thepost’s journalist wins awards

MASERU – THE former Features Editor of thepost, ’Mapule Motsopa, has won two prizes at the Adolescents Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) Journalism Awards.

She won the first and fourth prizes for her stories on child protection, early marriages, and early and unintended pregnancies as well as sexual reproduction rights and education for children. They had to meet the quality of features and offer solutions. Journalist, Lecturer and Retired Public Relations Manager were judges on a group of stories they published in 2022.

The competition was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO and MISA Lesotho.

Motsopa, who recently joined the government’s Lesotho News Agency, said she was grateful to all the sponsors who saw potential in Basotho journalists.

MISA-Lesotho representative Boitumelo Koloi said the awards were meant to promote the coverage and awareness of the challenges faced by the youths.

“This is meant to encourage you to do more in raising awareness on what the young people are facing,” said Thuto Ntšekhe Mokhehle, the Chief Education Officer from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Mokhehle said 90 percent of pregnancies happen between 15 and 19 years old. She said teenage pregnancies are high for girls in remote and poor areas.

“Even families with the lowest income bracket experience the problem of their girls falling pregnant and dropping out of school,” Mokhehle said.

Mokhehle said many young girls end up dropping out of school due to pregnancies.

“It is not right, it sounds like a horror story.”

Nkheli Liphoto