Lesotho, SA hold bilateral cross-border meeting
BOKANG MOSHOESHOE
MASERU – In one of numerous efforts to curb persistent cross-border stock-theft, stakeholders from Mokhotlong in Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa recently convened for a crucial meeting in the Underberg.
The gathering on March 16 brought together local authorities, law enforcement agencies and community representatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two regions with focus on intelligence sharing, joint patrols and legal frameworks to combat livestock theft across the two countries.
This was a key step in building long-term partnership that will foster economic growth and enhance social cohesion across the border as strategies and solutions to combat livestock theft, which has become a significant challenge for communities on both sides of the border.
As livestock theft has long been a concern for farmers in rural communities in both Lesotho and South Africa, with a vast rural areas and porous borders, it has become increasingly difficult to control the illegal movement of livestock across the border.
At this cross border meeting stakeholder highlighted the devastating impact of this crime on local farmers’ livelihoods and the broader economy of both countries.
The Mokhotlong District Administrator, Kepi Keqe, stated at the gathering that efforts taken thus far are encouraging as reports of crime of this nature have declined.
Keqe emphasized the importance of these discussions in fostering regional cooperation and development.
‘‘It is important to strengthen the relationship between the two regions, I emphasize cooperation for mutual growth and development. It is also important to address challenges like border management, trade and community engagement between the districts,’’ Keqe said.
The one-day cross border hosted by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in the Underberg Municipality within the South African Kwazulu-Natal province also aimed to discuss issues of common interest that include the Sani Border and crime between Mokhotlong and Underberg in order to maintain good relations.
Participants emphasized the need for better coordination and information sharing to easily track stolen livestock across the borders.
As lack of stringent border control is one of the primary challenges contributing to livestock theft between Lesotho and South Africa, stakeholders discussed implementing stronger security measures at the border posts and along common entry points to prevent the illegal movement of livestock as the stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to implement actionable solutions and maintain open communication channels.
In a study titled ‘Stock-theft and human security’ Dr John Dzimba and ‘Matšolo Matooane note: “The Lesotho stock theft project is a response to the call by SADC heads of state on civil society, academics and research institutions, and non-governmental organisations to engage in combating matters that threaten peace and human security in their countries.”
While a workshop to interrogate the same issue was organised by the Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management, and supported by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), was held in Maseru on from March 2 to June 3, 2004.
At the workshop – which was attended by CSOs, NGOs, academics and research institutions – participants defined HIV/Aids and stock theft as the greatest threats to human security in Lesotho.
The workshop provided consensus that the major threat to human security, peace and democracy in Lesotho comes from high levels of crime, which impact negatively on the country’s already fragile economy.
The workshop further acknowledged that a number of strategies have been developed in the country to combat stock theft within and on Lesotho’s borders, but with very little success.
These strategies and systems include:
• an increase in patrols of borders of the hardest hit communities and the border between South Africa and Lesotho;
• an introduction of stock theft legislation that favours harsher penalties for stock theft offenders;
• a national system of marking and registering all stock;
• a new regulations governing the sale and transportation of stock;
• increased powers of search and seizure for the police;
• the establishment of stock theft associations made up of villagers who have mobilised into groups in an effort to defend themselves and recover stolen stock.
There are perceptions that the strategies have not been successful because well-placed police, army and government officials are involved in the running of stock theft syndicates, and this has led to lack of confidence in the police, the courts and government machinery.
