Moroke Sekoboto
LESOTHO Defence Force (LDF) Youth Development Programme (YDP) Coordinator, Major Bokang Melato, has urged the government to invest in the military to ensure the nation’s advancement.
Major Melato said this while addressing the latest cohort of graduates from the army’s bootcamp project at Makoanyane Barracks on Friday.
The project is meant to foster patriotism and ethical behaviour in youths.
A total of 762 boot campers successfully completed the three-week training program and graduated on Friday.
“A country that doesn’t take care of its army cannot progress because everything we do has to be done where there is safety…
“We no longer see conflict between states, but we witness conflicts between people (within the same borders) hence the need to have a well-resourced army that guarantees security of citizens,” Major Melato said.
He said soldiers must “deter, detect, and defend” citizens.
“How do we deter if we lack resources like food, uniform, ammunition and transport?” Major Melato asked.
For his part, LDF commander, Lieutenant-General Mojalefa Letsoela, underscored the importance of discipline and patriotism among the youth as the future leaders.
Lt-Gen Letsoela urged the youths to foster peace, show mutual respect, and refrain from engaging in criminal activities.
“This celebration commemorates the tenth graduation of the LDF Youth Development Programme, a significant milestone that we are proud to witness. This initiative, which began in 2021, represents a remarkable achievement in our history, having successfully trained 726 young individuals over a span of three weeks,” stated Lt-Gen Letsoela.
“These participants have received their training at Makoanyane Barracks, a distinguished military base named in honor of the courageous warrior and strategist Makoanyane, whose legacy we continue to honor as we commit ourselves to the defense and protection of Lesotho.”
The training initiative had demonstrated a positive impact since its launch in December 2021, he said.
“I emphasize the importance of this program and its significant influence on young children nationwide, as it aims to shape them into responsible citizens of the future, distinguished by strong moral principles and values,” said Lt-Gen Letsoela.
Lt-Gen Letsoela emphasized that while the primary responsibility of the LDF was to serve the nation, they had felt compelled to intervene and launch the bootcamp project due to the involvement of youth in gang-related activities.
“…..It is important to clarify that the LDF is neither a social organization nor a leading economic and investment body. However, given its unique position, it can undertake such initiatives without compromising its core mission of defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lesotho,” said Lt Gen Letsoela.
He said the training initiative aimed to equip the youth with leadership skills and redirect their focus.
“We are capable of undertaking additional responsibilities for the state. Our existence serves a significant social purpose, exemplified by this project. We also aim to create an optimal environment for fostering patriotism and enhancing leadership skills through various methods and techniques. This aligns with our secondary responsibilities as outlined in section 145(1) of the constitution, as amended,” added Lt-Gen Letsoela.
He noted that the success of the bootcamp program relied on the collaborative engagement of multiple stakeholder as resources were shared among various institutions, including tertiary education establishments and professionals from diverse fields.
