WITH the government announcing its decision to part ways with the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) commander Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli, Lesotho Times reporter Limpho Sello went to the streets to get the public’s viewpoint on the development and whether it will help resolve the security challenges the country has been facing.
This is what they had to say:
Seabata Pebane
I am so happy with the decision because for a long time many people have singled him out as the cause of conflicts and instability in the country. This will help the government to assess if he was indeed part of the problem.
But then again this will not resolve the security challenges because older people always tell us that the system has been faulty from the beginning. The solution could be in implementing security reforms after his removal.
Makompi Mofokeng
I am so delighted that Ntate Kamoli will be going home because he what he has tarnished the image of the LDF. As far as I am concerned horrible things happened during his time. It was the first time to see an LDF Commander who terrorised ordinary people with his bad reputation.
His removal will not make any positive changes to the country’s security challenges as long as some LDF officers especially from the Special Forces remain in their positions.
Puseletso Masolisa
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The government did very well because during his time in office a lot of things happened where we were also affected. A security guard was shot as soldiers exchanged fire and the matter was not properly addressed therefore I am so happy that he will be leaving.
I want to believe that the security challenge will be resolved after his departure because many people complained about him.
Tebello Ramotla
I feel it is a little too late. The government should have taken this decision a long time ago as per SADC recommendations. Why did they have to wait for this long before letting him go? The timing is just too suspicious and I wonder if there will not be any hiccups. I am even more suspicious because people and the international organisations have been calling for his ouster for a long time. Why now all of a sudden?
This is not going to resolve the security challenge but create more problems. I foresee the worst because there were allegations that he demanded a hefty golden hand shake for his resignation and if true, the question is whether they will be able to meet his demands. And the other thing is whether this whole thing will not create conflict among them.
Majoro Mohapi
The government is not giving the world the true picture of what is really happening here. They are acting as if they are implementing the SADC recommendations. You cannot say you are firing someone and then go and negotiate with him before when you do not do the same with others. This is just a disguise.
His resignation is not going to resolve the security challenge as long as the soldiers who were mentioned in the SADC report are not removed from office and those soldiers that are in detention are not released.
Mampoi Petlane
I am so happy that Ntate Kamoli is finally going home as he was somehow contributing to the country’s instability.
I am sure that people are going to be free as some of us were always scared.
Hopefully with him gone we will see some positive changes.
Seahle Molapo
The government has made the right decision to let go of Ntate Kamoli because some people do not like him. Some have fled the country because of him. They left because they feared for their lives. Hopefully they will come back home now that he will be gone for good.
However his resignation will not resolve the problems because he is not the only person at fault here.
Teboho Pulinyane
They did well by removing him from office. This country is poor because of him. I am sure we will now have peace and stability once he is gone. Those who fled because of him will now come back home.
The fear in us will ease and I am sure even the soldiers who are in detention will be released. Hopefully the economy will grow because tourists and investors were reluctant to come to the country which did not have peace and stability.
