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In Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho, a new partnership has been formed to tackle one of the country’s most pressing social problems – gender-based violence (GBV). Vodacom Lesotho, a major telecommunications company, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at preventing GBV and supporting survivors across the country.
The agreement was signed this week in Maseru, marking a strong commitment from both sides to confront a crisis that continues to affect women and girls in alarming numbers. Reports show that as many as 86 percent of women in Lesotho experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime, making it one of the highest prevalence rates in the region.
Vodacom Lesotho and UNFPA plan to combine their resources and areas of expertise to mount a more coordinated fight. Vodacom will bring in its technological innovation, nationwide coverage, and community engagement, while UNFPA contributes its technical knowledge and humanitarian experience. Both organisations agree that tackling GBV requires more than words; it needs continuous action and collaboration across all levels of society.
Vodacom’s involvement in the fight against GBV is not new. Through the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, the company has been active in community-based projects, including support for shelters, helplines, and programmes that protect children, women and young girls. They have also pushed digital literacy programmes such as girl coding and safe internet campaigns. However, the company’s commitment deepened after the tragic death of one of its staff members, Rethabile Mofolo, who lost her life due to gender-based violence. This incident left a lasting impact on Vodacom and became a strong reminder of the urgency to act.
At the signing ceremony, Vodacom Lesotho’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohale Ralebitso, explained that the partnership was not only a business decision but also a moral duty. According to him, GBV is a threat to the country’s social stability and economic development, and it requires all stakeholders to unite in order to reduce the impact. He noted that the partnership will allow Vodacom to scale up its projects and make them part of a nationwide strategy rather than isolated interventions.
The Chairman of the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, John Matlosa, also expressed confidence that the partnership would produce stronger results. He described the collaboration with UNFPA as a big step that will multiply the effect of their ongoing initiatives in communities.
On the side of UNFPA, the Acting Country Representative in Lesotho, John Kennedy Mosoti, stressed the importance of collective responsibility. He explained that GBV is a problem that cuts across all social classes, affecting rich and poor families alike. He said no single organisation can solve it alone, and the private sector has a critical role to play. He applauded Vodacom for stepping forward and setting an example of how companies can contribute to social change.
The MoU outlines several areas of action. Survivors of GBV will have access to safe spaces, medical treatment, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and even economic empowerment programmes to help them start again. There are also plans for rehabilitation and reintegration so that survivors can rebuild their lives with dignity. Advocacy for equality and human rights will form part of the campaign, alongside efforts to improve coordination between government agencies, civil society, and other partners.
UNFPA, as the UN’s leading agency on reproductive health, has been working in Lesotho for decades. Its programmes include training health workers to handle rape cases, integrating GBV services into health clinics, and providing life-skills education for young people. UNFPA also works with the government to strengthen laws and policies that protect women and girls from violence.
This new partnership comes at a time when statistics continue to highlight the depth of the crisis. The Lesotho Demographic Health Survey (LDHS 2024) revealed that more than one in three women – about 36 percent – have experienced either physical or sexual abuse from an intimate partner. These numbers show that GBV is not just a private matter but a public health and human rights concern.
By joining forces, Vodacom and UNFPA hope to set a new standard of cooperation between the corporate world and development organisations. The goal is to build a society where women and girls feel safe, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential. For Lesotho, where GBV has become a major obstacle to development, this initiative could mark the beginning of meaningful change.
