Lesotho is currently facing a tough time. Two of the most important sectors that touch every citizen’s life—electricity and health—are caught up in corruption and mismanagement. People are losing faith in the institutions meant to serve them, and many are paying the price, especially the rural poor and vulnerable women. Let’s start with the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC). This state-owned enterprise, which is supposed to provide electricity to the country, is basically bankrupt. According to a recent audit, LEC owes more than it owns—by nearly M100 million. Worse still, it has lost over M145 million in cash, and the lights are dimming fast.

 Reports show that for years, LEC has been run poorly, with some top managers accused of misusing funds. One senior official is being investigated for allegedly stealing M5 million meant for important equipment. Because of this financial mess, LEC is now struggling to import electricity from South Africa and Mozambique, putting everyday people and businesses at risk.

Meanwhile, the health sector is in its own crisis. After the United States government suspended funding through its PEPFAR program, around 625 health workers, including doctors and nurses lost their jobs. These workers were on the frontlines of the fight against HIV, TB, and maternal health issues.

Lesotho has one of the highest HIV rates in the world, with hundreds of thousands relying on treatment. Losing this international support is a huge blow. The government is now trying to find ways to cover the gap, including asking for emergency funds and considering a national health insurance plan, but the damage has already been done.

What ties these crises together is a deeper problem: corruption. The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) has called it a ‘monster’ that is destroying lives and holding back our country’s progress. Rural women and young girls are especially affected, as they depend on these public services the most.

It’s time for real change. Lesotho needs strong leadership, honest management, and urgent reforms. Our people deserve better. We need systems that work, not ones that steal. We need hope and that starts with accountability.

As we recently celebrated Africa Day, which is meant to honour the progress, unity, and potential of our continent, it’s important to shine a light on the women who are too often left behind those living in rural areas.

In Lesotho, rural women face enormous challenges every day. They are the backbone of farming communities, caretakers of families, and leaders in their own right. Yet, they continue to struggle for access to basic resources such as clean water, quality healthcare, education, and electricity. The recent crises in our electricity and health sectors have only made life harder for them.

When health workers are sent home and clinics become understaffed, it’s rural women who must walk for hours to reach the nearest help, often with a sick child on their back. When LEC cannot provide stable electricity, it’s rural women who must cook over wood fires, risking their health and spending precious hours gathering fuel.

Africa Day should remind us of the values of freedom, justice, and equality. But until rural women have equal access to services and are included in decisions that affect their lives, our celebration remains incomplete.

Investing in rural women isn’t charity, it’s a necessity for sustainable development. Their resilience, wisdom, and leadership can transform our communities. It’s time we recognize and support them not just in words, but through real action.