Much more than a curfew is needed

THE decision by the government to declare a curfew this week is the clearest sign that Lesotho is battling a serious crime epidemic as shown by the killing of over 40 people in the last three weeks.

In a legal notice in the Government Gazette, Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli says he was of the opinion that “it is necessary in order to prevent danger or harm to public safety or order” to impose a curfew.

The curfew will be in force between 10pm and 4am until further notice. Only those attending to medical or security emergencies or would be performing essential services will be permitted to travel during this peak. Individuals who breach the restrictions face a fine of M10 000 or a two-year jail sentence.

While these measures may appear harsh and draconian, we would like to believe the thinking and motives behind them are good.

We however do not think a curfew alone will be enough to stamp out the rampant violent crimes that we have seen in the country. Studies elsewhere have clearly shown that curfews have serious limitations as a means of combating violent crime.

We are therefore of the opinion that a curfew will only work if it is part of a raft of other measures to ensure the security of Basotho.

The declaration of the curfew comes only a few days after a radio journalist, Ralikonelo Joki, was gunned down in Lower Thamae. Joki was a journalist with Tsenolo FM radio station. He was well known as a news programme anchor specialising in politics. If his killing was related to his work as a journalist, this will likely send a chill down the spines of journalists in Lesotho.

The ultimate effect of such a callous murder would be to frighten journalists from doing their work. Such killings are therefore a threat to free speech as we know it in Lesotho and we know that we need free speech to fertilize our democracy.

The murder of Joki has already attracted international opprobrium on Lesotho. What the murders have done is to expose a lack of a clear plan on the part of the government to fight crime.

A curfew therefore appears to be a reactionary response that falls way below what is needed to combat crime holistically. The murders are a stain on the government of Lesotho which was voted into power on the back of promises that it would fight rampant crime.

But we are however not surprised by the latest turn of events. About seven years ago, another journalist, Lloyd Mtungamiri, was shot by rogue soldiers over a story the army was not happy with.

Although he survived the attack, Mtungamiri was left nursing permanent injuries. Mtungamiri, who was scarred for life, still has to deal with loads of trauma from the ordeal. What the killing of Joki and the attempted murder of Mtungamiri show is that Lesotho is an extremely violent society.

What Basotho want to see is a step-up in the fight against the criminal cabal behind the murders in Lesotho. A curfew on its own will impose some hardships on Basotho and we doubt that it will effectively dismantle the instruments of violence behind the murders.

A curfew on its own has its limits. That is why the government must aggressively implement other measures to fight crime.

We need to see law enforcement agencies beefed up in terms of equipment and training. The police need more vehicles. We need greater surveillance to dissuade criminals from going ahead with their works knowing fully well that they are being watched.

Our courts must impose stiffer sentences on criminals. All illegal guns must be seized and stiffer penalties imposed on those found in illegal possession of dangerous weapons.

It will take loads of political will to get this right. We hope that Prime Minister Sam Matekane will crack the whip to make every Mosotho safe.