Today, 29 October 2025, the Maseru City Council (MCC) granted labour unions a permit to hold processions targeting the Sam Matekane government. Sources inside the development-partner community say that external pressure helped sway the Matekane administration into issuing the permit. However the police are yet to issue the permit as required by law. The MCC permission is one step closer as per the legal requirements.
Lesotho’s trade unions had yesterday appealed to the police minister and threatened court action after permission for a protest march over job losses last Friday was denied.
The coalition of unions, representing thousands of textile and garment workers, say that despite following all legal procedures under the Public Meetings and Processions Act of 2010, Maseru police commissioner Tšeliso Moerane denied them a permit.
In a letter dated 23 October, Maseru District Commissioner Moerane cited “crucial omissions” in the unions’ submission.
The police said that while respecting the right to assemble, they also have “a huge responsibility to protect life and property and promote peace and well-being of the people”.
The police listed four issues: the estimate of the number of participants; identification of organisers responsible for maintaining order; a permit from the Maseru City Council; and proof of prior arrangement with the prime minister’s office.
Moerane then asked the unions to provide reasons why their “intended procession cannot be refused”.
The move by MCC reflects a compromise of sorts. They claim that development-partners,
whose funding and conditionalities emphasise good governance and civic space, leaned on the government behind the scenes. The narrative: Lesotho cannot have genuine reform if the right to assembly is suppressed. The city council’s decision therefore signals a tactical retreat from outright denial of protest.
But the timing is delicate. On one hand, granting the permit opens the door to worker voices and grievances being aired in public. On the other hand, it puts the Matekane administration under fresh scrutiny: Will it respond substantively, or simply allow the spectacle while business as usual persists?
Matekane is set to receive China donated implements on Friday, and sources within his party say , he won’t waste his time to receive the memorandum from the labour unions, rather he will sent minister in his office to receive the demands.
”Ntate [Prime Minister] is busy, he will not waste his time by attending that march, those are politicians not labour unions,” said one RFP insider who’s not authorised to talk to the media.
