Two weeks after Prime Minister Matekane reshuffled his cabinet, newly appointed Minister Lephema has yet to formally report to his new ministry. The Lesotho Tribune put the question to its subscribers: what should the Prime Minister do?
The responses revealed a deeply divided public. Approximately 40 per cent of respondents used the opportunity to directly criticise Minister Lephema, with several questioning not only his absence from his new portfolio but also his use of state-funded transport and security while, the Tribune has confirmed, attending to private business interests.
|
Subscriber sentiment · Two-week mark How Tribune readers responded to the Lephema question |
||||
| Criticism of Lephema |
|
~40% | ||
| Deflection / no direct answer |
|
~35% | ||
| Defence of government / PM |
|
~15% | ||
| Historical / systemic commentary |
|
~10% | ||
| Based on subscriber responses to the Lesotho Tribune’s public post, 7 May 2026. Approximate proportions only. Does not constitute a scientific poll. | ||||
The remainder of respondents either declined to answer the specific question posed or steered the conversation toward broader commentary on governance in Lesotho. One subscriber, NtsaneJulius Ntsane, framed the matter in historical terms, writing that what Lephema is doing is no different from what has been done in Lesotho since 1966. The comment drew a reply, suggesting many readers see the situation as symptomatic of a deeper, longer pattern rather than an isolated lapse.
A notable strand of commentary pushed back on the Tribune’s framing altogether. Tumelo Moeti, whose response drew five endorsements, wrote that the Basotho people still have trust in this government, suggesting the Tribune was attempting to shift public opinion rather than reflect it. The sentiment was echoed by Tankiso Charles Tsukutla, who told the publication it was the one best placed to answer its own questions.
Joxy Muze Mohau raised a separate but related concern, asking why certain ministers’ vehicles carry private number plates, a question that received no official response but amplified the suspicion that the lines between public office and private interest are not clearly drawn.
Ntsane Letsie offered perhaps the most pointed observation, noting that Lephema’s non-appearance was consistent with his conduct in his previous ministry, where he was, in Letsie’s words, hardly visible. That continuity of absence, observers say, is precisely what makes the Prime Minister’s silence on the matter difficult to justify.
The sentiment tracker does not constitute a scientific poll. It reflects the views of Lesotho Tribune subscribers who engaged with the Tribune’s public post on the matter and is published as a record of public opinion at the two-week mark since the reshuffle.
| Response category | Share of responses | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Criticism of Lephema | ~40% | Direct condemnation of minister’s conduct and absence |
| Deflection / no direct answer | ~35% | Engaged with post but avoided the question asked |
| Defence of government / PM | ~15% | Pushed back on Tribune framing; expressed trust in government |
| Historical / systemic commentary | ~10% | Contextualised issue within patterns since independence |
Figures are approximate. The sentiment tracker is based on subscriber responses to the Lesotho Tribune’s public post and does not constitute a scientific poll.
