HOME Affairs and Police Minister Lebona Lephema last Thursday told parliament that his ministry is investigating security officers who are involved in famo music gangs in breach of their mandate. Lephema was answering a question from Dr Mahali Phamotse, the African Unity Transformation (AUT) leader, who wanted to know if he was aware of famo gangster police and soldiers.
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Lephema, who admitted the prevalence of gangsterism within the security agencies, said the government is deeply concerned about the problem and they had already started investigations.
“We are aware of such behaviour by some officers and we have begun to take harsh measures against them,” Lephema said.
“We are thoroughly investigating the involvement of some of our officers in gangsterism,” he said.
Lephema said the government is worried about the high homicide rate in the country.
Phamotse said it is worrying that Lesotho has become the world’s headquarters of murders and she wanted Lephema to tell parliament what measures he had in store to reverse the trend.
“Do you have any strategies in place to put under control the soaring murder rates rather than just chasing people with the army and the police?” she asked.
The question came just 10 months after two police officers were fired for selling guns stolen from their stations to a famo illegal gang member.
The fired cops were Constables Sempe Theko, 29, from Ha-Tjopa in Thaba-Bosiu and Poloko Lehoko, 31, from Ha-Kholoko in Roma.
They were charged with aggravated theft of two AK47 rifles.
The two were granted bail of M3 000 each and a surety of M10 000 each that they both failed to pay.
While responding, Lephema stated that Dr Phamotse’s point was important as they had realised that “the officers’ involvement was huge in the gang wars”.
He said the government had since declared 12 famo gangs illegal and unlawful under the Internal Security Act.
“We did that because we saw that most of their songs encourage violence and increase instability in the country,” he said.
He added that most of the famo music gangsters “usually wear famo regalia and shout slogans that encourage revenge and violence”.
Lephema said Basotho are not barred from wearing their different blankets, “as long as they do not fall under those banned gangs”.
“We appeal to all Basotho involved in these rebellious acts to stop immediately.”
He said to contain the escalating situation in the country the police have increased their visibility on the streets.
Moeketsi Motšoane who is the MP for Mafeteng asked if the minister was aware that parliament had a big role to play in ensuring that the high rate of homicides is reduced.
“We have a Law Portfolio Committee here,” Motšoane said.
“If used accordingly it could help strengthen the laws,” he said.
Lephema told the House that the Minister of Law, Richard Ramoeletsi, “is already working together with parliament to tighten laws around bail so that perpetrators are deterred from committing crimes”.
“We have also bought more police vehicles to ensure smooth mobility across the country.”
Nkheli Liphoto
