…poor training and corruption among key causes
–as Inspector of Police calls for increased state support
Rethabile Pitso
THE Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) is failing to combat crime because some of its officers are poorly trained and corrupt. The lack of a forensic laboratory is another serious setback to investigations with dockets for such serious crimes as murder left to gather dust for prolonged periods of time.
This was said by the Inspector of Police – Advocate Motlatsi Mapola – in an exclusive interview with the Lesotho Times this week.
He said a serious lack of capacity within the LMPS was the primary factor undermining its ability to execute its mandate effectively. As a result, the LMPS had failed to achieve its four key strategic objectives for the year.
Adv Mapola, who himself is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), spoke as serious crimes including murder and gender-based violence continue to plague the country.
Information that police officers and soldiers have been stealing state weapons and selling them to criminal gangs have only worsened the plight of crime weary citizens.
Adv Mapola painted a grim picture of the LMPS in the interview and asked the government to do all it can to capacitate the police service if it is top get ahead in executing its mandate to combat crime.
His office is tasked with inspecting and reporting on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the police force.
He said inspections conducted by his office had uncovered serious anomalies that had gradually crippled the LMPS, rendering it incapable of delivering efficient and effective policing. Among these challenges was the absence of a properly functioning forensic laboratory in Lesotho.
He therefore called on government to capacitate the LMPS with adequate resources and to recognise the Office of the Inspector of Police as an autonomous oversight body, free from interference by the Police Service.
Adv Mapola expressed hope that the proposed establishment of the Independent Security Sector Oversight, Inspectorate and Complaints Authority, as provided for in the Tenth Constitutional Amendment, would finally grant the office its rightful autonomy.
The Office of the Inspector of Police was established in 2005 under Section 21 of the Police Act of 1998 as an oversight body mandated to inspect the LMPS and report on its efficiency and effectiveness.
The Inspector of Police is appointed by the King acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. Adv Mapola was appointed to the office on 1 May 2025. He served as a police officer from 1988 to 2023.
Failure to meet four policing objectives
Adv Mapola revealed that during the current financial year, the LMPS failed to achieve four key objectives set out in its policing plan: reducing stock theft, reducing serious crimes, intensifying crime prevention strategies and curbing corruption within the police force.
“These objectives have not been satisfactorily met at all,” Adv Mapola said.
“When we inspected stock theft initiatives, we failed to find proper records indicating how the crime was being combatted. Even basic records showing dates of community outreach gatherings were missing.”
He added that the handling of serious crimes was equally alarming.
“Our level of proactiveness in combating crime is inadequate. Our efforts have significantly declined.
“After crimes have been committed, the reactive stage is where we find the most shame. Many murder dockets have not been investigated. Some were last revisited over five years ago, while others date back to 2014 and remain unresolved.”
Adv Mapola said these findings raised serious questions about officers’ competence, workload and motivation.
Forensic backlog crippling investigations
Further investigations revealed that the LMPS lacks critical resources needed to carry out its mandate, particularly forensic support.
“A large number of murder cases are lying idle because of forensic issues. Serious cases opened as far back as 2014 remain incomplete because samples have not been taken to Pretoria or Stellenbosch due to lack of funds.”
He said his office had recommended the establishment of a local forensic laboratory to provide timely feedback required by the courts.
“It is costly for government to continue running forensic tests in South Africa. Those funds could be redirected towards establishing our own laboratory. Even the private sector can assist. Lesotho has people with the expertise to operate such a facility.”
He added that the absence of a forensic laboratory also affects officers’ working conditions, noting shortages of protective clothing and essential crime-scene equipment such as gloves and stretchers.
Poor performance, missing exhibits
Adv Mapola said that despite the existence of the Police Charter, many officers continue to disregard established standards.
“Most officers assigned to investigations are not adequately trained or qualified. This is evident in the poor quality of their reports and investigative methods, which explains the backlog of dockets, including murder cases.”
He cited a recent High Court incident in which exhibit firearms disappeared, prompting Justice Tšeliso Mokoko to demand their production.
“My office had to oversee that investigation until the guns reappeared,” he said.
Adv Mapola described as “embarrassing”, that High Court judges frequently reprimand police officers for presenting unconstitutionally or improperly obtained evidence.
Corruption and oversight challenges
Adv Mapola said corruption within the service remained widespread and pledged to work closely with Police Commissioner Adv Borotho Matsoso to address the problem.
“There is a high prevalence of corruption among officers who deliberately sabotage people’s cases. This must be confronted decisively,” he said.
He also highlighted serious operational challenges within his own office, despite its legal status as an autonomous institution.
“It is ironic that the law provides for autonomy and adequate staffing, yet my office consists of only four officers, including myself. To function effectively, we require at least 12 staff members.”
He said Section 21(5) of the Police Act requires that the office be provided with sufficient personnel, but this provision has not been implemented.
“We are expected to conduct surprise inspections nationwide, yet we do not even have a dedicated vehicle. We are forced to share transport with other departments,” he said.
Without elaborating, he described Berea CID as “one of the worst institutions”.
Recruitment, training and traffic duties
Adv Mapola also called for a review of recruitment and training practices at the Police Training College (PTC).
“In the past, trainees rotated through various units before being permanently assigned. That allowed commanders to identify where officers were best suited.
“Nowadays, new graduates are prematurely deployed to patrol units, where they are exposed to corruption and lose the core principles of policing.”
He said many officers later struggle with basic procedures such as opening dockets and making arrests.
Adv Mapola further called for a clear separation of duties between Traffic Commissioners and the LMPS.
“We do not support the practice where police officers are directing traffic during peak hours. That is maladministration.
“That energy should be directed towards crime prevention and combating stock theft, not ushering cars.”
He said traffic management should be the responsibility of Traffic Commissioners, while LMPS officers should intervene only when offences occur on the roads.
“The deployment of large numbers of police officers to traffic duties has weakened crime prevention efforts.
“In fact, the number of LMPS officers currently assigned to traffic control exceeds the number deployed at some district police stations.”
