Pascalinah Kabi
THE Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) says reports of tensions within the army are “baseless” and those peddling such allegations are working against the interests of the army and the nation.
Last week the Lesotho Times carried a story in which army sources said that tensions were simmering between former mutiny suspects and their colleagues who tortured them during the instability of 2015 as the latter have continued to taunt them since their reintegration early this year.
The sources say the animosity is the outcome of the government’s failure to mediate between the two groups and offer the necessary counselling and pyscho-social support that would have helped both sides to bury the hatchet.
When approached for comment, the then principal secretary in the Ministry of Defence and National Security, Retired Colonel Tanki Mothae said he was not aware of any tensions within the army.
He however, said all soldiers were expected to work harmoniously and put behind them the events of 2015 where more than 40 soldiers were accused of mutiny. The mutiny suspects were arrested, detained and tortured while others fled to South Africa.
At least 22 soldiers were arrested, detained and tortured between May and July 2015 on charges of plotting to topple the command of the then army commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli.
Fourteen others were also tortured in detention and forced to become state witnesses against 22 of their colleagues who were subsequently placed on open arrest during the tenure of the previous Pakalitha Mosisili-led government.
Another 23 soldiers fled the country and only returned towards the end of last year. This followed the advent of the Thomas Thabane-led four parties’ coalition government in the wake of the 3 June 2017 national elections.
The soldiers were accused of working in cahoots with former army commander, Lt-Gen Maaparankoe Mahao, who was later shot dead by fellow soldiers in June 2015 while allegedly resisting arrest in Mokema in Maseru.
A Southern African Development Community (SADC) Commission of Inquiry that was established in the aftermath of Lt-Gen Mahao’s murder found that there was no mutiny plot and recommended an amnesty for the suspected mutineers. It also recommended, among other things, that government should investigate the killing and prosecute those found to be responsible.
The suspected mutineers were however, not granted an amnesty and the then government led by Pakalitha Mosisili opted to place 22 of the soldiers on open arrest.
Some of the former mutiny suspects chose to return to the LDF and they were reintegrated into the army in February this year.
However, army sources claimed last week that tensions were simmering between the former mutiny suspects and their colleagues who tortured them during the instability of 2015 as the latter have continued to taunt them since their reintegration early this year.
This week, LDF public affairs officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mashili Mashili said the allegations of tensions were baseless.
“With regard to these baseless reports the LDF command wishes to take this opportunity to inform the nation and the international community that there is no truth in those reports,” Lt Col Mashili said.
He said the army had an ongoing reintegration process following the recent security challenges the country experienced.
He said the first phase of the reintegration process comprised of counselling sessions for all who were affected by the instability that rocked the LDF.
To date, he said, the LDF command was still steering all those processes without any incident of “major concern”.
“And it is against this background that the LDF command wishes to appeal to all to allay their fears and should not be confused by those unfortunate reports which seemed to be aimed at sowing confusion.
“The LDF continues to perform its constitutional mandate to protect Lesotho, her people and their property without any hindrance,” Lt Col Mashili said.
