Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Motlalentoa Letsosa urged farmers to brand and tattoo their livestock in effort to reduce stock-theft. This he said at gatherings
that were meant to alert the community about human trafficking and stock-theft at Mapholaneng and Liphofung last Wednesday and Thursday. While tabling
the challenges facing the community, Seate Community Councilor Maqebo Tsietsi said the community of Mapholaneng is very much challenged by stock-theft as their
livestock is stolen and crossed over to South Africa. He indicated that a lot of farmers say it becomes difficult to sell their livestock in South Africa when they are branded
and tattooed. Tsietsi also said the farmers are pleading with the government to bring back Livestock Auctions whereby they used to auction their livestock to
bidders. On the issue of human trafficking, Hon. Letsosa indicated that human trafficking is a very huge challenge. He challenged community members to spot indicators of human
trafficking and said they have discovered that there are three major strategies used to lure people: prostitution, body parts rituals and employment promises.
He further stated that women and girls also get trapped through marriage promises by men they met on social media. He disclosed that there is one person who was found guilty of human trafficking in April
this year and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Furthermore, Tsietsi expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs and its partners for schooling the Mapholaneng Community about the dangers of human trafficking.
He disclosed that there is a villager who was taken by another villager to go work at the illegal mines in SA and the former died upon arrival at the illegal
mines, but his body has not come home to date. He said surprisingly this latter has never set a foot in Mapholaneng ever since he left with the deceased, but
rumour has it that he is still alive. The community councilor also guided community members that if they have attained jobs far from home; they should always give out cellphone numbers and provide contact
persons so that if anything happens, their families know where to ask. Polihali Branch Representative Ntoetsi Lerotholi indicated that this initiative of bringing
awareness to the nation falls under their Public Health Program. She said human trafficking is one factor exacerbated by high unemployment rate and urged the
community members to spot human trafficking signs and always be alert. Skillshare Project Coordinator Chabeli Monyake disclosed that the biggest initiative they
are doing in Mokhotlong is of informing residents about human trafficking. He informed that they are working with Child and Gender protection Unit (CGPU),
Social development and village Protection Committees. In their interactions with people, they have realized that transportation plays a major role in the
human trafficking circle so they will be engaging all transport industry stakeholders. On behalf of Baylor, ‘Malihaelo Motjetsi said their organization works towards children’s
welfare hence they are in this initiative. She further indicated that a week ago a young girl from Mokhotlong was found stranded in Quthing. It turns out
the girl had met a boyfriend from Quthing on Facebook and the boyfriend had sent the girl money to travel to Quthing to meet him but was no where to be
found when the girl arrived. Motjetsi also showed that Baylor through Karabo ea Bophelo Program is helping vulnerable families in Mokhotlong by equipping them with skills on food security
resilience as it has come to their realization that poverty drives vulnerable people into being trafficked. The Ministry of Home Affairs Public Outreach on Trafficking In Persons (TIPs) and Internal
Displacement of Persons (IDP) gatherings at Mokhotlong were facilitated by the Ministry in partnership with Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA)
Polihali Branch, Skillshare Lesotho and Baylor. At these gatherings, birth certificates and Identity Cards were issued to community members. Livestock registration and marking were also
facilitated. These programs (TIPs and IDP) are meant to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16): target to provide legal identity for all including birth registration (target
16.9). The goals were endorsed at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
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