The Lesotho News Agency (LENA) is the state-owned national wire service, established in 1985 to supply local, regional, and international news to domestic and foreign media outlets, government institutions, and private clients. Beyond its core newswire function, LENA has also overseen the publication of government newspapers, including Lentsoe la Basotho (Lesotho Today) and Lesotho Weekly.
Media assets
News agency: LENA
Publishing: Lentsoe La Basotho, Lesotho Weekly
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
LENA is wholly owned by the Government of Lesotho, operating under the Department of Information within the Ministry of Communications, Science & Technology. Its leadership, including the Director General, is appointed directly by the Ministry, with final oversight lying with the Deputy Principal Secretary.
All key decisions—whether administrative or editorial—are subject to the hierarchical chain of command within the Ministry. No independent governance board exists to oversee or balance the agency’s management or output.
In April 2025, civil society organizations led by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Lesotho) called for the transformation of LENA into an autonomous public news agency with an independent board and editorial charter. The Ministry of Communications has yet to formally respond to this proposal.
Source of funding and budget
LENA’s operations are financed almost entirely through state subsidies. According to figures from the Ministry of Finance:
| Fiscal Year | Government Allocation |
|---|---|
| 2019/2020 | LSL 4.4 million (US$284,000) |
| 2022/2023 | LSL 5.35 million (US$283,000) |
| 2023/2024 | LSL 5.35 million (unchanged) |
As of June 2025, no updated figures have been publicly released for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. However, public procurement records suggest that LENA continues to operate on a flat annual subsidy, without any material increase for inflation or operational expansion.
Despite the agency’s minimal commercial revenue—mainly from content syndication—this represents a fraction of its financial needs, rendering it entirely reliant on the public purse.
Persistent staff complaints about low pay and outdated equipment resurfaced in a leaked memo in May 2025, leading to calls within Parliament for increased funding and improved working conditions at the agency.
Editorial independence
LENA’s editorial direction remains firmly under state control. Its news coverage consistently echoes the voice of the ruling coalition and closely aligns with government narratives. Content analysis and local journalist testimonies indicate that critical perspectives—especially regarding government performance, corruption, or dissent—are routinely omitted or under-represented.
Editors and reporters at LENA are appointed by government ministries and are functionally subordinate to political appointees. No editorial charter or internal policy exists to safeguard autonomy or ethical reporting standards.
There is no statute guaranteeing LENA’s editorial independence, and no external review body is tasked with monitoring or evaluating its output. All editorial lines are aligned with the Ministry’s communications strategy, coordinated via the Department of Information.
June 2025