4 March 2025 by Pascalinah Kabi

Lesotho’s mining ministers have been accused of protecting diamond mines that refuse to pay dividends, raising suspicions of deep-seated corruption and backdoor deals.

Appearing before the Natural Resources parliamentary committee on March 3, 2025, Commissioner of Mines Pheello Tjatja revealed that while the government had expected M90 million in dividends, it only received M75 million—solely from Letšeng Diamonds Mine. Shockingly, all other mines have declared zero dividends.

Committee members criticized the government’s passive acceptance of these declarations, expressing frustration over its failure to enforce accountability. Basotho Patriotic Party leader Tefo Mapesela went even further, accusing Natural Resources Minister Mohlomi Moleko and his predecessors of being captured by the mines.

Click below to listen to the committee proceedings on this topic: