Staff Reporter
In an era where many organisations resort to aggressive legal posturing in response to media scrutiny, the National University of Lesotho (NUL) has distinguished itself with a different approach.
Faced with allegations of corruption and an ongoing investigation by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), NUL chose not to unleash its legal hounds but instead issued a thoughtful statement addressing the situation.
This is a refreshing change from the all-too-common knee-jerk reactions where institutions, upon reading something unfavourable about themselves in the media, immediately instruct their lawyers to fire off threatening letters.
These letters often come with demands for retractions and veiled threats of million-maloti lawsuits, all intended to intimidate the media into silence. Such tactics undermine the vital role of the press in holding power to account and often serve only to erode public trust.
NUL’s decision to take the high road by engaging in open dialogue rather than resorting to legal threats deserves commendation. It reflects the values expected from an institution dedicated to producing the next generation of journalists and public relations professionals.
By choosing transparency over intimidation, NUL has shown that it understands the importance of fostering a healthy relationship with the media and the public.
However, we must point out that NUL’s request for information from Newsday, despite the DCEO confirming an ongoing investigation, was perhaps not the wisest move. While the university’s desire for clarification is understandable, such a request could be misconstrued as an attempt to interfere with or undermine the investigation.
The university must be careful to avoid actions that could be interpreted as an effort to stifle press freedom—a path well-trodden by other organisations that have attempted to silence critical reporting.
Let’s be clear, though: even if NUL had chosen to go down the legal route, we at Newsday are more than ready for the challenge. After all, some of our employees are proud graduates of NUL, and they learned a thing or two while they were there.
If it came down to it, we would have shown the university that its graduates are more than capable of defending principles such as ethics, integrity, and a fierce commitment to the truth.
In other words, and on a lighter note, if NUL had brought a legal fight, Newsday would have kicked its ass with the very skills imparted by NUL itself. We are not just playing in the same sandbox; we built it!
That said, we believe NUL’s decision to clarify its position and welcome the investigation is the right one. It sends a strong message that the university is serious about addressing any allegations of corruption and is not afraid of scrutiny.
We trust that this stance is more than just lip service and that NUL will continue to uphold the high standards it espouses.
In conclusion, we commend NUL for its openness and its stated commitment to transparency. We hope that this approach continues in the future and that the university remains a model of integrity and accountability.
After all, it would be a shame if NUL, an institution dedicated to educating the next generation of professionals, found itself lumped together with those who seek to stifle press freedom rather than defend it.
