By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – The United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has donated fingerprints equipment to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).
This took place on Monday this week at the Police Headquarters in Maseru in an event officiated by the US Ambassador to Lesotho Maria Brewer.
Accepting the devices, the deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Mahlape Morai said this donation serves to further fortify LMPS relations with the US Embassy.
“This remarkable session serves to reaffirm our commitment to principles that have governed both of us over the years, principles that brought the Kingdom of Lesotho, the LMPS and the US Embassy nothing but peace and security,” she said.
This is not the first tranche of the biometric equipment which the FBI donates to the LMPS as it has done so in the past in Qacha’s Nek last year.
Previously, the FBI conducted biometric investigation training for members of the security agencies.
Also, the FBI has capacitated the police with skillset following the courses that they had previously offered those including Scientific Basics of Fingerprints, Face Comparison and Identification, Advanced Comparison for Tenprint Examiners, and Understanding Next Generation Identification.
For her part, the US Ambassador said one of her duties is to foster the security cooperation between both the US and Lesotho.
Brewer recalled that in her early days in Lesotho, back in 2022 she hosted the first fingerprints training at the Embassy.
Making a call to action, she said challenges that transcends borders such as gender-based violence (GBV) adding that the police ought to be empowered to protect all members of the society especially the most vulnerable ones.
“These kits symbolize more than just tools, they represent our shared commitment to security and justice. Today we once again affirm our dedication to this vital partnership, as we handover more fingerprints kits provided by the FBI.
“These kits will amplify the investigative capabilities of your police forces, your security forces, with swift resolution of cases and further strengthening the rule of law here in Lesotho,” she said.