PM unleashes army to curb Famo terror

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU Tensions have risen in Lesotho following Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane’s controversial directive to the army commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela this week to end the wave of killings that has plagued Lesotho by any means necessary.

Matekane’s order, delivered during the official welcoming ceremony of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF)’s 3rd contingent from Mozambique, has sparked widespread debate and criticism, revealing deep divisions within the nation’s political landscape.

Addressing the nation with an air of urgency, the PM declared: “LDF Commander, disperse the men and women from your team so that these killings are alleviated. Do everything in your power, everything to see to it that Lesotho is restored back to its peaceful state.

“We need peace and we do not want to live like birds in our country. It is your responsibility to protect this nation. We have seen your dedication in Mozambique; the same dedication should be put in the country to clear these killings.”

The Prime Minister’s impassioned plea was not without ambiguity. His words, charged with a sense of desperation, left many wondering about the extent of the military’s involvement in internal security operations.

“I have no idea what they will do, but at the end of the day, these killings should be cleared,” Matekane added, a statement that has since been met with both support and sharp criticism. The reaction from the opposition has been swift and fierce. Basotho National Party (BNP) Leader Machesetsa Mofomobe lambasted the Prime Minister, accusing him of being unfit for office.

“He is irresponsible to protect the Constitution, which has put him there as the Prime Minister. How is it possible that the military is able to threaten judges, stating that they will assault them, and the Prime Minister says nothing?

“That man has failed his cardinal duty to protect the Constitution. That order he has made is illegitimate, and it will not assist this country with anything,” Mofomobe declared, his words underscoring a growing concern about the erosion of constitutional principles.

Political Analyst Nthakeng Selinyane echoed similar sentiments, describing the Prime Minister’s statement as “reckless and unbefitting of a statesman.” Selinyane articulated a broader concern about the implications of military involvement in civil affairs.

“First, the army has no place in the maintenance of personal security and safety of citizens except as a backup of police, brought into the fray by the public declaration of the responsible minister. Secondly, you cannot issue such a blank check and carte blanche statement that leaves it to forces of war to do as they see fit with the citizens,” he warned, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked military power.

Not all responses were as vehemently opposed, however. Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) leader, Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane, offered a more measured take, suggesting that the Prime Minister’s order could be interpreted as a call for strategic action rather than brute force.

He emphasised the need for LDF to develop a clear standard operating procedure, ensuring that their actions are lawful and avoid unnecessary harm to civilians. “There is a need for the LDF to have a standard operating procedure, where they are informed of the things that they need to do and those that they do not have to do, like brutally assaulting innocent people.

“In others, the LDF Commander should issue out orders to put a stop on such assaults. They should also at all costs avoid serious implications from communities that the LDF is militarising community safety and security in Lesotho,” Rakuoane added, pointing to the delicate balance between maintaining security and protecting civil liberties.

Democratic Congress (DC) leader Mathibeli Mokhothu, weighed in with a focus on lawfulness, saying while security agencies must work diligently to curb crime, they must operate within the confines of the law. “Security agencies need to work hard to alleviate crimes in the country but should do so within the perimeters of law and work day and night to uproot lawlessness that seems to be at large these days.

“These brutal killings, theft of any kind, and rapes should not be tolerated at all by anyone,” Mokhothu said, underscoring the necessity of upholding legal standards even in the face of escalating violence.

Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala has a different view, expressing confusion over the Prime Minister’s directive. He noted that the LMPS operates under the Police Act and the Constitution, with a clear mandate to fight criminal activities.

“As the LMPS, we take our orders from the Police Act and the Constitution, in which we see to it that we fight criminal activities in the country, which is our mandate, and that we do not have to be told to do so. The order given by the PM to the LDF Commander was peculiar,” Halahala stated, hinting at a potential jurisdictional conflict between the police and the military.

This escalating situation occurs against a backdrop of ongoing violence linked to Famo music groups, whose internal rivalries have spilled into deadly confrontations. In early May, the government took the drastic step of outlawing 12 Famo music groups, with Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police Minister Lebona Lephema declaring them illegal entities.

Despite this, the violence has continued unabated. Just days after the ban, two people were fatally shot at the Maseru Border in an incident traced to Famo-related disputes. The ongoing killings, largely concentrated in the northern region of Lesotho, have forced the government and opposition to explore the most effective response.

Prime Minister Matekane has not minced words, labelling the Famo gangs as terrorists and linking them to the wave of violent murders plaguing the nation.

His declaration of war on these groups in May was accompanied by a Government-issued gazette designating them as terrorist organisations, a move that has deepened the sense of urgency surrounding the crisis. As Lesotho finds itself at a crossroads, the debate over the Prime Minister’s directive and the role of the military in ensuring national security continues to rage.