Pascalinah Kabi

Unknown assailants yesterday attacked the Mazenod home of National University of Lesotho (NUL) Political Science Professor, Mafa Sejanamane.

Professor Sejanamane told the Sunday Express that the attack took place at around 2am.

He said he first heard two gunshots which were immediately followed by his home’s shattering windowpanes.

At the time of the attack, only Professor Sejanamane and his daughter were in the house and none of them was injured. Professor Sejanamane said he found six stones, one inside the house and the rest outside by the broken two windows, which he suspects were part of the missiles the assailants used to attack his residence.

Professor Sejanamane said he suspected the attack was connected with his critical analysis about Lesotho’s current political situation in both the print and electronic media as well as his blog, lesothoanalysis.wordpress.com.  

“It was around 2 am when I heard two gunshots and immediately after, I heard some windowpanes breaking. I thought the breaking windows were for the other rooms of the house and only realised this morning that they were actually my bedroom’s,” Professor Sejanamane said.

“Together with my daughter, we hid in the house until around 4 am when we came out to sit on the bed. We were hoping the attackers had already left but I never got outside at that time.”

Professor Sejanamane said the assailants cut the security fence around his home and then entered the premises through the opening.

“The attack has left my daughter shaken and that is my biggest worry; I hope she can recover from this experience.

“As for me, I am fine. I have lived many years of my life. Even if they kill me now, I am not worried.

“I don’t know who did this to me, but people cannot attack my house without motive.

“I keep wondering if the attacks have got nothing to do with my political commentary and things that I have been writing about in those analysis,” Professor Sejanamane said.

The attack, he said, had however, left him “more determined than ever” to stand by his views, adding nobody is going to stop him from doing his part in contributing to a democratic Lesotho.

“I am more determined than ever and I should be writing another analytical piece in a day or two. I have reported the matter to the police and as you can see, they are still working and once their job is completed here, we will replace the broken windowpanes.

“I am actually going to sleep here in the same bedroom because I am not going to be intimated by criminals,” he said.

He said this was the first time his house has been attacked since he occupied it in 1981.

Police deputy spokesperson Senior Inspector Lerato Motseki yesterday said no one had been arrested in connection with the attack.

“There were no shells found in the yard, and no suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident but police investigations are continuing,” she said.