'Nobody's heard of Lesotho'

US president cuts R146 million in aid to country where US has had embassy since '66.

- Sechaba Mokhethi

US President Donald Trump says nobody has ever heard of Lesotho. But his colleague Elon Musk, head of the new department of government efficiency, is currently seeking a licence to provide internet services in Lesotho.

Addressing a joint session of Congress on Tuesday last week, Trump announced: "We will be ending the flagrant wasting of taxpayers' dollars and to that end, I have created a brand-new department of government efficiency [Doge] which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight.

"Just listen to some of the appalling waste we have already identified." Trump then listed various foreign aid initiatives, including "$8 million (about R146 million) to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, inersex rights in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of".

Meanwhile, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) is currently consulting the public on whether Starlink Lesotho should be granted a licence to operate in the country.