Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) has announced its intentions of launching educational programs, having realized a need to professionalize and publicize its duties in the country.
According to LCS Deputy Commissioner Matingoe Phamotse, the facility has gone for ages without due credit and honour for its outstanding duties and services, as well as the positive impact it has
imparted to the communities and the country at large. “For us to gain appreciation from the public, media and other departments, we have resolved to launch
educational programs within communities, churches, schools and any gatherings to broaden the education and work hand in hand in the fight against criminal
activities that are elevating rapidly in our country. We also plan to report frequent updates on activities and duties performed along the week, as well as
challenges we encounter and other important things we find worthy to share,” Phamotse stated. The Deputy Commissioner indicated that worldwide correctional services are formed from five pillars of rehabilitation.
“The first pillar ensures to stop criminal activities by locking up the law
breakers with the purpose of correcting their behavior so that they would go back to reintegrate with the community as developed, skillful citizens. In the
process of keeping them into our institution, we are keeping in mind that parties that have been affected (hurt) mentally in the criminal activities heal, that the law breakers repent from their criminal activities.
All this duties we do with the aim of keeping the public safe and secure, we restore good relations that have been destroyed by criminal activities, we work towards
healing wounds that could be physical or internal. Mostly we nurse wounds that are social and emotional and it is our duty to repair these wounds,” Phamotse
stated. He highlighted on the laws governing their institution, saying they were previously called Lesotho Prison Service then in 2004 they changed to Lesotho Correctional Service in accordance
with the 5th amendment of the Constitution of Lesotho. He extended that they face challenges that affect them enormously. “We have contagious diseases that recently have included the Covid-19 pandemic which has brought
more challenges as we keep a large number of people in one area, the “few resources” remain the other main challenge, it could be equipment used for educational purposes as well as human basic needs, a lot still needs to be done
however, we are grateful for the renovations that have been done recently of our buildings in other districts. Nevertheless we are prepared to reach out and work together with the public for the growth of our beloved country,” Phamotse noted.
