Africa-Press – Lesotho. OUR story headlined ‘Study lays bare police’s’ brutal tactics, which we published last week, was yet another reminder of how urgent it is for the government to reform the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).
The story speaks of a “delinquent culture within the LMPS fraternity created by poor supervision and outright lack of accountability”. The report says there is also a “culture of impunity” with rogue officers accused of egregious abuses of power.
This, of course, is nothing new. We have heard this before. What the story simply did was to validate in no uncertain terms our previous assessment that the LMPS is rotten to the core.
Unless the government led by Prime Minister Sam Matekane implements widespread reforms, we are likely to see and hear more horror stories from the police. That is inevitable.
While the report covered the period 2021 to 2022, the new government cannot claim that it is not aware of these shocking stories that have been taking place for years.
It was against that background that the ruling parties in the current coalition government pledged to reform the police as part of a wider process to promote a culture of respect for the people’s basic rights.
So far, it would appear we have not moved an inch on the path to reform. The LMPS is still stuck in its old, rotten ways. It is therefore imperative that the Police Minister Lebona Lephema steps up the reform agenda to ensure the police respect the people’s basic rights.
Admittedly though, what has complicated the police’s work is the rhetoric from politicians when they address issues of crime in Lesotho. While it is true that Lesotho is a very violent society, it is the manner in which politicians have packaged their messages around the subject of crime that could have sent
the wrong signals to the police. We of course all want the police to be efficient in tackling crime. But that must be done within the confines of the law and respect for the people’s basic rights.
We do not subscribe to the notion that the police must be given a blank cheque to fight crime. That would be a recipe for disaster. The Police Minister must urgently address “the delinquent culture” within the LMPS.
There must be accountability in the LMPS. Those found guilty of inhumane acts against suspects must go. For years, the police have been accused of covering up for their colleagues who are accused of serious rights violations.
Only a few of these rogue officers have been charged with serious crimes. The Matekane-led government must reassure Basotho that respect for human rights is at the centre of all police operations.
Those that are accused of torture must be weeded out. In fact, there must be no room for the police to use brutal tactics to extricate confessions. Any police officers who perpetrate barbaric methods in their line of duty must be held personally responsible when sued in the courts of law.
Once police officers are charged personally, they will likely be dissuaded from violating the law. But for any reforms to succeed will require loads of political will from the government.
Of course the temptation for the government is to want to be seen to be doing something to fight crime by tacitly agreeing with the police’s brutal methods. That must now stop.
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