Lesotho will soon introduce a new cyber-security law to regulate the use of social media and to stem the peddling of what government considers as misinformation that threatens stability in the conflict-stricken kingdom.

According to the Lesotho chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, as of November 2015 Lesotho had an estimated 12.8% internet penetration rate, and among accessible social media networks, Face-book has turned out to be the most vibrant platform, cutting across the country’s 10 districts.

On the Face-book platform the most powerful is an anti-government group named Countdown to Elections 2015, 16 or 17. This group commands membership of more than 56, 000 people and is dominated by posts of one unidentified character only known as Makhaola Qalo.

Makhaola Qalo is renowned for leaking government confidential information, and while some of Makhaola Qalo’s posts are viewed in government quarters as merely opposition propaganda antics, a reasonable number expose government plans even before they are carried out.

Police have several times detained administrators of this group in their quest to unmask Makhaola Qalo, attempts that have proven futile to date.

early as July 2015, hardly four months after the current government ascended to power, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing threatened to close down Face-book.

He claimed Facebook threatened security of the country by perpetuating lies and distorting the truth.