Starlink a national threat: LEFF
‘MATHATO SEBOKA
MASERU- Local political outfit the Lesotho Economic Freedom Fighters (LEFF) have berated the granting of a communications license to Elon Musk’s Starlink in the Mountain Kingdom labelling it a threat to national security.
LEFF believes the satellite communications system which is gaining massive use on Africa and the world will have unlimited and unsupervised access to Lesotho’s topography and thereby be a threat to its security.
Among the many concerns they raised in a statement on April 19, the LEFF are disturbed that the US tariffs imposed on Lesotho will hit the country badly and have already turned our national leaders into marshmallows for Musk with the licensing of his Starlink.
LEFF Chairperson, Cecilia Maema said that Starlink’s technology is too advanced and that is going to put Lesotho’s security in jeopardy.
“With an advanced technology system there is a high possibility that they will be able to breach the national security and access hidden information,” she said.
Maema also showed that allowing Starlink to operate in “Lesotho is simply exposing our country to America”.
“We have given Donald Trump (US president) and Elon Musk all the access to our country the moment Starlink was given a license to operate in Lesotho,” Maema said.
She said that they believe that some day America is going to use Starlink against us “like it is doing with Ukraine”.
“One of the countries that are using Starlink is Ukraine and America is currently saying they will withdraw Starlink network if they do not give them their minerals and that alone says that Lesotho is not safe as well,” Maema said. She added, “There are no benefits that Starlink is bringing to Lesotho; it is here for its opportunities because it is not even going to provide jobs for Basotho.”
Retired Colonel, Tanki Mothae has a different view altogether.
In his view it is not true that Starlink will put the country’s security in Jeopardy.
“The security of the country is defined by the National Security Policy, so the government would not have led such company to operate in Lesotho if it was a threat to the country,” the retired army man said.
Mothae showed that with or without Starlink America can still do anything it wants to Lesotho.
“America has all the resources in the world, with or without American Embassy or Starlink, America can still do anything it needs to Lesotho,” Mothae laid bare.
He went to show that Lesotho is interdependent on other states, which is why Lesotho has different bilateral agreements and does not exist in isolation.
Mothae opined that there is nothing amiss with Starlink operating in Lesotho and that Basotho should instead welcome the third communications option to give them better service.
Nothing will be compromised when Starlink is functioning in Lesotho, he said.
“I cannot see what will be compromised when Starlink is in Lesotho. It is currently operational in more than five African countries and it is working effectively and better. One thing I see is that Starlink is also going to help the two networks in Lesotho to perform better,” Mothae stated.
The LEFF statement bashed the US for its reckless tariffs on Lesotho “driven by imperialist attitude and extractive practices intend to curb Lesotho into subjugation under the USA economic dominance.”
“The LEFF calls up the current government not to follow the footsteps of the previous corrupt, sell-out leaders who brought Lesotho into shame for many years by negotiating with their stomach, for personal accumulation at the expense of our sovereignty,” the statements read.
Lesotho gets ridiculed and disrespected because of leaders who negotiate international relations matters like beggars, the LEFF charged.
“We should expand our trade relations with global partners who believe in our values, respect our people and products. Furthermore, this “reciprocal tariffs” signal the effective end of African growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as it pertains to Lesotho.”
The LEFF leadership urged the government and everyone to take “this is a wakeup call for Basotho to stand together, support our own businesses, support African trade, invest in Lesotho business while continuing to buy and sell more Lesotho products.”
The tariff slap, the LEFF advise should be taken as a silver lining for the Southern African Development Community – SADC region and African unity.
The statement went to show that they vehemently condemns the current government of Lesotho under the leadership of Prime Minister Samuel Matekane for single handed granting the “racist economic hitman Elon Musk a 10-year operating license. The decision is exactly what happens when a leader negotiates serious matters under desperation”.
It went on to say “We will keep fighting and challenging the exploitative practices of imperialist nations. We call upon all Basotho to stay strong, unite with defence in of our sovereignty. We are not beggars; we are not subhuman, and we will force our way up if that is what will take for Lesotho and Africa rise.”
