Maseru, May 21 — Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Deputy Commissioner Operations, Mosheoane Ts’olo has admitted that there is political infiltration within the service.
This he admitted when responding to questions of the Commission Of Inquiry Chairperson Justice Mathaba when testifying on the incidents that occured at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 21 and 22, 2023.
Deputy Commissioner Ts’olo said there has always been changes in LCS management since 2012 when new governments were formed.
He indicated that there are incidents whereby measures have to be taken against some Senior Officers at high ranks but such doesn’t happen due to instructions received through phone calls from Politicians, clarifying that these are allegations which may be true.
He added that he has seen people being influenced by politicians in the institution to the extent that they forget who they are, making an example of one officer who was supposed to be transferred and didn’t want to go thus decided to wear political attire but that did not reverse the decision of the Commissioner at that time.
In another issue, he agreed that LCS leadership is intatters but said it has potential to do better.
Asked if leadership sessions are held at the institution, he said he sometimers instructs officers to organize such sessions but attendance is always not good, saying he cannot even remember when last such sessions were held for management.
Responding to whether management holds meetings to discuss certain issues, he said the Commissioner Mating Nkakala had many times urged him to prepare a meeting but always provides information that takes less than 3 min and adjourns the meeting, saying management gets frustrated because they always have issues that need to be discussed.
The Commission Of Inquiry was established with the objective to investigate the circumstances that led to the escape and torture of inmates which resulted to death of one inmate leaving the other paralyzed in December last year at MCCI.
It is expected to finish the work within 2 months.
