‘Restore peace in Lesotho as you did in Mozambique’
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane has issued a stern directive to the members of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) who were deployed in Mozambique to combat extremists, urging them to apply the same efforts to restore peace in Lesotho.
Matekane made this call during his speech at the ceremony to welcome the third Lesotho Battalion from their peacekeeping mission in Mozambique on Wednesday.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) was deployed on July 15, 2021, following approval by the extraordinary SADC summit of heads of state and government held in Maputo, Mozambique, on June 23, 2021.
The mission was a regional response to support Mozambique in combating terrorism and violent extremism in the Cabo Delgado Province.
SAMIM comprised troops from eight SADC member countries, including Lesotho, working in collaboration with the Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique (FADM) and other forces to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
“Now that we are back from Mozambique, let us consider how we ended up in Mozambique. How did we come to be in that situation? We know that we went to Mozambique at the invitation of SADC because peace was absent in Cabo Delgado province and other areas in that country,” Matekane said on Wednesday.
“The reasons for the absence of peace are numerous and should be taken seriously. It is foolish to believe that we can impose peace on others while expecting it not to be enforced here,” he added.
Matekane emphasized that Lesotho has always been known as a peaceful nation but lamented that today, Basotho were killing each other like insects in a non-war. As a result, he said Lesotho was now ranked among the top two countries globally in terms of homicides.
“Let us not allow this country to become a hotspot for bloodshed. Let us stop killing each other,” the Prime Minister declared.
He reminded the soldiers that Lesotho has a Constitution, along with other laws governing the country, regulating behavior, and community interactions.
“We are a complete nation with the Army, Police, Intelligence Services, and Correctional Services to prevent crime, detect and apprehend offenders, and ensure the rehabilitation of those in custody. We should ensure that our nation is self-aware, self-caring, and lives in peace.”
He acknowledged the LDF’s efforts in Mozambique, where they helped establish peace. However, he pointed out that back home, there are numerous reports of violence by masked individuals terrorizing villages.
“My fellow citizens, let us acknowledge that it is time to change this situation. The government has the responsibility to improve this nation. The people should be safe and feel secure. If this state is achieved, the nation will be able to progress, and both life and the economy will improve. We hope that if we can rescue the neighbours, we can also help ourselves. I firmly believe that there is no Mosotho who is happy with the current situation we are living in as a nation.
“Over the past two hundred years, we have been tested, and as a nation, we must overcome the enemies of this nation who do not seek peace, who disrupt, who kill, who steal, and who destroy others.”
Matekane praised the soldiers for their resilience and hard work despite the challenges faced during their mission in Mozambique. He thanked everyone who contributed to the mission’s success, emphasising that the soldiers had been thoroughly trained and counseled before returning home.
“To you, the Commander of the Army, we are here as the government. Continue to keep us informed about everything necessary for the work of these men and women to proceed effectively. Let us prepare for the SAMIM in December this year. Our soldiers have returned home. Let us ensure that they are well integrated with their families, neighbours in the villages, and the community at large.”
He expressed his expectation that the returning soldiers would set an example for their peers through good conduct, professionalism, and dedication to their work.
“You are now the repository of knowledge for the Commander of the Army on these matters. We hope that you will energetically work to restore peace to Lesotho. Let us remember that, as the saying goes, ‘charity begins at home’,” Matekane concluded.
