MASERU – THE Lesotho Mounted Police Service is purging its ranks of officers who allegedly led the recent strikes and are accused of misconduct.
Most of the officers are members of the Lesotho Police Staff Association (Leposa), the closest thing the police have to a union.
Several sources told thepost this week that Commissioner Holomo Molibeli has slapped dozens of officers with show cause letters following a recent strike at several police stations.
Leposa Secretary General, Inspector Moraleli Motloli, promised to comment on the issue but his phone was unavailable when he was later called.
Police sources said 10 police officers in Thaba-Tseka district had received the letters but are yet to face disciplinary action.
Most of those officers are accused of not putting on their uniforms during preparations of King Letsie III’s birthday party in July.
The police management believes they were trying to sabotage the preparations and embarrass the King.
Sources said there are more letters on the way to other police officers in the Thaba-Tseka district.
Police spokesman, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, confirmed that police officers in Thaba-Tseka district had received the letters. He however refused to elaborate on the allegations they are facing.
The purge, a source said, is also likely to target officers in Hlotse, Quthing, Berea and Mohale’s Hoek. Some of the Hlotse officers are accused of leading the strike to press the government to award them arrears on their six percent salary review.
The officers in Quthing, Berea and Mohale’s Hoek are accused of inciting violence within the police.
They are believed to have played prominent roles in what management describes as ‘sowing confusion within the police service’.
Some are alleged to have formed Whatsapp groups where they were sharing information on how the police officers could fight for the salary arrears.
Others are accused of forming Facebook groups to plot against the police.
Supt Mopeli said he was not sure how many officers had received the letters.
“I am not sure of the other cases of police officers from other districts you have mentioned,” he said.
In the exercise of powers conferred upon me as Police Authority by section 84(1) and (2)(a) of the Police Service Act, 1998J and after consultation with Commis- sioner, the Minister responsible for the public service and the Minister of Fi- nance, I,
MOTSOAHAE THOMAS THABANE
Minister of Police and Public Safety make the following regulations –
Citation and commencement
1. These regulations may be cited as the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (Administration)(Amendment) Regulations, 2014 and shall come into operation on the date of publication in the Gazette.
Ranks
2. The Lesotho Mounted Police Service Regulations 20032 are amended by deleting regulation 4(1) and substituting the following:
“4(1) The ranks of the Police Service shall be known by the following designations –
(a) Commissioner;
(b) Deputy Commissioner;
(c) Senior Assistant Commissioner; (d) Assistant Commissioner;
(e) Senior Superintendent; (f) Superintendent;
| 620 | (g) | Senior Inspector; |
| (h) | Inspector/Cadet Inspector; | |
| (i) | Sub- Inspector; | |
| (j) | Sergeant; | |
| (k) | Lance Sergeant; | |
| (1) | Police Constable; | |
| (m) | Police Recruit; and | |
| (n) | Police Assistant. |