Lance sergeant, sub inspector and senior assistant commissioner added to existing ranks

Keiso Mohloboli

A new salary and organisational structure for the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) has been approved, the Sunday Express can reveal.

The revamped structure, which was released on Friday by the Minister of Defence, Police and National Security, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, has additional ranks of Lance Sergeant, Sub Inspector and Senior Assistant Commissioner.

Previously, the LMPS comprised of the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector, senior inspector, superintendent, senior superintendent, assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner, and commissioner.
According to a savingram dated 13 June and written by Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka to the Principal Secretary (PS) Finance Khosi Letsie (acting) and PS Police Refiloe Matekane, the new structure comes into effect on July 1, 2014.

Reads the savingram: “You are directed to work on the implementation of the above-captioned structure of the police as requested by the government, which shall be effective from July 1, 2014.
The structure is attached for your reference to ensure speedy implementation.”

According to the adjustment, the least-paid constable would now earn M5 010 (M60 120) a month, up from M4 858 (M58 296).
The highest-paid constable would now earn M7 525 a month (M90 300 a year), up from M7 093 (M85 122).

The new rank of lance sergeant would see the officers being paid M7 752 a month, while the highest-earning gets M10 030.
The other new rank, that of sub inspector has monthly salaries ranging between M11 252 and M12 734, while senior assistant commissioners would be paid between M24 225 and M26 091 a month.