Billy Ntaote
A delegation of senior officers from the ministries of Defence and National Security, Police and Public Safety, and Home Affairs visited the SADC secretariat in Botswana on Thursday last week to update the regional bloc on government’s progress in implementing reforms recommended by the Justice Phumaphi-led Commission of Inquiry into Lesotho’s security challenges.
The delegation was led by Defence and National Security Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Mampho Kotelo ‘Molaoa and met with SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax and Director of the Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation, Jorge Cardoso.
Dr Tax was in Lesotho last week to engage the government on progress made in implementing the Phumaphi Commission’s recommendations.
A statement on the SADC website indicated the Lesotho delegation “exchanged notes with the secretariat on progress made in the implementation of SADC decisions, specifically in relation to the ongoing constitutional, security and public sector reforms.”
The statement also says the delegation “reaffirmed government’s commitment in implementing SADC decisions and the recommendations”.
Dr Kotelo ‘Molaoa yesterday said her delegation met with Dr Tax to “establish rapport” as they are relatively new to their offices.
She added: “Coming to issues pertaining to the reform process, we were reaffirming the government’s commitment towards the process.
“There is progress and for instance, we are looking at laws and policies that govern the institutions. We used to have the Defence and National Security portfolio directly answerable to the Prime Minister and today that is not the case and things have to be reviewed and there should be re-organisation.”
She also noted the delegation went to Botswana to discuss security, human trafficking and anti-poaching issues.
Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi was commission by SADC to lead a Commission of Inquiry into Lesotho’s security challenges following the fatal shooting of former Lesotho Defence Force commander Maaparankoe Mahao on 25 June 2015. Lieutenant-General Mahao was killed by his colleagues outside his Mokema farm allegedly while resisting arrest for suspected mutiny.
The SADC inquiry made a number of recommendations after the probe, among them security, public sector and constitutional reforms with the hope of resolving Lesotho’s challenges.
