A message sent through social media names publisher Phafane Nkotsi and reporter Malefo Thinyane and warns that the newspaper’s reporting on Lesotho’s petroleum sector has gone too far.
The publisher of Lesotho Tribune, Mr. Phafane Nkotsi, and reporter Mr. Malefo Thinyane have received threatening messages in connection with the newspaper’s ongoing investigation into Lesotho’s petroleum sector, an investigation that has been underway for more than two years.
The latest message, sent through social media, directly references the petroleum investigation and names both Nkotsi and Thinyane. The sender accuses the publisher of using Thinyane to pursue the investigation and warns that the newspaper’s reporting on petroleum has gone too far.
The message received on 26 September 2026, naming the publisher and reporter Malefo Thinyane and referring to the petroleum investigation.
The message also references Mergence, an entity that has featured in Lesotho Tribune’s previous reporting on the petroleum matter, before ending with a threatening statement directed at the journalists.
Lesotho Tribune regards the message as a serious attempt to intimidate journalists over legitimate investigative reporting.
The publication says the investigation will continue despite the threats, in keeping with its responsibility to report on matters of public interest and hold institutions and individuals involved in the management of public resources to account.
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Source: Lesotho Tribune (Lesotho)
