A curfew of solutions

After 40 murders in three weeks, Uncle Sam and his people have been scratching their heads for a solution. Luckily, they stumbled upon what they believe is a genius idea to stop the killings before they lose their hair.

Empty the streets and lock the people in their homes from 10pm to 4am.

You know a government has run out of ideas when it resorts to draconian measures like curfews to deal with rampant crime. This is what desperation looks like.

It comes in the form of reactionary and extreme actions that are more populist than effective.

Because this government has a communication disability, we will never know the logic or scientific reasoning informing the curfew decision.

Suffice it to say it might just be a knee-jerk reaction based on emotion.

You don’t need much research to know that there is no evidence that curfews are an effective crime prevention tool.

Most murders in Lesotho are premeditated and happen during the day.

They are not a result of robberies or burglaries gone wrong but calculated plots to eliminate rivals. Criminals kill because they want to or are paid to.

A lot of murders are a result of domestic violence that doesn’t need darkness or movement to happen.

Criminals don’t obey curfews or any laws. If they want to commit crimes they will do so with or without a curfew.

In any case, there is nothing particularly magical about the period between 10pm and 4am. That curfew merely closes off that window for criminals but it doesn’t stop them from committing crimes. They will simply commit crimes earlier, say 6pm to 10pm.

The curfew becomes a time for criminals to sleep while they plan for tomorrow between 4am and 9pm.

Why risk committing crimes during curfew hours when there are more soldiers and police than civilians on the streets?

There is nothing complicated about the decisions that criminals make. They want to achieve their mission and don’t want to be caught. It’s simply like that.

Criminals adjust strategies.

The curfew is a clear indication that the government is confusing activity for progress.

Work done will be zero. Action is not a strategy. Movement is not travel.

It is desperate to solve a problem it is yet to fully comprehend. Crimes in Lesotho are not about just movement or darkness.

It is not hard to predict the consequences of this unscientific and daft decision.

The criminals will simply change their working hours and crimes will continue.

Then during the curfew hours, the police and soldiers will roll up their sleeves to beat and torture people on the streets. History tells us that our police are thugs and there is no evidence that they have repented from their uncouth ways.

Those celebrating this curfew are impressionable souls that will soon learn that soldiers are not adequately equipped to deal with civilians.

They are just not trained for that job. They are good at other things but not dealing with people.

So our streets will be teeming with police who are willfully incompetent and soldiers who have no idea about policing.

Soon, there will be reports of people being harassed and assaulted by soldiers and police. Lawsuits will follow and Basotho, the very people who are supposed to be protected by the curfew, will be demanding damages.

Meanwhile, crimes will remain rampant because the curfew is a wrong solution. The solution is to clamp down on illegal guns and famo gangs.

Give the police enough resources, both training and tools. Enhance intelligence and surveillance. Involve and engage communities in fighting crime.

Get the judiciary to lock up murderers quickly and for long.

But these solutions require money, time and strategy. This government has neither of those things. It has curfews and threats. We, the poor villagers who cannot afford bodyguards and private security, are on our own.

Nka! Ichuuuuuuuuuuu!

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