Hopolang Mokhopi
THE Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) has raised alarm over a dangerous new drug abuse trend known as “Bluetoothing”.
LDF Chief of Operations, Major General Khomo Mohobo, explained that Bluetoothing involves one drug user injecting themselves with a narcotic – most commonly crystal meth – and then having others draw that user’s blood using a syringe to inject others, allowing them to experience a similar high.
The shocking practice, also referred to by users as “Hotspotting”, came to light during an anti-drug awareness march on Friday, organized by Mokhosi oa Mangoana (a mother’s cry), a non-governmental organization formed in 2023 to fight drug abuse and support families affected by the addiction of their members.
The march, which started at the National Stadium and ended at the Police Training College, aimed to shine a spotlight on the growing drug crisis in Lesotho.
Speaking at the event, Maj Gen Mohobo urged parents to stay vigilant and involved in their children’s lives.
“We must take responsibility as parents. Too often, we give our children money without realizing it may be used to buy drugs.”
He warned that children were increasingly exposed to toxic environments, including parental neglect and drug abuse in the home’ which can push them towards addiction.
“When a home is unstable, children suffer the most. We must check their school bags and bedrooms. Do not assume all-night prayers mean safety, some children lie and go to guest houses to use drugs.”
He said some teens were ordering drugs online and having them delivered directly to their homes, often without their parents realizing.
Maj Gen Mohobo emphasized the need for comprehensive support and rehabilitation for addicts.
“They need help. They need family support, behavioural therapy, and education to turn their lives around.”
He also announced an upcoming campaign to root out drug sources in communities.
“We will uproot every weed that comes our way”, he declared, encouraging Basotho to take an active role in fighting the drug scourge. “Be the change you want to see”.
Addressing broader social issues, Maj Gen Mohobo linked Lesotho’s high alcohol consumption to rising incidents of gender-based violence.
“The woman is the heartbeat of the home. She must be protected and not abused,” he said, calling for stronger family values and community awareness.
Mokhosi oa Mangoana public relations officer, Pontšo Tumisi, echoed the urgency.
“People need to wake up. Drugs are real, and they are destroying our nation,” she said.
Ms Tumisi highlighted the widespread availability of crystal meth on Lesotho’s streets, warning that it threatened the future of the country’s youth.
She also shared her own pain as a mother, revealing that she doesn’t even know where her daughter is. The daughter has since disappeared from home due to drugs.
“We take 10 steps forward and twenty steps back. I march today not just as a public servant, but as a mother who fears for her child’s life, especially when it’s cold or raining.”
Another co-founder of Mokhosi oa Mangoana, Malephana Molotsi, gave a chilling account of her own ordeal. She was stabbed 20 times by her drug-addicted son, who was desperate for money to pay his dealer.
“He thought he had killed me,” she said, recalling the moment she was left bleeding and helpless. Her son was later convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison, half of which was suspended.
Yet, even after such trauma, Ms Molotsi found the strength to support her son’s recovery.
“After I was discharged from hospital, I knew I had to help him find his way back,” she said.
That decision eventually led her to connect with other women battling similar situations, and together they founded Mokhosi oa Mangoana.