…incident linked to famo gang rivalry 

Mohloai Mpesi 

ANOTHER horrifying mass shooting has sent chills throughout the village of Ha-Pitso in Bela-Bela, Berea?District, as four family members?have been?brutally gunned down in what is believed to be part of a long-running rivalry?involving illegal miners and/or?famo?gangs. 

?The gruesome attack, which unfolded on Tuesday night, has left the community reeling and fearful as the bloody feuds?between?illegal miners (zama-zamas)?and outlawed?famo?gangs?continue to wreak havoc?across Lesotho. 

According to the Kueneng Principal Chief, Lesaoane Peete Lesaoana, the chilling incident targeted Ntsapi Ntsapi, a man with alleged links to illegal mining activities in South Africa. 

Although Mr Ntsapi managed to escape, the gunmen unleashed a hail of bullets, indiscriminately shooting at his family members. Four people were killed, and one was injured and is now hospitalised. 

A source, too terrified to be identified, told the?Sunday Express?that five gunmen arrived in the village on Tuesday afternoon. 

He said three of the attackers wore balaclavas, while two had their faces uncovered, initially posing as acquaintances of Mr Ntsapi. They claimed they knew him from an initiation school to mislead the villagers. 

“They even went to a nearby bar to buy beer while waiting for their target to return. At that time, Mr Ntsapi was away, accompanying?women?who had?taken?his daughter to an initiation school,” he said. 

“Later into the night, I was awakened by a hard knock on my door and when I opened it, I found Mr Ntsapi’s friend with a leg injury, telling me he had been shot. He said unknown gunmen had ambushed them when they arrived at Mr Ntsapi’s home, opening fire. 

“When we arrived at the scene, we found a body lying in a pool of blood. Another was dead near the garden, while the third was inside the house. We also learned Mr Ntsapi managed to escape without any injuries. 

“It seems the assailants were frustrated at missing their intended target and began shooting indiscriminately at anyone in the vicinity. They also set the house on fire, though fortunately, no one was inside at the time. The fourth victim, a shepherd, was found alive the following morning but later succumbed to his injuries. In total, four people were dead,” the source added. 

He said the community was in shock over the incident, which is unprecedented in their village. 

“We are all shocked because we’ve never experienced such a thing. We’ve heard of these incidents happening in other villages, but not here.” 

The area Chief,?Seshophe?Hlajoane, who still seemed shaken by the incident, confirmed the killings, stating that the deceased were Mr Ntsapi’s son, his younger brother, nephew and a shepherd. However, he reiterated what had been said by?our?source saying that was the?information?he had?also?received. He could not give further details. 

?“This matter is still under police investigations so when they have completed their investigations they will give me a report as chief. 

“The eyewitnesses said they only saw people who arrived in balaclavas, who were drinking beer, so they could not tell whether they are affiliated to?famo?issues or not,” Chief Hlajoane said. 

However, Chief Lesaoana said he believed the shooting was related to Zama-zamas (illegal miners)?and?famo?gangs?fighting over derelict mine shafts in South Africa. 

“These actions were carried out by Zama-zamas. The report I got was that he?(Ntsapi)?was in a dispute with these?famo?people from the rival group who accused him of mining on their turf when he was not part of them but a rival. I believe those close to Mr Ntsapi know who they?(killers)?are, but they haven’t been arrested yet, as they are still on the run,” Chief Lesaoana said. 

Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, said police investigations had been launched. 

“No arrests have been made so far. Therefore, we still do not know the cause of those killings. We can’t affiliate?them?with anything at the moment as that will be revealed?in?the ongoing investigations,” SSP Mopeli said. 

This incident is the latest in?suspected?famo-related mass murders that have crippled the country this year. 

In April, two people from the?Terene ea Khosi Mokata?gang were shot in Liphakoeng, Leribe, and one died instantly while the other sustained injuries but was treated in Hospital. Four days?later,?five family members of?Liala Mabatha?famo?gang leader, Khalane “Madan” Nalane,?were shot dead by unknown gunmen at his Fobane, Leribe, home.? 

On 6 July 2024, four other people were shot dead?and one was injured?in Ribaneng, Mafeteng. The quintet was on its way to bury a?famo?musician known as Bohome.?Bohome?was one of the two men shot dead at?the?Maseru Bridge on 11 June 2024. Bohome and another person, also believed to be from the outlawed?Terene ea Chakela?famo?group, were caught in a hail of bullets as they alighted from a taxi from Johannesburg around 4am that day. 

The South African police had told this publication that unknown males travelling in a white Isuzu bakkie?had?shot Bohome and another. However, the vehicle was intercepted by the Ladybrand police who only managed to arrest the driver while two other suspects disappeared into the bushes. A manhunt for them is still ongoing. 

Furthermore, 11 people?at?Ha Mamathe, in Berea?District, were caught in a crossfire. Three people?died on the spot while the injured eight were rushed to hospital. 

The horrific incident occurred at a local public bar, Tšoara Fatše Tavern, and was also believed to be related to?famo?gang disputes. It was alleged that one of the deceased, Lefu “Masupha” Mosehle, the bar owner, was the target while others happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The incident happened just four days after Bohome and his companion had been killed at the border. 

On 20 July this year, renowned?famo?musician Khopolo “Lisuoa” Khuluoe and local radio presenter Pulane Macheli were fatally shot at Masowe I, Maseru. 

Six days later, two men were shot dead and six others injured in one of the bars at Ha Molengoane in the outskirts of Maseru, among other incidents. 

This?is all happening?despite the government having declared war on famo gangs by outlawing them. The ban, published in terms of the Internal Security (declaration of unlawful organisations) Act N0. 24 of 1984?on 10 May 2024,?seems to be having little effect. If at all, it seems the?famo?killings have worsened ever since?and the impunity of the?famo?gangsters has escalated. 

A Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) led?initiative to assist in combating the rampant killings also seems to be yielding more problems than results. 

As matters stand, the army is faced with lawsuits amounting to about M50 million by civilians who claim they were wrongfully brutalised by soldiers during?raids. Many civilians complain they are randomly ambushed?and asked to surrender unregistered guns which they?have never possessed. It seems like the soldiers are acting on mere suspicions instead of viable intelligence on ownership of illegal firearms. 

Just this past week, the area chief of Khokhoba, Ha Lebese, in Berea district, Lesaoana Masupha, is alleged to have been severely beaten by soldiers on 5 September 2024 and is currently in intensive care unit (ICU) at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital. Two herd boys from the area are also reported to have been beaten to death by the same soldiers that same day. 

As the killing mayhem intensifies, earning poor Lesotho the distinction of being among top five most murderous countries in the world, and the first in Africa, one thing has become crystal clear: the government of Prime Minister Sam Matekane and the security agencies lack a clear, coherent strategy of repelling crime. 

The National Security Service (NSS), which should naturally have infiltrated these violent gangs to try and subdue them, is as dead as a dodo. ?