Thaba-Bosiu chief butchered

LEMOHANG TŠEHLA

THABA-BOSIU – Sechaba Pekosela, the 31-year-old chief of Mahaheng in Thaba-Bosiu, was brutally beaten and killed by unknown men on Saturday night. It is said that the chief’s remains were recovered between Thaba-Khupa and Ha Sepake in the early hours of Sunday by one of the villagers who was on his way to work who then informed other villagers about the ghastly incident.

The deceased’s body was then recovered by Flight One Police from the crime scene to the mortuary. It is reported that the the chief should have been murdered with a sharp object. Reports have also revealed that the chief’s lifeless body was found in a pool of blood. Moreover, it is said that the chief’s throat was slit and he also sustained three major injuries on the throat and the chest.

Motlatsi Sefali, a villager in Mahaheng, said that the gruesome killing of the chief had left the Mahaheng community in shock, further appealing to for police protection. He said the community demands action against the culprits. Speaking in an interview with Public Eye, Khotso Mpapea, a representative of the Mahaheng Crime Stop group, pleaded with the government of Lesotho to deploy police officers in the community, especially at nights, in order to put an end to such brutal killings which have now increased.

“The community is now living in fear,” he said. Mpapea believes local taverns that operate throughout the night are the root of all this evil. Therefore, he urged tavern owners to close on time in order to save the community from this misery. In addition, Mpapea urged the community to stand in solidarity with them and fight against such brutal killings. Furthermore, a neighbour to the deceased, Habisisa Ntaote, blasted this gruesome killing and wants justice to be served in this matter. Ntaote also said they have never experienced such a horrific incident in the community.

“The chief’s death has broken our hearts,” Ntaote said. Seere Sefuli, one of the deceased’s family members said that he was saddened by the passing of the chief as he was still young and brave. “I am deeply hurt by this incident,” he said. Sefuli said it is heartbreaking and inhumane to see people being butchered like animals. He said a lot was expected from the chief who had shown dedication and hard work towards his people in the community. Most of the villagers are hurt because they loved their chief, he added.

Sefuli said that he suspects that the chief’s death was planned according to the way he was killed. “He was always calm when approaching people in the village,” he said. Fighting back tears, ’Maosia Pekosela, also a family member, said she is saddened by this ghastly incident and, therefore, pleaded with the police to help them by ensuring that justice is served. She also said that it is hard for them as the community to visit other places in the area because of this incident. “This breaks my heart all the time,” she said.

Relebohile Pekosela, also a relative to the deceased, said it is hard for them to be consoled during this time of grief because of the horrific state the chief was found in. Pekosela said as a family they are just waiting for justice to be served. Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, said he his office had not received any report relating to the murder. On the other hand, many villagers interviewed by Public Eye claim one of the suspects had turned himself in.

The deceased is survived by a wife and three children. The chief’s murder follows the case of two elderly women who were brutally killed at ha Mokheseng, Makhalaneng, last week Saturday – with the LMPS recently reporting that over 144 Basotho were murdered in the two months of May and June.