Tefo Tefo
LESOTHO Defence Force (LDF) acting commander, Major-General Lineo Poopa, says a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) standby force headed for Lesotho next month is not going to take over from the army but to play a watchdog role.
Last month, SADC acquiesced to Lesotho’s request for a standby force comprising military, security, intelligence and civilian experts to assist the LDF in managing the latest security crisis in the country.
The crisis stems from the 5 September 2017 assassination of LDF commander Lt-Gen Khoantle Motšomotšo, allegedly by his subordinates – Brigadier Bulane Sechele and Colonel Tefo Hashatsi.
Brigadier Sechele and Colonel Hashatsi were subsequently shot dead by Lt-Gen Motšomotšo’s bodyguards, while two others, Captains Nyakane and Fonane, are in custody.
The government of Lesotho wants a standby force of 300 to 400 troops, but defence and security chiefs from the region will determine the size, tenure and scope of the contingent force before its deployment to the Mountain Kingdom in November.
Addressing mourners at the funeral of Retired Colonel Mashea Motabola in Thaba-Phatšoa, Leribe late last month, Maj-Gen Poopa said, contrary to whirling speculation, the standby force would not take over the LDF’s role.
Rtd Col Motabola died in car accident in Tlametlu which is in the southern part of Maseru early last month. The late colonel was given a military send-off at his Thaba-Phatšoa home.
Maj-Gen Poopa said the standby force would only be called upon if there are security concerns, especially in the implementation of multi-sectoral reforms.
Lesotho has embarked on multi-sectoral reforms with the objective of attaining lasting peace and stability at the instigation of SADC.
Among the areas earmarked for reform is the security sector, with a view to nip in the bud the root causes of Lesotho’s instability.
“The LDF will continue with its normal operations,” said Maj-Gen Poopa.
“Those soldiers from other countries will be here only to ensure that the reforms are made in compliance with the international standards. You will never see them one day patrolling the streets without our presence.
“You will not see them performing other duties while the LDF is doing nothing.
“I only speak about this issue because there is misleading information being circulated, especially on radio stations. If such misleading information is circulated through radio, it is likely to cause confusion among our parents.”
Maj-Gen Poopa’s remarks were in sync with those of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane this past week.
Dr Thabane told journalists upon his arrival from New York where he attended a two-week United Nations General Assembly meeting that there would be no repeat of the 1998 political disturbances which led to the death of hundreds of people following the arrival of SADC forces in Lesotho.
He said Lesotho had made a fresh commitment to help restore political and security stability by implementing the regional bloc’s decisions of a national reform agenda.