billy Ntaote, then of the Lesotho Times newspaper. In January 2017 he had published an article where he interviewed a member of an opposition political party. The police had requested he provide them with a statement regarding the article. However, Ntaote had referred the police to his editor who in turn had asked for a written request. This incident appeared to be an intimidatory step against the reporter, though for unknown reasons the police did not pursue the matter further. BROADCASTING Owing to the vibrancy and influence of radio stations in reporting and agenda-setting that was mainly manifested through phone-in facilities on many talk shows, coupled with political polarisation in the country, elections were a very trying time for the broadcast sector in Lesotho. With clear indication that Lesotho would forgo the third snap elections within a five-year parliamentary period, the then ruling 7 party coalition government, out of panic and desperation in the year under review, forced the closure of two radio stations. The People’s Choice FM and Ts’enolo FM were closed two days ahead of the World Radio Day commemoration on 23 February. In an attempt to compel the government to allow the stations back on air, MISA Lesotho boycotted the commemoration. The decision was taken as a result of what was viewed as an act of betrayal by the government after talks geared towards the reconnection of the radio stations to Lesotho National Broadcasting Service (LNBS). During the talks, government promised to reconnect the radio stations, however, the promise was not fulfilled even after People’s Choice FM won a Lesotho High Court order to this effect. The day was however, commemorated later, on the 28 February, 2017 when the two radio stations were once again back on air. On 11 August 2017 transmission services for MoAfrika FM were terminated - from LNBS transmitters rented by most private radio stations to widen their coverage. The government attributed the closure to non-payment of LNBS transmitter rental fees by the radio station. So This is Democracy? 2017 43