Mohale’s Hoek, June 24 — The Minister of Law and Justice, Mr. Richard Ramoeletsi has pleaded with community members at Setanteng who were hesitant to join block farming with the Lesotho Correctional Services, to come in numbers as they have witnessed that the plan has yielded fruitful results of food production.
Minister Ramoeletsi stated this during a gathering held between field owners the Facility’s management, aimed at explaining the manner in which the maize will be shared after being harvested, by noting that both parties have learned from previous mistakes which practically contributed to the low yield, stating that this cropping season the plan is to plant on time.
“The plan is to approach more land owners outside the area, as there is a proverb which asserts that united we stand, while the other one says if you want to go faster go alone, but if you want to reach your destination, walk with others,” Minister Ramoeletsi noted when pleading with community members to strongly consider joining the initiative.
He further called on villagers to join LCS in establishing a commercial block farming society to assist in generating money, and ensuring that harvested food do not run out within six months after harvesting, but make it to the following season, and that some is left for farmers to sell, and concluded by applauding the Facility’s management for ensuring that the initiative becomes a success.
On the other hand, the LCS’s Acting Commissioner Matingoe Phamotse pointed out that with Minister Ramoeletsi’s guidance, the Facility’s role is to retain all those who have placed into thier hands by the courts of law, without descriminating anyone and such individuals should be protected both spiritually and physically.
“Since it is not pleasant for a matured individual to be staying aware from relatives, and have their every movement watched, such inmates should only be bothered by the issue of being far from their families, not anything else,” Phamotse noted.
He indicated that the Facility is carrying out the rehabilitation process under the leadership of the Minister, assisted by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary, with the purpose of ensuring that inmates are able to make something out of their lives when returning to their communities, are able to respect and abide by law, so that they are able to live in harmony with others.
Commissioner Phamotse pointed out that feeding inmates brings a massive drain on public funds, hence the Minister’s plan that LCS engages in food production, but the main challenge being the Ministry does not own any land assigned by the Chief, as land management laws have placed land ownership in the hands of Basotho nationals, hence the decision to join block farming to assist in producing food for the incarcerated.
“As inmates are being rehabilitated, they are also being trained on how to work with their hands and produce the same food they are consuming, and the Facility will continue with this initiative working with inmates, therefore community members should refrain from perceiving this as punishment,” Commissioner Phamotse urged villagers.
Furthermore, Assistant Commissioner Neo Moramotse, who explained that block farming has used about 150 acres, pointed out that harvesting will be done with a Combined Harvester, which will bring the grain together in one place, whereby the Ministry will take 80 percent share, and the remaining 20 percent will be divided amongst field owners based on the number of acres of each field.
However, Assistant Commissioner of Corrections, Southern Region, Letlaka Banyane raised his concern about farmers who failed to show up during weeding operation (ho hlaola) which let to the inmates being brought to the place, noting the Facility had to borrow Hoes from Leribe and Quthing, and urged farmers to always be there during operations.
On behalf of farmers, Phethisang Ranku applauded the Ministry for the initiative, noting some fields have remained fallow for years, and pleaded with those who were not eager to join, to do so.
The event has been attended by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary Ms. Relebohile Lebeta, and other LCS Senior Officials, while farmers were urged to not graze livestock at those fields to avoid soil degradation.
The Ministry established block farming in 2024, with the purpose of addressing the issue of food security in Correctional Services facilities.
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