Silent Scribbles

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-In the heart of Maseru's evolving creative scene, one name has become synonymous with daring self-expression, sharp cultural commentary, and fearless style: Lungile Matutoane. Born in the northern Lesotho district of Botha-Bothe, Lungile now stands as a fresh, authentic voice in the capital, combining fashion, podcasting, and digital storytelling into a singular, powerful presence. A Voice That Resonates: The Konnichiwassup Podcast At the center of Lungiles creative work is the Konnichiwassup Podcast, a YouTube-based platform that includes humor, lifestyle, and sharp cultural observations. Whether diving into youth culture, fashion, or identity politics, the show is a reflection of Lungile himself, curious, expressive, and always authentically Basotho. Unlike traditional interview shows, Konnichiwassup doesnt try to imitate international formats. Instead, it confidently celebrates the local context, giving voice to young artists, thinkers, and change-mak...

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-Every June, we are invited to pause, reflect, and open up conversations that too often remain behind closed doors. Mens Mental Health Month is not just another awareness campaign, it is a movement to shine a light on a silent struggle faced by millions of men worldwide. In many cultures, including our own, men are taught from a young age to be strong, hold it in, and never show weakness. These messages become deeply rooted, forming a version of masculinity that often rejects vulnerability and emotional honesty. The result? Countless men carry the weight of anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress in silence. You will not always see it. It is in the man who always says Im fine even when he is not. In the father who never talks about how tired he is. In the teenager who laughs with his friends but lies awake at night, drowning in self-doubt. Globally, men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues, yet they are more likely to die by su...

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-The Prime Minister (PM) Ntsokoane Matekane guaranteed execution of recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates report upon return from presentation to the Parliament. These, he said when accepting the report from the Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, Justice Realeboha Mathaba at the State House on this week. The PM highlighted that he accredited the report and will study it before presenting it to Parliament, saying he will thereafter order the Minister of Law and Justice to implement its recommendations. Presenting the report, Justice Mathaba explained that the PM will be the one who unpacks the report to the public, saying the report was compiled without fear, favour or prejudice. He pointed out that the report involves executive summary with recommendations and is divided into four parts being safety at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI), escape of inmates, search exercise conduc...

 By Tholoana Lesenya  MASERU- In a world where style meets storytelling, a new star is about to rise in the Jewellery industry. Palesa Maqalika, a passionate and visionary entrepreneur, is preparing to open doors of her very first Jewellery boutique, Mbali's Jewellery, this coming weekend, May 24, 2025, promising a dazzling collection that blends elegance, craftsmanship and personal flair. With a lifelong love for design and a keen eye for detail, Palesa has transformed her dream into a business that reflects both heritage and innovation. What started as a small online venture and word-of-mouth commissions is now blossoming into a full-fledged retail presence in Leribe, Hlotse. "I’ve always believed that Jewellery is more than just an accessory—it's an expression of identity and emotion," Palesa says. "Every piece we create tells a story and is designed to make the wearer feel special and confident." Mbali's Jewellery will offer a curated range of handcr...

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-In a modest café tucked into the heart of Maseru, music floats in the air, laughter blends with rustling fabrics, and the pulse of local creativity radiates with quiet confidence. This is not just a gathering, it is a statement. And at the center of it all is Potlako Mohai, a man whose vision has been instrumental in reimagining how Basotho fashion expresses itself to the world. As the co-founder and driving force behind Wear Local Friday, Mohai has helped transform an ordinary idea into a national movement, where fashion is more than fabric. It is a statement of identity, a platform for economic justice, and a creative industry with the potential to clothe a nation in pride. From Friday Fad to Cultural Fixture Wear Local Friday began in 2016 as a simple yet powerful concept, designate one day a week where Basotho people proudly wear clothing made by local designers. Alongside collaborators Phoka Thene, TK Mofokeng, and Khojane Lepholisa, Mohai planned t...

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-Justice Winston Churchill Matanzima Maqutu, a respected jurist, scholar, and international judge, passed away in 2025 at the age of 84. His death brings to a close a life defined by astonishing service to the law, the nation of Lesotho, and the global pursuit of justice. Born on December 11, 1940, in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Justice Maqutu grew up during a time of intense political and legal transformation in Southern Africa. His early years were shaped by an education that would eventually take him far from home, yet always bring him back to serve it. He studied law at the prestigious University of Edinburgh in Scotland, earning his law degree in 1969. It was there that he laid the intellectual foundation for a legal career that would span more than five decades and cross national boundaries. Upon returning to Lesotho, Maqutu began his legal practice as an advocate, appearing before the High Court and the Court of Appeal. His reputation for thoroughness,...

 By Tholoana Lesenya MASERU-In the silentcorners of homes across the world, places meant to accommodate dreams and raise families, unspeakable horrors unfold in whispers and screams that too often go unheard. Behind closed doors and drawn curtains, an unseen war rages. The casualties? Women and children. The perpetrators? Often, the very men who once promised to love and protect them. She was only 28 when her story ended, not in illness or accident, but in an unhuman act of violence. Her name was Mpho (not real name), a teacher, a mother, a woman who laughed loudly and loved deeply. Her body was found two days after neighbors reported bizarre sounds coming from the house. Her husband confessed: he did not mean to, he said. He was angry. He lost control. That story, with its chilling familiarity, has echoed across villages, towns, and cities like a cursed refrain. Every week, headlines tell of new victims. A toddler found lifeless in a pit latrine. A teenage girl strangled in a fiel...