Moorosi Tsiane
LESOTHO Defence Force (LDF) Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, has strongly criticised the fatal shooting of former army chief Lt-Gen Maaparankoe Mahao, describing it as an unnecessary use of lethal force in what was supposed to be a controlled arrest operation.
Lt-Gen Letsoela was testifying as the 38th state witness in the ongoing trial of former LDF commander Tlali Kamoli and eight other soldiers.
He began his testimony on Wednesday when he sensationally told the court that the army was overwhelmed by political interference.
Drawing parallels between his tenure and that of his murder accused predecessor Tlali Kamoli, Lt-Gen Letsoela said both have had to contend with undue political meddling in the army’s affairs.
He questioned the rationale of placing sole responsibility for Operation Save Lives on Kamoli and his co-accused, most of whom were junior officers at the time.
Lt-Gen Letsoela was testifying in the trial where Kamoli is charged alongside Captains Litekanyo Nyakane and Haleo Makara; Sergeants Lekhooa Moepi and Motsamai Fako; Corporals Marasi ‘Moleli, Motšoane Machai, Mohlalefi Seitlheko, and Tšitso Ramoholi for the June 2015 murder Lt-Gen Mahao.
Continuing with his testimony, Lt-Gen Letsoela told Justice Charles Hungwe on Thursday that the circumstances of the 25 June 2015 operation did not justify the deadly force used.
“That mission was clearly meant to be an arrest. At the point where the troops had gained control, there was no need to fire at all. What followed was an overreaction,” Lt-Gen Letsoela said.
He explained that the operation was already under the command of the late Colonel Tefo Hashatsi, who had fired a warning shot to assert control. That warning shot, he said, was a standard military procedure to command compliance.
“That warning shot was sufficient to dominate the situation,” he said. “But what I fail to understand is the subsequent shooting from the flanking vehicle. Those bullets struck Lt-Gen Mahao’s vital organs and led to his death — something completely unjustified during a controlled operation.”
He questioned why further shots were fired at all.
“I cannot comprehend who authorised the release of those three fatal rounds. Under the conditions of a controlled operation, the use of lethal force in that manner is inexplicable,” he added.
Lt-Gen Letsoela emphasised that the broader objective of the operation was to arrest, not eliminate, those suspected of mutiny within the army ranks.
“The intention was to detain and interrogate suspected mutineers to neutralise the perceived threat from within the LDF. Mahao was never among the accused, and the operation should have reflected that distinction,” he said.
He noted that the mission targeted both junior and senior officers accused of involvement in a mutiny, many of whom were arrested and tried by a court martial over which he presided.
“The court martial began in June 2015 and concluded in August 2017. All the accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Lt-Gen Mahao was not one of those brought before the tribunal,” he added.
Lt-Gen Letsoela further questioned the tactical decisions made during the operation, particularly after Mahao’s vehicle had already been surrounded by troops with clear superiority.
“The way the truck was enveloped by Colonel Hashatsi’s men indicated overwhelming dominance. There was no threat that could have warranted (the use of) fatal force. The team had the upper hand — three vehicles, superior firepower, and complete tactical positioning,” he said.
Mahao was already subdued, he said, especially considering he was accompanied by two children at the time of the ambush.
“The situation was under control. Colonel Hashatsi’s warning shot was enough. The use of multiple rounds, particularly targeting critical areas like the upper arm, was excessive. They had sufficient manpower and had already subdued the target,” he said.
In conclusion, Lt-Gen Letsoela said the mission had already achieved its objective before the fatal shots were fired.
“They had full tactical control. The vehicle was surrounded. Any reasonable soldier would have recognised that Mahao had been overwhelmed. The amount of force used was far beyond what was necessary,” he said.
The high-profile trial is scheduled to resume on 28 July 2025.