Rights group piles pressure on Lesotho

MASERU – An international human rights group has called on the next Lesotho government to tackle police brutality, torture and killings.

Amnesty International made the call in a statement this week.

It says Lesotho must ensure accountability for human rights crimes beyond the electioneering period for the October 7 election.

“A dangerous pattern of human rights violations, including torture, unlawful killings, and excessive use of force by members of the security forces in Lesotho has been a common feature of the past five years under the current coalition government,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

“Political candidates vying for leadership positions, including parliamentary seats, in the upcoming general elections must make a commitment to put respect for human rights and accountability for past human rights violations front and centre of their campaigns,” Mwananyanda said.

“If elected, they must ensure access to justice and effective remedies for the victims of these human rights crimes.”

Since 2017, Lesotho has seen a number of human rights violations, including excessive and disproportionate use of force by the security forces.

There have also been reports of unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment of suspected perpetrators of crime by members of the security forces, including the police and the army.

Amnesty International mentioned several unlawful killings perpetrated by security agencies in the last few years.

The statement refers to the unlawful use of force by police in Lesotho that has resulted in unlawful killings, including on 16 June 2022, when police opened fire at protesting National University of Lesotho (NUL students).

The police killed one student, Kopano Makutoane, and injured several others.

Several police officers were later suspended but there has not been an update on the investigation.

The statement also mentioned Tšeliso Sekonyela who died in custody in September last year at the Thetsane Police Station where he was being held for allegedly stealing alcohol.

Police officers delivered his body at a morgue two days later.

Three police officers were later suspended pending an investigation into Sekonyela’s death.

Amnesty International noted that although some members of the police were suspended for their actions, including the killing of Makutoane, other members of the security forces remain in their posts despite ample evidence and research by human rights organisations pointing to serious human rights violations.

Amnesty International has also documented cases of torture and other ill-treatment by the security forces.

In January this year, Advocate Napo Mafaesa was arrested by the police on allegations of concealing a gun belonging to his client.

Police officers took him to Ha-Mabote Police Station and subjected him to torture to force him to “confess”.

Police allegedly shackled Advocate Mafaesa’s legs and bound his hands before suffocating him with a tyre tube.

They repeatedly poured cold water on his face while assaulting him.

Advocate Mafaesa was freed in the early hours of January 14 in serious pain and is suing the police for the torture he claims he suffered.

In another case, ’Mateboho Matekane, from Ha-Pita in Maseru was arrested on November 30 last year, accused of stealing group savings funds.

She told Amnesty International that she was taken to Lithoteng Police Station where she was beaten with a spade, including on her buttocks, until she urinated on herself and passed out.

She later lost her job because the torture she suffered meant she was in too much pain to be able to work.

On May 19 this year, 35 people were tortured by the police and the army for protesting against power cuts in Liseleng in the district of Thaba-Tseka.

They were later charged with disturbing the peace.

Police authorities, including Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli, admitted to Amnesty International during a meeting at the police headquarters in Maseru in July that torture and other human rights violations cases have come up within their ranks but blame “rogue police elements”.

“It is the duty of the police to protect the public, yet Lesotho’s track record of police brutality shows that the public have much to fear from their law enforcement officers,” Mwananyanda said.

“It is time for the Lesotho authorities to take a zero-tolerance attitude to unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment by their security forces and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are held to account,” he said.

“Victims must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies.”

Staff Reporter