NTHATUOA KOESHE
SIXTY Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS) officers are set to receive three-year computer related diplomas from the Lerotholi Polytechnic to equip them to fight cybercrimes.
Cybercrimes are offences that are committed against individuals or groups with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm, or loss, to the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet and computers.
Out of the 60 police officers, 20 will be majoring in computer literacy, 20 in advanced computer literacy while the other 20 will be doing cyber security. All 60 will graduate with diplomas at the end of the training.
Speaking at an event to launch the training recently in Maseru, the Commissioner of police, Holomo Molibeli, said Lerotholi Polytechnic had taken a huge role to ensure enhancement of police work.
He said the gesture by the college should show the public why it is important to have computer skills.
“We have challenges where Basotho are constantly conned of their money via the internet and police officers need to have skills to analyse and understand how these crimes are committed so that they can stop them,” Compol Molibeli said.
He said Lesotho’s police was still at an infancy stage where they still rely on South Africa to assist with cybercrimes but the training was a step in the right direction.
Compol Molibeli expressed gratitude to the Lesotho National Insurance Group and Nedbank whom he said were responsible for bankrolling the studies. He said the training would be handy not only for the ministry of Police but also for the individuals who will be trained.
He said he was looking forward to a time when computer literacy will be an added advantage when hiring police officers because since they are increasingly crucial for day to day living.
He said with banks and companies always robbed through technology, it would also be ideal to have a computer lab at the police station to help combat the crimes.
For her part, the Minister of Police, Mampho Mokhele, said she hoped all other offices would enrol into the same programme to capacitate them and to make their work easier.
She said the training would help decrease the rate of cybercrime in the country as police officers would now have the requisite skills.
The deputy Minister of Education and Training responsible for Higher Education, Mothepu Mahapa, said the enhancement of skills was the only way through which the country’s economy could be improved.
He said the expected reduction of cybercrime after the training would also enhance peace in the country and Lesotho would resultantly attract more investors into the country who will create jobs for the betterment of lives.
“We are thankful for this initiative and we hope that it’s executed throughout with peace and understanding for better outcomes,”
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