Billy Ntaote
POLICE Minister Phallang Monare says the police recruitment process is above board, “contrary to the criticisms, innuendo and threats” from the government’s detractors.
Mr Monare made the remark while addressing a pass-out ceremony for 297 recruits at Police Training College on Friday.
This was in apparent reference to recent allegations by Alliance of Democrats leader Monyane Moleleki that the seven parties in the outgoing coalition government corruptly handed out posts in the country’s security agencies to their supporters.
Mr Moleleki was once Police minister in the government whose partners include the DC, Lesotho Congress for Democracy, Lesotho People’s Congress, Popular Front for Democracy, Basotho Congress Party, National Independent Party and the Marematlou Freedom Party.
The veteran politician resigned from government in November 2016 after he was reshuffled by Dr Mosisili from the Police ministry to the premier’s office – a move he described as a demotion.
Mr Moleleki claimed he was part of “a corrupt act” of enlisting 250 police recruits from the seven parties’ support base to undergo training at the PTC last year.
However, Mr Monare said the recruits underwent rigorous vetting before training, adding that allegations they were supporters of the governing parties were “flimsy”.
“When entering the police service, these people are thoroughly vetted and there are no recruits who enter the police service through illegal means,” he said.
“There is clear criteria that is used in the recruitment process, and this criteria was followed to the letter.
“However, all that needs to be done to improve the recruitment processes from time to time. A new course will be soon introduced in line with that objective.”
Mr Monare said allegations that the recruits were governing party supporters had adversely affected them.
“These officers were criticised and threatened even before they could assume their duties as police constables. The allegations are a bit flimsy but, but if they are not attended to they may erupt into a wildfire,” he said.
The minister also revealed that the government had embarked on a project to transform the PTC into a full-fledged police academy. He said the academy would be constructed on the outskirts of Maseru.
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