Security agencies involved with Farmo gang – army boss

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• Another gruesome murder makes headlines
• Journalists caught in the crossfire

Mpesi Harvester

The militaryArmed ForcesWHOcontinue“Providing protection and information” to notorious gangsters.

Tough-talking deputy army commander, Maj. Gen. Matla Matobakele, toldlesotho timesYesterday, the army’s efforts to root out the killings that have ravaged the countryyesObstructed by members of the security apparatusreputationGang.

hisThe statement was a follow-up to another maliciousreputationThe double murder that made headlines last weekend,existfamousreputationMusician Khopolo “Lisuoa” Khuluoe and local radio presenter Pulane Macheli were shot dead in Masowe I, Maseru.

Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS)sPolice spokesperson Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala told media on Tuesday that Coppolo and Ms Marcelli were shot on Sunday evening.

“Four unidentified men in the vehicle got out of a 4×4 and started shooting inside the vehicle. As a result, two people were injured while Ms Coppolo and Ms Marcelli died in the shooting,” explained Senior Superintendent of Police Halahala.

The other two are a 36-year-old man from Ribaneng and a 27-year-old woman from Masowe I.

“The report indicated that between 9pm and 10pm on July 20, 2024, the two deceased and a man from Ribaneng parked a vehicle at Masowe I on the road to Tsoapo-Le-Bolila, waiting for the 27-year-old woman they were going to pick up. They called her to get in the vehicle. After she got in, a 4WD vehicle parked at a distance rushed towards them at high speed, and four men got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the vehicle carrying the victim. Police investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

He added that police collected 9mm pistol bullet casings at the scene.

The two were killed while on a mission to promote peace and unity among prominent musicians. As part of their efforts, Coporo teamed up with others to write a song advocating for peace, which was sung during the recent National Day of Prayer event at the Leshoboro Stadium in Mafeteng.

Khopolo is joined by renowned musicians such as Lebohang Pita (Sephaka), Tṧeliso Rabolou (Lelakaba), Moeketsane Rabolou (Target), Mahali Khuluoe (Khopolo’s Daughter), Tumelo Khesa (Lanka), Tṧepiso Janki (Malofa), Thetso Moiloa, Motena Molato (Equality) and Ms. Macheli.

Addressing attendees on the National Day of Prayer, Coppolo said he and Ms Marcelli came up with the idea of ​​unityreputationMusicians build peace.

“I’m thankful for these musicians; they’re not my kids and they’re not afraid of me, but I contacted them, they agreed and we ended up making a song together. Some people couldn’t be contacted, but we’ll keep trying,” he said.

Ms Macheli said their planused to beUnite all musicians to build peace and unity.

“We are tired of the bloodshed day after day. We are tired of not being able to sleep peacefully, afraid of what will happen. We are calling on everyone to help us on this path because there is a long road ahead,” she said.

Unfortunately, their mission was forced to end on Sunday.

andlesotho times Yesterday, Maj. Gen. Matla MatobarclayassistanceThe challenge of combating the country’s soaring murder rateused to beThis situation was exacerbated by members of the security agenciesyesa part ofreputationGangster.

“Another challenge is that there are security agencies among these people. Some people claim that soldiers are part of them but I don’t believe it because I have been asking people to name which soldier is among these people. Till now I have not got a name. But in other security agencies, yes, they are there and they are well known. They escort them and engage with them. These people cross the river so we cannot predict where they will cross when they reach Lesotho. They will not cross through the border gates.”

He lamented that the courts did not impose heavy sentences to deter perpetrators from carrying out their vicious acts.

“The courts are not serious with them. We do arrest others but the courts are not serious. They do not sentence them. These people will repent only if the punishment is severe,” he said.

heexplainThe public is unwilling to provide informationreputationGangsters join the military.

“Another challenge is that the public keeps them hidden. They know who they are because they always have somewhere to sleep when they arrive in the country, but people don’t report them. Only after they kill their neighbours do they start saying they saw them when they were leaving. I don’t know how we will deal with it because the state doesn’t want to give us intelligence.

“They always have somewhere to stay when they come to Lesotho. We are not informed,” he said, adding that the National Security Agencyused to beResponsible for monitoring and understanding the whereabouts of criminals in neighboring South Africa.

“South Africa needs NSS for this problem because itneedspy……..,” He said.

However, the acting head of the National Security Service (NSS)Thank you MafisaTelllesotho timesYesterday, the relevant personnel entered the country and committed the following crimes:reputationGang activityAlIt falls under the jurisdiction of the police, not the NSS.

“We (security agencies) work on three levels: territorial integrity, which is protecting the national borders or frontiers; law and order; and then national security or state security. So this specific issue still falls under the law and order dimension, which means the police can deal with it better. It is not my territory,” Mr Mafisa said.