By The Post
Africa-Press – Lesotho. When news broke out that a renowned journalist, Ralikonelo Joki, had been shot dead it sent shock waves around the country. The brazen killing brought international spotlight on Lesotho where we have been characterised as a “little country with big problems”.
A day after Joki’s killing the people’s emotions flared once more as the Minister of Defence and Security Lebona Lephema declared a countrywide curfew on national television.
The curfew has since invited criticism and legal action from Basotho who are peeved by the declaration. Critics have expressed disappointment over the government’s approach to the sky-rocketing crime rate in Lesotho.
To say I was disappointed with the declaration of the curfew is an understatement. Fortunately, there are people who share the same sentiments that the government led by Prime Minister Sam Matekane is not doing enough to curb the rising rates of crime in this country.
The biggest question I have is how long will the curfew remain in force? Will the curfew result in a decrease in the number of homicides in Lesotho? I should also emphasise that the killings do not just happen at night but during daytime too.
I think the current government must amend the constitutional laws and stop selling us pipe dreams. Most of us had high hopes that within the first hundred days the government would implement noticeable changes to improve the security of Basotho.
But that has not happened. I have no doubt in my mind that the curfew will bring negative consequences for businesses that operate at night such as taxis and nightclubs.
This will result in a downturn in economic performance especially after the storm of the Covid-19 that wreaked havoc in the business sector. It is going to be extremely difficult to expect businesses to recover and prosper in an economy where there is a high crime rate.
Lesotho has for years hogged the headlines for the wrong reasons. We are generally seen as a violent people. The killing of Joki almost confirmed that assessment.
That is why the news of his killing received much international attention. It was such a shame to see one’s country being dragged through the mud. It was the very antithesis of our democratic credentials.
Freedom of expression is a human right that is enshrined in the constitution of the country and should not be suppressed in any way. Ralikonelo “Leqhashasha” Joki was an outspoken journalist.
It came as no surprise that people have linked his killing to his journalism work. The media is a watchdog of society and those in power. Without freedom of expression and freedom of the media, it becomes extremely difficult for democracy to prosper.
I believe that democracy goes hand in hand with development. As I write this statement I chuckle a bit and remember an old friend of mine who loves to argue that democracy and development are not necessarily intertwined.
He would even go as far as citing examples of countries like China and Rwanda that are thriving when their governing system is seen as authoritarian. While his argument may be valid, I still would like to believe that democracy cannot be separated from development.
Without a robust media, democracy cannot endure for the following reasons: Media is a platform where civil society can express their views and exercise their freedom of expression.
Citizens have a democratic right to question those who have been elected into power about developmental issues. Journalists pave the way for accountability and transparency in any country and have a right to access information so that those in positions of authority are held accountable.
Not long ago, a Zimbabwean journalist working in Lesotho, Lloyd Mtungamiri, was shot and injured. His case is still in the courts. Other journalists have fled into exile after their lives were threatened.
While this harassment is going on, other journalists have sought sanctuary in politics by joining politics fulltime. That is sad. We have politicians in Lesotho who are dangling the carrot to journalists in exchange for promoting the party’s views.
The media fraternity faces many challenges in Lesotho. Our small economy with a weak private sector puts serious limitations on journalists. That sometimes forces journalists to turn to party politics to survive.
Most practising journalists who affiliate themselves with politicians are seen to be living flashy lives while others are rewarded with political jobs at foreign embassies.
The only way out for journalists lately is to turn to politics for survival. We have journalists who are card-carrying members of certain political parties which kills objectivity and professionalism in the media space.
One cannot be a politician and a journalist at the same time. As a young person with dreams and hopes, I am disappointed by the current coalition government led by the RFP.
I had anticipated that the government would implement a lot of changes by now but unfortunately I do not see the radical changes that I had expected. I am specifically referring here to Matekane’s promises to tackle crime in Lesotho.
The crime rate in this country has really gotten out of hand. People are being killed day in and day out. This is a clear sign that the rule of law is very weak in this country and needs to be tightened.
As a woman I feel very unsafe walking even during the day. It is not just scary but it is very traumatizing to live in my native country constantly looking over my shoulder and worried that any second, I might hear a gunshot.
In conclusion, I would urge the government to clamp down violent crime in Lesotho. We need sustainable solutions to effectively tackle crime. If we ensure greater security for the people, that could translate into more Direct Foreign Investment for Lesotho.
That would result in more jobs for Basotho and probably reduced violent crime. The journalists’ right to freedom of expression must be protected. We need free expression to safeguard our democracy.
https://www.thepost.co.ls/journalists-are-an-endangered-species-in-lesotho/
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