…as failure to register livestock fuels economic strain for farmers
Moroke Sekoboto
POLICE have recorded more than 1900 livestock theft cases this financial year 2025/26 alone, a crisis authorities say is worsened by the widespread failure to properly register and mark animals.
The alarming figures provided by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Livestock Theft Unit, angered the National Assembly’s Law and Public Safety Cluster Committee which blasted the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police’s Livestock Registration, Marking and Information System (LRMIS), for failing farmers for years.
The department came under heavy criticism this week when ministry officials appeared before the Committee for its budget presentation.
Lawmakers said the department’s inability to provide livestock registration and marking services is not only undermining efforts to fight stock theft but is also crippling farmers’ ability to legally trade their animals.
Committee member, Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane, said there was a serious disconnect between the country’s livestock laws and the operational capacity of the department tasked with implementing them.
He said although recent amendments make it illegal to own or trade unregistered livestock, several registration stations — including Katse — have reportedly been unable to issue livestock identification for more than a year due to damaged equipment.
Adv Rakuoane said National Livestock Registry Manager, Pitso Ramokoatsi, had already admitted to serious capacity challenges, including the lack of functioning machinery.
He urged the department to stop citing livestock theft as an excuse for delayed services, arguing that law enforcement is the responsibility of the police — not farmers who are currently being prevented from legally selling their animals.
“There is a glaring contradiction between the enforcement of livestock laws and the department’s operational reality,” Adv Rakuoane said.
“While registration is legally mandatory, stations like Katse have been non-functional for over a year due to damaged machinery. We cannot penalise farmers for administrative delays beyond their control; the burden of compliance must be matched by the state’s obligation to provide services.”
Committee chairperson, Everest Ramakatsa, echoed the criticism, saying the current state of the LRMIS was effectively punishing citizens who depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
“With no documents, inadequate staff and broken equipment, farmers are losing their livelihoods because they cannot legally sell their animals,” Mr Ramakatsa said.
“The poor service delivery within the LRMIS — characterised by a lack of documentation, inadequate staffing and failing equipment — is actively harming citizens. This administrative paralysis is causing direct financial losses to farmers who are legally barred from selling their livestock.”
He added that the public was increasingly frustrated with poor service delivery by government institutions.
However, the Committee also acknowledged that the problem was partly compounded by some livestock owners who fail to bring their animals for registration and marking.
Despite this, members insisted that the department must improve its service delivery and ensure that farmers have access to the services required by law.
In response, Mr Ramokoatsi acknowledged the operational challenges facing the department, particularly the shortage of functional machinery.
He said new equipment had been procured and is expected to arrive in April, after which it will be distributed across the country to replace damaged machines and restore registration services.
Mr Ramokoatsi added that the department is also prioritising the acquisition of mobile crushes — equipment used in livestock handling — to strengthen community outreach programmes.
He said the outreach initiatives involve working closely with local chiefs and councillors to bring registration and marking services closer to rural communities.
However, he admitted that deeper systemic challenges remain, including resistance from some livestock owners who deliberately avoid registration in order to conceal stolen animals.
“With the LMPS Livestock Theft Unit recording 1925 cases this year alone, the scale of the crisis is undeniable,” Mr Ramokoatsi said.
“This rampant theft and lack of compliance continue to drain the wealth of our nation, directly impoverishing vulnerable Basotho farmers. We must bridge the gap between service provision and public cooperation to protect our national herd.”
The ministry’s Principal Secretary, Mpopo Tšoele, also conceded that the department’s performance — particularly within the LRMIS — had fallen short of expectations.
Mr Tšoele said the ministry was reviewing its performance and would soon engage key stakeholders to develop both immediate and long-term solutions.
He added that, under the directive of his minister, Lebona Lephema, resolving the challenges affecting the livestock registration system had become a priority.
“The ministry acknowledges that service delivery regarding the LRMIS has been inadequate. We are currently reviewing our performance and preparing to engage stakeholders to address both short-term challenges and long-term structural issues,” Mr Tšoele said.
“Following an urgent mandate from Minister Lephema, we are taking immediate steps to rectify these deficiencies.”
