LESOTHO  

Fishing for jobs in Lesotho

HASEPHAPO-TAUNYANE, 27 March 2013 (IRIN) - Tsotleho Befole, 24, travelled from the Lesotho highlands village of Hasephapo-Taunyane to neighbouring South Africa twice in the past year, searching for work in the mines. Both times it proved a wasted journey. full report

Mixed picture for Lesotho's food security

 MBABANE, 25 March 2013 (IRIN) - It’s a chilly autumn morning and Ntja Mphale, 62, and his wife, Malehlohonolo, are hoeing a dew-covered field just outside their village of Machache, 43km from Lesotho’s capital, Maseru. They are among thousands of unemployed Basotho who depend on seasonal work weeding smallholder farmers’ fields to earn a little cash. full report

Southern Africa cracks down on TB in mines

 JOHANNESBURG, 25 March 2013 (IRIN) - South Africa's gold mines are estimated to have the highest number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world, making the disease a leading export to neighbouring countries. IRIN takes a look at the declaration meant to change this situation. full report

African migrants pay high prices to send money home

 JOHANNESBURG, 27 February 2013 (IRIN) - New data from the World Bank has revealed that African migrants pay more to send money home to their families than any other migrant group in the world. full report

Solving statelessness in Southern Africa

 JOHANNESBURG, 30 January 2013 (IRIN) - Frederik Ngubane was born in South Africa to South African parents 22 years ago but, lacking any proof of his origins or nationality, he lives a shadowy, marginal existence. He cannot travel, study or secure formal employment and has lost count of how many times he has been arrested for being undocumented. full report

In Brief: Staples, not export crops, key to tackling Africa’s poverty – report

 NAIROBI, 18 January 2013 (IRIN) - Africa could reduce its poverty levels faster by focusing more on the production of staples rather than export crops, according to a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). full report

IDPs: African IDP Convention comes into force

 NAIROBI, 6 December 2012 (IRIN) - The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 2009, also known as the Kampala Convention, came into force on 6 December; it is the world’s first legally binding instrument to cater specifically to people displaced within their own countries. full report

LESOTHO: ‘Mammuso Lebakeng – Crafts trader, Lesotho

 MASERU , 6 December 2012 (IRIN) - ‘Mammuso Lebakeng has been making and selling crafts in Maseru, Lesotho's capital, for five decades. But in recent years, sales have been poor and her income from farming has declined due to unfavourable weather. full report

BANGLADESH-KENYA: Our Lives - A survivors' guide to hard times

 NAIROBI, 6 December 2012 (IRIN) - Price Watch (Our lives) full report

LESOTHO: Moloantoa Mokhomphatha – Builder, Lesotho

 MACHACHE, 6 December 2012 (IRIN) - Moloantoa Mokhomphatha is a well-known house builder in his community, 45km from Lesotho’s capital, Maseru. In addition to pay from his construction work, he earns a small income from rearing cows for lease to fellow villagers. He also grows vegetables and maize and raises a few pigs for meat. full report

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