Ministry of Home Affairs

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS PARTICIPATES IN AN EVENT TO MOTIVATE SHEPHERDS IN MATSIENG

On the 07th May 2022, there was an event to celebrate the importance of shepherds held at St. Leuis Catholic Church in Mahloenyeng, Matsieng, Maseru. The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa was there to sensitize the shepherds and other community members about human trafficking and the identity documents and birth certificates registrations took place. On that ceremony, 22 students who attended the event got their birth certificates, 12 got their identity documents while shepherds continued registering.

MINISTER LETSOSA ANNOUNCES UPLIFTING OF CITIZENSHIP AND RESIDENCE PERMITS SUSPENSION

Following the suspension of indefinite residence permits and citizenships in September last year, on Friday 22nd April 2022, the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa announced that such suspension has been uplifted.

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) REPRESENTATIVES VISIT LESOTHO

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to protect and help refugees to be safely protected. In January 2020, the UNHCR office was decentralized from Geneva to the Southern Region of Africa and was based in Pretoria.

On the 22nd April 2022, the UNHCR representatives; Mr. George Wood (Senior Transition Coordinator Executive Officer) and Mr. Igor Ciobanu (Deputy Representative) have visited the Ministry of Home Affairs; the duo was welcomed by Honorable Minister Motlalentoa Letsosa, Principal Secretary, Mr. Tumelo Raboletsi and Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Mohlolo Lerotholi. The purpose for the visit was to assess the daily functions of the decentralized agency.

VALIDATION REPORT OF EXCESS MORTALITY DUE TO COVID-19

The Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Core team, comprising three government Ministries of Home Affairs, Health, and Development Planning (Bureau of Statistics) presented excess mortality report on pre-Covid-19, being 2015-2019 and during 2020-2021 Covid-19 periods.

On opening, the Principal Secretary, Home Affairs noted that the report would in future assist in fighting other pandemics in the country and acknowledged the assistance of the American Agency of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for their untiring support.

MISUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, A CONDUIT TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

On Friday Honorable Minister has visited many places such as combined schools. On the 8th April 2022, he was at Upper Moyeni, Quthing with the same motive of sensitizing the public on the danger of human trafficking and its effects.

LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICA LECSA CHURCHES UNITE IN PRAYER AGAINST ALL FORMS OF CRIME

Yesterday’s Sunday service at LECSA Morija started with congregation march from Morija River Side and LECSA church to Thabeng High School playground, holding placards with messages that fight against all forms of crime. It was in the same event that the Ministry of Home Affairs represented by Principal Secretary Mr Tumelo Raboletsi and Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Mohlolo Lerotholi partook in the march.

HONOURABLE LETSOSA RAISES HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS IN SOWETO

After a few months of sensitizing the public about the horrific human trafficking crime; the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA), Gauteng Presbytery invited Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Motlalentoa Letsosa on Sunday 6th March 2021.The invitation was meant to sensitize the congregation about the dangers of human trafficking in Orlando Soweto.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIN IN SCHOOLS

Out of the world’s population estimated to be more than 7.9 Billion, 25 Million people are victims of human trafficking and Lesotho is no exception. January is marked to be a global human trafficking awareness month.

The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa was at Thetsane High School yesterday to sensitize students, teachers and community leaders about Human Trafficking which was seen to be rampant in our country in the past years. Prior to this, the Minister visited Liraoheleng Primary School on Thursday 20 January 2022 with the same purpose.

YET ANOTHER RECEPTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM

It was only last week when the Ministry of Home Affairs received a 22-year-old who was trafficked 2 years ago. Today it was a 19-year-old from Lisemeng, Leribe Hlotse who was falsely promised legitimate job by her fellow residents a few weeks ago. The victim was welcomed by the Honourable Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Maseru Bridge.

RECEPTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM

Yesterday (13 January 2022) the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa together with the Principal Secretary of Social Development Mrs ‘Mantsenki Mphalane welcomed a 22 year-old (Mosotho woman) Human Trafficking victim at Maseru Bridge.

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS INTERIM ASSESSMENT REPORT

On Monday 8th November 2021, the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa delivered the update on this year’s TIP Interim Assessment Report on the Prioritized Recommendations shared under the Lesotho TIP Report 2021 at the U.S Ambassador’s residence. Present was also the Honorable Ministers of Police and Public Safety Lepota Sekola

Botha Bothe Outreach – Human Trafficking Awareness

On the 29,30, September and 01 October 2021, the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa has been on public outreach in Botha Bothe Ngoajane at Ha Topi, Khatibe Ha Jane and Liqhobong Moreneng (Motete) consecutively. The purpose of the outreach is to make a follow up on the assignment given to officials.

Citizenship Applications Suspended

On Monday, September 6th 2021, the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa held a press conference on suspension of citizenship applications and announcement of revised visa requirements.

After the Ministry intercepted number of foreign nationals who attempted to illegally enter the country using fraudulent visas, the Ministry further reviewed its internal controls in terms of issuance of VISAs as well as Residence Permits. The Ministry has been concerned about the illegal entry of these foreigners as it may contribute to crime such as terrorism, money laundering as well as human trafficking.

Ministry of Home Affairs has again intercepted an illegal Pakistani

The said intercepted Pakistani aged 40, by the name of Ali Majid was returned to his country same day by the next flight, even before entering the country.

Ministry of Home Affairs briefs the Principal Chiefs on the 2021 African Union Project for Internally Displaced Persons, Returnees and Refugees

The Honorable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa had a dialogue with Principal Chiefs; Mako Mohale – Tajane, Khabasheane Masupha – Berea (Ha Mamathe), Nthupi Bereng – Rothe, Seeiso Nkuebe – Quthing, Nthati Bereng – Phamong; on the above-mentioned African Union (AU) project at Avani Lesotho on the 09 August 2021.

CRVS Day – Maluti Adventist Hospital, Mapoteng

Ministry of Home Affairs commemorates Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics at Maluti Adventist Hospital, Mapoteng Berea on 10th August 2021. This year’s theme is “Leadership for an essential service: Building resilient civil registration and vital statistics system in Africa that provide initiative, integrated and decentralized services for the post Covid-19 period”.

Qacha’s Nek Outreach

It is amid the cold weather conditions of snow-covered mountain Kingdom of Lesotho that the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa, infiltrates through Lesotho’s countryside, to ensure acquisition of birth certificates and Identity documents to all citizens in pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, Target 16.9 – “…providing legal identity for all.”

Minister of Home Affairs issues Identity Documents to Koro-Koro residents

Following the launch of same time process Birth and Identity cards registrations application at Ha Mokotjo Koro-Koro, The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa fulfilled the promise of delivering the documents back to the residents on Friday 14th May 2021.

Illegal activities on Lesotho – South Africa Borderline at Liphiring (Mohale’s Hoek)

The covid-19 pandemic as a global threat has immensely affected movement across countries and has compelled countries to revise their immigration laws and or policies.
Movement between countries has been restricted due to the overwhelming spread of the disease.

Decentralisation of Service Delivery – A Reality

On Wednesday the 21st April 2021, The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Motlalentoa Letsosa visited a few villages at Kubake Maseru.

LAUNCH OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN

The Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Home Affairs officially launched the National Strategic Framework and Action Plan (NSFAP) yesterday on the 7th April 2021 at Avani Lesotho.

Lesotho Commemorates Independence Day amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 pandemic has forced the world to revert from the normal operations especially in organisation, Government as well as in institutions. Lesotho being affected by the pandemic resorted to celebrating Independence Day in a manner that allows WHO Covid-19 protocols, which include avoiding overcrowding.