Mpho Mohale* is a single mother of four in Lesotho’s capital, Maseru. Last month, she found herself out of work when apparel manufacturer C&Y Garments shut down — one of the many casualties of Covid in the mountain kingdom.

"My retrenchment was a devastating blow for me as I am the breadwinner of the family," the 40-year-old widow tells the FM. "Following my retrenchment, I tried selling fruits on the streets of Maseru but business was not good due to tough competition. I would sometimes take home a paltry R20 per day."..