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Eight years on: No closure in Mochochoko’s murder case

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Kabelo Masoabi
Kabelo Masoabi
Development Journalist specialising in the reporting of social, economic, and environmental issues. He analyses the impact of policies and programs on communities, along with other factors that influence community well-being. In addition to his journalism endeavors, he is an accomplished photojournalist, capturing compelling images that complement his narratives. Masoabi is also an audio storytelling podcaster, having earned certification from the Knight Centre for Journalism, affiliated with the University of Texas, United States.

Almost eight years have passed since the brutal murder of Pastor Mavis Mochochoko, a 75-year-old respected community leader, in her Mohalalitoe home in Maseru in October 2017.

Her family continues to seek justice and closure for this unresolved tragedy.

Mpho Mochochoko, the pastor’s daughter, voiced her frustration with the investigation’s slow pace, saying they are left wondering if the case will ever be resolved or if it has simply been forgotten.

Despite some leads, according to Mpho, no arrests have been made, leaving the family in the dark.

She claims that the police’s Crime Investigation Division (CID) has failed to keep the family updated about the progress of the investigation.

“It is disappointing to learn that the CID officers who were originally assigned to this case have since retired. Since then, we have been left in the dark regarding any developments. Earlier this month, we visited the CID office for an update and were shocked to find that no one was actively working on the case. Perhaps it has been classified as a cold case,” she stated. “

“I smell a rat here. Other high-profile murder investigations in this country seem to be resolved much faster. Why is this one taking so long?” she questioned.

A police report indicates that the well-known reverend and founder of the Ministry of Insured Salvation, who ran an orphanage for over 30 years, was strangled to death by her attackers, who also stole her car.

Additionally, more than M14,000 in cash was taken. Following the discovery of her body, police promptly launched an investigation and appealed to the public for information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects, but their pleas went unanswered.

On the day she was murdered, Mpho explained that her mother had collected payments amounting to M14,000 from tenants renting her flats in Thabong and Mohalalitoe in Maseru. It is believed she was attacked the very night she had that money, with the bag containing it left empty. Her stolen car, along with the cash, has never been recovered. “It pains us a lot to know that her killer is freely walking the streets while no one is doing anything about it,” she complained.

On Wednesday, Police Deputy Spokesperson Inspector ‘Mareabetsoe Mofoka emphasised that it was inappropriate for the department not to share relevant information with the victim’s family.

Mofoka said: “When an officer retires, the responsibilities are properly handed over to other officers. If what the family’s claim is true, they should reach out to the police complaints office for further action. They have a right to know about the progress of the case and the investigating officer.”

Mofoka also clarified that a homicide case cannot be classified as cold in Lesotho, which means this case is still under active investigation. A cold case is typically defined as an unsolved criminal investigation that has ceased being pursued due to a lack of evidence.

According to a police report, the attackers likely entered Pastor Mochochoko’s home through a bedroom window. Her body was discovered on the floor of her bedroom by her grandchildren, who had come to visit that Sunday morning before heading to church.

Initially unaware of the situation, the grandchildren tried to wake her, but when she didn’t respond, they called a relative, a son-in-law, for help.

The son-in-law found her lifeless and, not wanting to frighten the children, told them to go to church as he arranged to take their grandmother to the hospital, claiming she was unwell. However, upon further examination, both he and her daughter noticed the gruesome signs of foul play and immediately called the police.

Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, back then confirmed that they were treating the case as one of murder and armed robbery, stating: “We are aware that Pastor Mochochoko’s car, a silver Cambria with registration number F5828, was stolen along with the keys to her other vehicle and the gate.”

The murder of Pastor Mochochoko, a defenceless elderly woman, sent shockwaves throughout the nation and drew responses from both the public and high-ranking government officials. The then-police minister, ’Mampho Mokhele, urged law enforcement to rigorously pursue those who prey on the elderly, asserting: “It’s time to combat violence against the elderly with formidable force.”

Mokhele expressed her outrage during a visit to Pastor Mochochoko’s home to offer condolences. She was perplexed as to why the suspects would kill Mochochoko when they could have simply stolen her car and left her unharmed.

This crime isn’t isolated.

In October 2020, Reverend Father Pule Mahlaku of the Roman Catholic Church was robbed at gunpoint near Ha Buasono in Berea, where he endured brutal treatment from his assailants, who burned him with electrical wires and suffocated him with a cloth before making away with an undisclosed amount of church money.

“After enduring torture, the robbers, who were wearing masks like those used for skiing, made off with the church money I had in my possession before fleeing in my car,” he recounted pointing out that his vehicle was later discovered abandoned outside Ha Buasono.

Father Mahlaku founded St Cecilia Orphanage, a non-governmental organisation established in 2009 to address the growing number of orphans resulting from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The children’s home regularly receives donations from both local and international supporters to help meet the needs of the orphans.

Just a few weeks prior to the incident, the then-first lady, Masekoalana Majoro, along with other sponsors, had provided food parcels and face masks to the centre. In 2017, Standard Bank Lesotho donated M200,000 to support the home’s ongoing operations.

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