Phafane Nkotsi, director and owner of the “Lesotho Tribune” and “Lesotho Times” newspapers, is receiving death threats and intimidation for having uncovered Pandora’s box of corruption in the structure that manages the country’s pension fund.
On 17 April, inside the editorial office of the “Lesotho Tribune”, three sheets of paper were found, torn from a notepad, with this writing: “Stay away from the Pension Fund if you want to stay in peace in your home, where your beautiful [segue un nome] He’s doing some great work for you.”
On 27 January and 4 February the “Lesotho Tribune” published the first two articles of an investigation, announced in eight parts, into how two investment funds had interfered, since 2011, in the Pension Fund, compromising its operations. One of the two funds had turned to a judge requesting that the publication of subsequent articles be prevented but the request was rejected.
Evidently, to gag Phafane Nkotsi, another path has now been chosen.
Amnesty International called on the Lesotho authorities to ensure the protection and safety of the journalist and his family and to investigate the perpetrators of the threats.
