’Marafaele Mohloboli
LERIBE-Army Commander Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli was given a thunderous welcome by thousands of predominantly Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) supporters attending Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing’s 49th birthday celebration in Mahobong on Sunday.
The deafening reception came hardly a week after the release of the Phumaphi report into Lesotho’s instability, which among others, recommended Lt-Gen Kamoli’s dismissal as part of efforts to restore peace and stability to the troubled Kingdom.
Lt-Gen Kamoli was introduced to the crowd alongside National Security Services Director Mohlakala Lerotholi, Police Commissioner Molahlehi Letsoepa, and several cabinet ministers, among the many dignitaries who attended the LCD leader’s belated celebration.
However, as Democratic Congress (DC) deputy leader Monyane Moleleki introduced the dignitaries, there was deafening applause when it came to Lt-Gen Kamoli, as well as Energy Minister and LCD secretary general Selibe Mochoboroane.
Mr Moleleki had to take a long pause in his introduction as the crowd took time to settle down, while Lt-Gen Kamoli was all smiles at the adulation.
The crowd also broke into song and dance for Mr Mochoboroane, who could also not help but smile at the throng.
Most Basotho are still waiting to see if the government is going to implement Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi’s recommendations. The Botswana judge compiled his report after SADC had instructed him to investigate the death of former army commander Maaparankoe Mahao on 25 June 2015, as well as other security-related challenges facing Lesotho. Lt-Gen Mahao was killed by fellow soldiers who had come to arrest him for suspected mutiny.
Reads part of the Phumaphi report regarding Lt-Gen Kamoli: “In the interest of restoring trust and acceptance of the LDF to the Basotho nation, it is strongly recommended that Lieutenant-General Kamoli be relieved of his duties as Commander of LDF, and all LDF officers implicated in cases of murder, attempted murder and treason be suspended while investigations in their cases proceed in line with international best practice.”
However, Dr Mosisili has since said the government would pick and choose the recommendations it would implement.
Addressing the National Assembly as he released the report on Monday last week, Dr Mosisili said the government would soon study the 62-page report and see which recommendations were implementable.
“As Government, we will go about the process of studying the recommendations and deciding which of them are implementable in the short, medium and long-term without prejudicing the interests of the nation,” he said.
“A mere glance at some of the recommendations indicates that they are implementable immediately, whereas others will take time, and still others may not see the light of day. One thing I can readily assure the House and through it the general public, is that all the recommendations will get the attention they deserve as recommendations are NOT binding orders.”
