By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- The three heads of security institutions have attracted condemnation from members of the society and civil society organizations for the pronouncements concerning the move by the opposition Members of Parliament to institute the motion of no confidence in the government.
Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Holomo Molibeli, Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, and the National Security Services (NSS) Director-General Phello Lenkoane.
It is expected that the security forces will support the government on the day.
In a recorded joint statement released on Monday, COMPOL said as the security agencies, they are mandated by the Constitution to ensure order and protection of the public.
He said it has come to their attention that there are people who are planning to destabilize the country and cause disorder for their gain. This he said would breed chaos resulting in the loss of lives and public property.
They announced that the country could not be returned to that state, saying they would work with the government to restore the dignity of the country and maintain investor confidence.
“Basotho have made it clear that they want a democratic governance and not a government of parliamentarians by the parliamentarians, the public has expressed a desire for the reforms. Removing one another in parliament is not in the best interest of the nation,” he charged.
They vowed that the change of government in parliament would not see the light of the day and instead what they said should happen is the implementation of the National reforms.
In some quarters this statement had received a chilly reception and they have labeled it as an encroachment into the political arena.
Also, the Law Society of Lesotho has come to the party to denounce the statement saying it “raises serious concerns”.
“The Law Society of Lesotho unreservedly condemns the actions or statements that undermine the security forces political neutrality, thereby endangering the very foundations of our democracy. We underscore that security is not a mere convention; it is a constitutional imperative that cannot be compromised,” reads their statement.
They further called on these security chiefs to “address and rectify” the situation.
Section 2, an organization that advocates for the supremacy of the Constitution has called to order the heads of security institutions.
“The pronouncements made by these agencies, indicating that they would obstruct any constitutional change of government in parliament, raises serious concerns about the separation of powers and the integrity of the democratic process. Such statements imply an undue interference in the legitimate workings of a representative democracy, and this cannot be countenanced.
“The citizens of Lesotho have entrusted their democratic institutions with the authority to make decisions on their behalf. It is the role of parliament, as the supreme legislative body, to deliberate and act on matters of national significance, including motion of no confidence.”