A single video complaining about Lesotho’s unemployment rate transformed Tšolo Thakeli into the prime minister’s foe, with armed police arriving at his doorstep just a day after posting. It was Father’s Day, and the 31-year-old father of two, dressed in pajamas, was taken aback by the situation, having no prior knowledge that his post would lead to such trouble. Despite his long-standing advocacy under different governments for job opportunities for the youth, this month’s video by Thakeli questioning the premier, Sam Matekane, for not fulfilling promises on job creation resonated with young people, sparking online shares and discussions.
Initial attempts to charge Thakeli with insulting Matekane and inciting violence were dropped due to a lack of evidence, but he was rearrested the same day on sedition charges. Thakeli recounted his experience in the holding cells, describing them as harsh and unbearable. He was later told by Lesotho’s head of police to never mention the prime minister’s name again, with a warning that protection could not be guaranteed if he persisted.
However, Thakeli has chosen to ignore this warning, continuing his social media activism that draws tens of thousands of viewers. This stance led to a public debate on youth unemployment, exemplified by thousands attending an army recruitment drive seeking 500 vacancies. Matekane had committed to creating 70,000 jobs in three weeks, but his promise lacked concrete provision in the February budget, prompting Thakeli’s skepticism and concern.
Lesotho faces a 16% unemployment rate, escalating to 24% among young people, according to World Bank data. Thakeli, a business owner struggling to find employment after law school, has been a long-time advocate for unemployment action, staging a one-man protest outside parliament in 2016, before Matekane’s tenure.
Thakeli’s arrest sparked both protests in Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, and concern among human rights activists across the southern African region over the curtailing of freedom of speech regarding basic societal issues. His social media activism incorporates humor and memes, but beneath this, he genuinely fears for his safety and that of his family.
Now on bail, Thakeli’s lawyer faces potential revocation to keep him in custody before a trial set for 2 July. Thakeli posits that he is simply a concerned citizen utilizing his right to question government actions for the betterment of the country and its people, highlighting the dire employment situation and corruption that plagues the headlines weekly.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jun/30/tsolo-thakeli-sam-maketane-lesotho-activist-unemployment-video
