Misa chair goes into politics

The chair of the Lesotho chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Thabo Thakalekoala, has resigned his post to join active politics, writes Mzimkhulu Sithetho.

In a letter to the local chapter of Misa, Thakalekoala has resigned his position as chair and also quit as a member.
 
“Time has now come for me to move on and try to reach new horizons,” he said.

In an interview, Thakalekoala said he was leaving journalism for politics, saying he was tired of the media fraternity.

He said problems in the Lesotho government were the fault of journalists who did not take action against them. As an example, he cited the new law that gives the Communications Minister the power to close any radio station or publications.

In June, he appeared at a rally of the opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) and announced to great applause that he was now a bona fide member of the opposition party.

He told the party that he was tired of hiding his political affiliations behind journalism practice.

Mr Thakalekoala had been criticized by the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy party for being affiliated to the ABC, and using the media platform to benefit his party.

In earlier reaction to the criticism, Thakalekoala had vehemently dismissed the claims, saying he was a professional journalist not a politician. At the time, he said he subscribed to no political party.