’Marafaele Mohloboli
POLICE Minister, ’Mampho Mokhele, has ordered a re-sit of the examinations for police recruits after the question paper was circulated to social media networks before the completion of the examinations.
In a statement issued on night, Ms Mokhele said the re-sit was necessary to ensure a credible and transparent recruitment process of police officers.
“The Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) has noted that the question paper for the recruitment was seen on social media before the exercise was completed, an issue which is totally unacceptable,” Ms Mokhele said.
“The LMPS has resorted to this decision as it believes in the principles of transparent and fair recruitment. Therefore, all those who sat for this examination and those who were yet to sit for it shall have to re-sit on Monday 31 October in a bid to ensure that all are fairly recruited.”
She said legal action would be taken against those suspected to have leaked the question paper.
In an interview with this publication, Police Spokesperson, Inspector Mpiti Mopeli, said the new nation-wide interviews begin tomorrow.
Interviews will be conducted in Thaba-Tseka from 30 October to 3 November, in Berea (30 October to 10 November), Mafeteng (30 October to 3 November), Maseru (30 October to 10 November), Leribe (11-15 November) and Butha-Buthe (16-19 November).
Mokhotlong will conduct interviews from 20 to 22 November, Mohale’s Hoek (4-7 November), Quthing (8-10 November) and Qacha’s Nek (11-13 November).
The recruitment of police officers has previously been marred by controversy.
Early this year, former Police Minister and current Deputy Prime Minister, Monyane Moleleki, accused the former seven parties’ coalition government of corruptly recruiting their political supporters.
Mr Moleleki alleged that he participated in the recruitment of 250 party supporters of his former Democratic Congress (DC) party and its coalition partners, namely the Lesotho Congress for Democracy, Lesotho People’s Congress, Popular Front for Democracy, Basotho Congress Party, National Independent Party and the Marematlou Freedom Party.
“I am one of the people within (the-then) government that made 22 000 young men and women of this country to wait for long hours in the sun with hope they would get jobs when we knew we already had our people listed for the police jobs,” Mr Moleleki said.
His claims were rejected by the former regime.