Mokhotlong April 07– Crime Prevention Committees (CPC) from different villages within the Senqu Constituency No-78 gathered at Tlhanyaku in the district on Friday.
The purpose of their gathering was to revive their roles for effective participation in crime prevention in their respective places.
Addressing the CPC’s, the Acting Principal Chief of Mokhotlong Chief Lerotholi Mathealira Seeiso urged them to fight crime and ensure that pastures are preserved in order to promote quality livestock production in the district.
He said that since he assumed office three years back, one of his major concerns is the way in which pastures are being destroyed by people who intentionally allow livestock to graze over them.
He said overgrazing is illegal as it destroys pastures and urged the committees to protect the pastures.
Chief Lerotholi explained that since today’s gathering was meant to revive the CPC, he appealed to them to prevent crime without committing it themselves.
Speaking at the same event, a Member of Parliament for Senqu Mr. Bolala Khesa also urged the committees to work jointly in crime prevention.
He said similar gatherings should be held at the Khubelu area to sensitise communities about the impact of crime over society.
Mr. Khesa appealed to the public to work together with the CPC to prevent crime including stock theft and illegal possession of firearms to the police as it has been noticed that they are used to commit crime.
Also speaking at the event, Superintendent Bothata ‘Nei of the Mokhotlong Police urged the public to stop crime for their own development.
He said every member of the public should be a member of the CPC’s as crime prevention is the responsibility of the citizens and not of the police alone.
He said members of the public who possess illegal firearms should surrender them and stop stocktheft and child marriage he mentioned as some of the crimes escalating in the district.
The Chairperson of the District Crime Prevention Committees Mr. Ts’eliso Mokati said they needed to be revived so that they can further continue to perform their role of crime prevention.
Meanwhile the Mokhotlong District Administrator’s (DA) Office, organised the gathering to allow the CPC to reflect on their roles and discuss ways in which they can strengthen roles for effective crime prevention.
They Said the police are no longer visiting them to exchange ideas on how to prevent crime in the villages.
The DA Mr. Serame Linake said similar gatherings will be held in various parts of the district with the next one to be held at Malefiloane on a date to be announced at a later stage.
Ends BM
