AGP Executive Report
Last update: 11 hours agoBorder & Trade Compliance: South Africa’s SARS has rolled out a new online Traveller Declaration System from 1 June 2026, requiring travellers and foreign-registered vehicles (with Temporary Import Permits) to be declared digitally, with SARS officials visiting key crossings including Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg Bridge. Regional Fisheries Governance: Stanley Ndara has been reappointed to chair the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance centre, with ministers in Victoria Falls also pushing member states to clear outstanding contributions. Energy & Power Planning (Lesotho): Lesotho Highlands Development Authority is seeking consultants for a floating solar feasibility study for Katse and Mohale reservoirs, aiming to cut electricity import dependence and support scalable projects. Mining Shock (Lesotho): Storm Mountain Diamonds’ Kao Mine will shut down on 30 June 2026, citing unsustainable fuel costs and weak global diamond prices, with hundreds of jobs at risk. Central Bank Rate Move (Lesotho): The Central Bank of Lesotho raised the Central Bank Rate by 25 bps to 6.75% to protect price stability amid global uncertainty and higher energy costs. Waste & Public Health: Lesotho’s Ombudsman warns 80% of waste is uncollected, with major health risks from unmanaged dumpsites and open burning, including unsafe handling of healthcare waste. Youth & Skills: Sebabatso Youth Training was launched in Maseru, using American Corner AI tools to help trainees reach new markets, while Quthing’s ICT hub ran exams for a basic computer skills intake. Payments & Consumer Finance: FNB Lesotho launched a Visa-linked World Cup competition rewarding customers for digital card transactions with weekly and monthly prizes. SADC Justice & Tourism: SADC justice ministers in Victoria Falls put the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement at the top of the agenda to enable a unified visa for transit and tourism stays.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result. Feedback is welcome. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the AGP Executive Report.