Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE army has arrested 35 more gang members alleged to be wreaking havoc in Maseru villages. This brings the number of alleged gang members in military custody to 63.
The other 28, who include some minors and two women, have been in detention since they were arrested in Koalabata, Naleli and Sekamaneng last week. The latest arrests were a result of military raids in Qoaling and Thetsane this week.
The army claims to be rehabilitating the alleged gang members. The officer in charge of their rehabilitation at the army’s Makoanyane Barracks, Commando Captain Molato, told the press yesterday that two of the arrested were at the military hospital.
The detained gangsters are aged between 15 and 34 years, with educational backgrounds ranging between Grade 8 and Grade 11. Commando Captain Molato said the detainees are well cared for and routinely monitored by nurses.
He was speaking at a ceremony where the Lesotho Red Cross Society donated blankets and heaters to the detainees. The Red Cross donated 65 blankets, heaters, 51 mattresses, sanitizers, 10 boxes of surgical masks, clothes, sanitary pads, and a water tank for washing hands.
Youth Minister Likeleli Tampane received the goods. “They also need clothes and cosmetics amongst the other things,” Commando Captain Molato said. “Most of them are raised by single parents.
” He said the detainees deserve a second chance because they have “potential to be good citizens in the future”. He also said they are teaching them to love their country and their movements are restricted.
“They are not allowed to talk to each other during the day as it is their time to listen to orders and at night they are not allowed to speak as it is time to sleep,” he said.
“Their duty is to listen to orders and nothing else, we give them orders.
He also disclosed that they called several counsellors from the National University of Lesotho (NUL), Mohlomi Mental Hospital and the clergy to talk to them.
He said they are working with the police to investigate crimes. The Red Cross secretary-general, Dr Kopano Masilo, said he is happy the army is helping the gangsters to change their ways.
He said Tampane asked them to help. “The Red Cross will always cooperate and work together with the government,” he said. Army commander Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela said the operation was conducted because the gang problem was escalating.
He said after leaving the barracks the detainees “will be able to think like humans and become humans who listen”. Nongolosha and Nkeleketjane are names of the gangs’ bosses, whose real names are not known yet.
The names do not sound Sesotho. Gen Letsoela said the country has its constitution and therefore “needs no inherited gang codes in the country”. “We have our religions in this country, we will not allow this one of bloodthirst,” he said.
Gen Letsoela said he has information that the number is about to rise again adding that they are planning to take the second round of the rehabilitation if need be.
“We love you a lot, we just need to teach you discipline and patriotism.
” He stressed that the security agencies and the Ministry of Justice are one thing as they also work together.
Tampane said the gangsters are being arrested with the help of both the army and the police while others volunteered to go for rehabilitation. “The donations will help feed them and make sure that they are warm at all times,” she said. She said the detainees are still young and must go back to school. She said she will liaise with Social Development Minister ’Matebatso Doti to help.
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