Family of Assassinated Former Lesotho Military Commander Demands Answers
July 2, 2015
Lesotho Times
Nqosa Mahao‘We expected government to condemn General Mahao’s murder and order the immediate arrest of perpetrators of this foul act. It has done neither, and seems to treat the grieving family and the nation with disdain’
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane
The family of slain former Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Maaparankoe Mahao has condemned government for “deliberately distorting information” about the shooting which led to his death.
Brigadier Mahao was shot dead by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members as he left his farm in Mokema on the afternoon of 25 June. The army has since said Brigadier Mahao (47) was killed during a special operation investigating alleged mutiny in the LDF.
The operation, which started last month, has seen several LDF members being arrested and detained at Maseru Maximum Security Prison, amid claims that they are being tortured.
On the day Brigadier Mahao died, Defence and National Security minister Tšeliso Mokhosi issued a statement that he had been shot “following a confrontation” with LDF members who were on a mission to arrest him.
The family has also taken exception to yet another statement it said the government told King Letsie III “and others,” the following: “There were only two vehicles used by the soldiers during the operation; General Mahao drew his gun during an attempt to arrest him; General Mahao was only shot in the arm; and General Mahao walked himself from his vehicle and into an LDF vehicle and again from this vehicle into the hospital.”
However, addressing a heavily attended press conference in Maseru on Tuesday this week, family spokesperson Professor Nqosa Mahao, said the least government could have done was tell the nation what “really happened” on the fateful day.
“As a family, we strongly dispute this disinformation which may point to possible complicity of government in the heinous assassination of our beloved son.
“We expected government to condemn General Mahao’s murder and order the immediate arrest of perpetrators of this foul act. It has done neither, and seems to treat the grieving family and the nation with disdain,” Professor Mahao said.
The Mahao family, the Professor added, had since issued a statement addressed to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson Robert Mugabe, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United States and Lesotho governments, King Letsie III and South African President Jacob Zuma “to set the record straight”.
He continued: “It is with heavy hearts that the family announces to the nation and international community the death of Lt General Maaparankoe Mahao. Around 14:45 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015, the General, in the company of his two nephews was driving from his farm in the village of Mokema when he was ambushed by elements of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). Circumstances are such that we do not know when he actually died as his attackers took him away and the family was only officially informed of his demise at about 21:00hrs.
“As the family mourns the premature demise of a beloved husband, father, brother and son, our hearts sink with a hurtful and inconsolable sense of loss. To us, General Mahao was the very embodiment of human decency, a man of unshakeable principles, absolutely incorruptible and with a deep sense of concern for fellow human beings. He did not deserve to die the brutal and degrading way he did.
“The nation has lost a disciplined soldier and loyal servant. He was charismatic and yet consistently humble and respectful to everyone, high and low.
“As we nurse our hurt, we also fully understand the trauma all Basotho are going through on account of his premeditated and professionally executed assassination. We know that we are in this grief together with a traumatised nation, and all those in SADC and the AU with whom he served in his life, now cut short by assassins. The Mahao family says to all: We are sorry!”
Professor Mahao also noted since Brigadier Mahao’s death, “the Lesotho government propaganda machine went into a frenzy of spin.”
The object, the National University of Lesotho (NUL) vice-chancellor added, was to “impute the blame on him for his callous assassination; to confuse the nation and to manage the expected international fallout from this cowardly act through disinformation.”
This, Professor Mahao said, was consistent with the “hostile political climate they (government authorities) and the rogue elements now in charge of the LDF had unleashed on him for some time now.”
Professor Mahao added the family owed it to the former army commander—who was removed as LDF boss last month by the new seven-party government led by Dr Pakalitha Mosisili and also demoted from Lieutenant General to his old position of Brigadier with the premier arguing his promotion on 28 August 2014 had not followed due process—to tell the truth about how he was “callously executed.”
“Our sources of information are our family members who were with him when he was unexpectedly attacked. And these are the facts: At about 14:45 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015, having driven with his two nephews for about three kilometers from Mokema village, all of a sudden, a silver grey twin-cab vehicle wearing no registration number overtook General Mahao’s half-truck vehicle at break-neck speed.
“This vehicle swerved in front of his and diagonally blocked the road. As the General, who was driving, wrestled with his vehicle to avoid ramming into the vehicle ahead, a white twin-cab registration number M 6839 suddenly screeched to a stop exactly parallel the General’s vehicle on the driver’s side and without a word, an estimated three or four rounds shots rang out of what was thought to have been an AK 47 machine gun and hit the General’s right-side of the body.
“Meanwhile, another white twin cab registration A 0734 had screeched to a halt just behind the General’s vehicle. The General’s nephews then jumped out through the passenger door. He too, obviously already mortally wounded, attempted to crawl out through the passenger door. But considerably weakened by the injuries sustained, he fell to the ground flat on his face while bleeding profusely.
“By this time, three soldiers with AK 47 machineguns drawn, had walked out of the vehicle without registration numbers and a light-complexioned soldier wearing a black uniform appeared to take command. This soldier ordered the General’s nephews who had attempted to run away to stop where they were. The soldier then called through his cellular phone and reported “Re mo fumane. Re mo thuntse. Ke na le Sajene Makara” (“We found him. We shot him. I am with Sergeant Makara”.
“After this apparent report-back, two soldiers from vehicle M 6839 walked out, dehumanisingly dragged General Mahao with his feet face-down for about 10 metres through the tarmac into vehicle M 6839 which had moved ahead of the vehicle without registration numbers. The two vehicles, M 6839 and the one without registration numbers, then drove off with the General, leaving behind the soldier apparently in charge of the operation and vehicle A 0734 holding his nephews hostage for an estimated 40 minutes.
“During this moment of pain and despair, we make an impassionate appeal to all of you powerful leaders of our global community that for the sake of the mourning Basotho nation, you move into action before it is too late. The world cannot afford to look the other way when a nation is being driven to the edge of a precipice by a small band of rogues sprawling about, torturing and killing to their hearts’ content.”
The professor added in the name of humanity’s common decency, the rule of law and accountability, the family pleaded for an institution of a “comprehensive international investigation” into the security developments in Lesotho.
The investigation, he said, should involve security and legal experts drawn from AU, Commonwealth and SADC nations.
“We request that the investigations should include the following: All circumstances surrounding the cold-blooded execution of General Mahao; The wave of torture of scores of LDF soldiers many of whom will never again lead normal lives because of brutalities they have endured at the hands of rogue elements of the LDF.
“These soldiers were tortured by their abductors to force them to confess that from August 2014 to May 2015, led by General Mahao, they planned to mutiny against the Command of the LDF. The absurdity and profound cynicism underlying these claims should be glaring for everyone. This is more so because the period mentioned was when General Mahao was the lawful Commander of the LDF commissioned in that position by His Majesty the King.
“The family expresses its fervent hope that their request will be honoured. We hope that only such investigations would lay firm foundations for the return of sanity, peace and stability in Lesotho and arrest further descent into anarchy and impunity. As we deep our banners in our son’s honour, we call upon the world not to allow his gruesome death to be in vain!”
Meanwhile, the family also announced that Brigadier Mahao would be buried on 21 July 2015.
Professor Mahao, who ended his speech in tears, said he wanted to make it clear that the LDF was not welcome at the funeral.
“With respect to the Lesotho Defence Force being involved in our son’s funeral, let’s make it plain and clear; law-abiding disciplined members of the Lesotho Defence Force, as individuals—I emphasise, as individuals—are welcome to lay to rest their comrade, colleague and leader. They should come as individuals.
“As for an institution called Lesotho Defence Force, which we haven’t seen (since the fateful 25 June 2015), we hope they stay where they are. In any case, if this criminal act was in their name, then quite obviously, were they to be present at the funeral they would traumatise my mother, who is in her 80s and has completely been devastated by this criminal killing of her very, very loved son.
“They would traumatise the wife of the deceased, the children of the deceased and us. They would traumatise the nation that we must thank in the way it has overwhelmingly come to offer us its solace and support.”
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/mahao-family-breathes-fire/#sthash.6y4K070R.dpuf
Mahao Knew He Was Going to Die: Family
July 2, 2015
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane
Former Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Maaparankoe Mahao knew about a plot to assassinate him and had since prepared his family for that painful moment which came at the hands of the army on Thursday last week.
This revelation was made by the slain soldier’s family during a media briefing in Maseru on Tuesday this week.
A day before his fatal shooting by LDF members who had come to arrest him for allegedly being part of a plot to overthrow the army command, Brigadier Mahao and his wife ’Mamphanya, received cellphone messages from “sources” informing them that night was the last they would spend together, the family said.
Their phones were “cut off” afterwards and this, according to the family, suggested indeed the moment had come for Brig Mahao to be assassinated.
“The couple was informed through their phones that they were spending their last night together that day. Very ironically, their phones were subsequently cut-off from communication the same night around 9pm. They were convinced now that day had come,” Professor Nqosa Mahao, who was speaking on behalf of the family, said.
According to Professor Mahao, his brother had frequently received information from his LDF colleagues about the plot to kill him. The family advised him to flee the country when he told them about this, but the 47-year-old soldier refused to leave, insisting “if I should be killed, it better be on my home country’s soil”, Professor Mahao said.
He continued: “People from as far as the United Kingdom and Rwanda had always insisted that General Mahao should join them there so that he could be safe from the assassination which he knew was coming.
“This is very interesting because if people that far could sense that General Mahao was in danger, what more of the national intelligence agencies which should have protected him?
“There was also a link on the internet which listed several names of people to be assassinated. The national intelligence agencies should have made a follow-up on such information. It is a constitutional entitlement, not only to a person at the level of General Mahao, but also even an ordinary citizen, that they be protected by the State.
“Members of the family residing outside the country have also always wanted to take him with them to protect him. Our family extends to Botswana and South Africa. We tried to advise Ntate Maaparankoe to leave, and he told us repeatedly that we should accept the fact that he was not going to run away from the Kingdom of Lesotho because he had done nothing wrong.
“He so much believed in the rule of law that if he had done something wrong, he should be dealt with procedurally by the law. He once remarked about the soldiers who were being abducted, tortured and forced by some army elements to admit that there was a mutiny plot they had planned with him.
“He said because those soldiers were being tortured in his name, he would therefore, not run away.
And eventually he found out that yes, there were plans to assassinate him. Last week, there was a funeral for one of our relatives in Ha-Makhoathi. This was shortly after he briefed me about the plan to have him assassinated. And I asked him to keep a low profile and not come to the funeral where he would be exposed to his attackers, but he refused and came alone in his truck.”
Professor Mahao said he was directly told by his late brother that the reason he travelled alone was because he knew he was going to be attacked anytime and that when that happened, he did not want other people to be injured and die because of him.
“He said he would rather die alone. By the surprise of God, and against his will, Maaparankoe was fatally shot in the company of his two nephews and because of that, we were able, as a family, to know how the events unfolded, hence the evidence that we are able to provide to you today.
“It was solely God’s decision that Maaparankoe’s last moments had to be witnessed, otherwise the only version you would have now is that which is fabricated. The long and shot of this is that Maaparankoe knew his death was imminent. He therefore, prepared his wife and the rest of the family for this moment. We expected it anytime,” Professor Mahao said, weeping.
Brief biography
Born at Paray Hospital in 1968—the sixth child of Mphanya and ‘Manqosa.
Attended Mokema Primary School from 1976 to 1982 and wrote his COSC exams at St Joseph High School in 1987.
Graduated from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) with a law degree in 1994.
Obtained a Master’s Degree in Managing Peace and Security in Africa at the Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2012.
Attended several military courses in Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Started his work experience as a volunteer for Community, Legal, Resource and Advice Centre in Maseru. He practised with S Mphutlane & Co. Law Firm after graduation in 1994.
Joined the LDF in 1996.
Appointed LDF Special Forces boss in 2002 and held the position until 2007. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time.
He was subsequently appointed Brigadier and then Lt Gen and LDF Commander on 29 August 2014.
Survives assassination attempt on 30 August 2014 when unknown gunmen attacked his home. He hid in the outside toilet until the gunmen had gone.
On 21 May 2015, he was removed as head of the LDF and demoted from Lt Gen to Brigadier after government argued his appointment and promotion had been illegally made by then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
Married to ‘Malechesa Matela (now ‘Mamphanya Mahao) on 28 February 1998. The couple was blessed with three sons: Mphanya now 16 years of age, Lehloenya (12) and Setlokoane (Six).
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Opposition leaders seek SA asylum
Date : July 2, 2015
Lesotho’s three opposition leaders who fled to South Africa two months ago fearing for their lives have allegedly applied for political asylum in that country.
Former prime minister and All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader Thomas Thabane, his Basotho National Party (BNP) and Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) counterparts Thesele ‘Maseribane and Keketso Rantšo sought refuge in South Africa on 11, 13 and 26 May respectively, alleging they had been alerted of a plot to kill them by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members— an accusation government has since denied.
However, impeccable sources told the Lesotho Times this week that the exiled politicians had since sought official protection from the South African government due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.
According to the sources, last week’s fatal shooting of former LDF commander Maaparankoe Mahao by soldiers who had come to arrest him for allegedly planning to overthrow the army leadership, was the major reason behind the leaders’ decision.
Chief ‘Maseribane was cagey when asked about the issue this week, and told the Lesotho Times he could not say whether or not they had applied for political refugee status.
However, the BNP leader was quick to admit their stay in South Africa was “only but a casual arrangement”.
“I cannot get into whether or not we will be seeking official political asylum or if we have done so already. But what I can tell you is that our stay in this country is but a casual arrangement, of which the South African government is aware,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“As things stand, we’re under serious security threat after learning that there are plans to assassinate us and that people have been paid to kill us before serious talks about the security situation in Lesotho get underway.”
The Lesotho Times could not immediately get comments from Ms Rantšo and Dr Thabane on the issue, while South Africa’s High Commissioner to Lesotho Sello Jele said he was not aware if the leaders had decided to apply for asylum.
“All I know is that they are liaising with South African government authorities while in the country. I actually asked one of them if they were considering official asylum but he was not forthcoming,” Mr Jele said.
“But I believe consideration for official political asylum in South Africa for the three leaders will be part of Friday’s SADC summit agenda.”
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Double Troika is holding an extraordinary summit in Pretoria tomorrow where Lesotho’s security situation would top the agenda.
The Double Troika comprises leaders of Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
According to Mr Jele, tomorrow’s meeting would, among others, discuss Lesotho’s current security and political situation, as well as pathologists’ reports on the death of Brigadier Mahao. The Lesotho Times understands three pathologists—two provided by SADC and one by the Mahao family—would conduct the autopsy in Bloemfontein, South Africa today, and their findings discussed at Friday’s Summit.
“The Summit will be held in Pretoria on Friday, with Lesotho’s issues such as the pathologists’ reports on Mahao’s death and the state of the three exiled leaders dominating the agenda,” Mr Jele said.
However, Mr Jele also told the Lesotho Times that although Brigadier Mahao’s death would form part of the agenda, it should be noted that tomorrow’s Summit was planned “long before his death”.
“However, now that it has happened, the death will form part of the meeting’s agenda,” Mr Jele said.
“The Extraordinary Summit was called to discuss Lesotho’s issues. The current security situation has culminated in Mahao’s death and now there are conflicting statements on what transpired.
“There is the official line, that of stakeholders and another from the Mahao family. So the summit would be discussing the issue.”
Meanwhile, asked about tomorrow’s SADC meeting, Chief ‘Maseribane said he was aware of it adding however, that the opposition had not been invited to attend.
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/opposition-leaders-seek-sa-asylum/#sthash.SgdVYXRG.dpuf
LDF Now a ‘Lawless Ghetto’ – Analysts
July 2, 2015
Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE government’s failure to take tangible measures to stop atrocities being committed by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and hold its officers accountable was ample proof that it was complicit in the commission of “acts of terror” by the military, analysts said.
Condemning the LDF as having become a “lawless ghetto”, the analysts said the responsibility for all the military’s “heinous acts of terror” ultimately rested with the government. Its failure to halt these could only be interpreted to mean the government was either complicit or conniving with soldiers to commit these acts.
The assaults and torture of alleged planned mutiny suspects and last week’s murder of former LDF Commander Maaparankoe Mahao could not have happened if Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s coalition had taken corrective measures against errant soldiers.
Nqosa Mahao, the Vice Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho (NUL), who is the late Brigadier Mahao’s blood brother, has since condemned the “small clique of rogues” whom he said has hijacked the LDF.
“They (the small clique) have taken control of instruments of coercion and are able to impose their authority on the LDF,” Professor Mahao said.
“I don’t believe the vast majority of LDF personnel support these incidents. We can’t say it’s the entire LDF, but only a select few because the same names always crop up in all bad acts.”
Renowned local political analyst Kopano Makoa, who is head of Political and Administrative Studies at the NUL said the fact that the military had been committing heinous acts without being called to account simply proved “a criminal orientation of the coalition government”.
“Their (soldiers) criminal acts are a reflection of the government’s own criminal orientation. Their criminal acts are being endorsed by government,” Professor Makoa said.
According to Professor Makoa, if the Lesotho government was not in bed with the military, then the LDF should have long been held accountable for the various “acts of terror” being committed by its members.
“But government has never called them to book for their atrocities, an indication that they are partners in crime and that there’s no rule of law. They (the military) are being endorsed by government in everything they do,” Professor Makoa said.
“The military is a reflection of a political project that the government is pursuing. The project is to use the military to secure power…”
Professor Makoa, nevertheless seemed to differ with Professor Mahao’s viewpoint that a few rogue elements were tainting the LDF. He said it did not make sense to take a “divisive approach” by pointing fingers at individuals within the military instead of “regarding the army as a whole”.
“When we speak of the army, we are referring to an institution from a scientific point of view. We cannot fragment it, it’s indivisible,” Professor Makoa said.
“The truth of the matter is that the army is one unit, whose overriding authority is the government, which seems to be endorsing criminal acts committed by the military.”
Tsikoane Peshoane, Head of the Social and Environmental Justice Department at the Transformation Resource Center (TRC) concurred, labelling the military a “lawless ghetto”.
“Politicisation of the military and militarisation of politics in Lesotho is now a major problem. The fact is, the military has deteriorated into a professional ghetto,” Mr Peshoane said.
Mr Peshoane said the arrests of soldiers accused of plotting a mutiny further proved the lawlessness being perpetrated by the army. It was legally inappropriate for soldiers to arrest other soldiers.
“The arresting officers are actually also the complainants who are virtually investigating their own case against all principles of natural justice,” Mr Peshoane said.
“If there was indeed a mutiny or a conspiracy thereof, the military should have set up a credible investigating team instead of using complainants as arresting officers. Any evidence against those arrested is therefore not credible, it is biased.”
He added: “Investigations of any mutiny need to have been undertaken by a credible commission of inquiry, for the sake of transparency and justice.”
He described the manner of Brigadier Mahao’s death at the hands of the military as being “ugly and painful”.
“The government is trying to cover up the truth…..The truth is that there is now rampant lawlessness in the army….,” Mr Peshoane said. He said Brigadier Mahao had been eliminated to prevent him from ever again ascending to the helm of the LDF as he would have ultimately exposed those who had abused the military for their own selfish ends.
However, Fako Likoti, another political scientist who is a former Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) commissioner, begged to differ, saying it was uncalled for to label the army “a band of rogues and a lawless ghetto”.
Dr Likoti says although Brigadier Mahao’s death wass “painful and unacceptable” people should refrain from “saying things when they are angry, that they might regret later”.
Dr Likoti said the military was a professional institution whose duties were “unique and of a confidential nature” and “executed within the context of the law”.
“Mistakes do happen in the line of duty but in general the military has been executing its duties quite well,” Dr Likoti said.
“I do not believe soldiers are angels. Hence, the need for constant reforms to professionalise the military.”
Dr Likoti also warned against dragging the army into the politics saying the military should be left to protect citizens and the country.
“Let’s not drag the military into our politics and let’s refrain from calling it names . . .,” Dr Likoti said.
He nevertheless urged a thorough and proper investigation of Lt General Mahao’s death “to establish how this tragedy happened”.
“We need to establish how this tragedy happened, to avoid a similar fate for any other person and the apportioning of blame in the future. But I must say I don’t accept the term rogues,” Dr Likoti said.
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/ldf-now-a-lawless-ghetto-analysts/#sthash.LwllbjM3.dpuf
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| Widow of slain former Lesotho Brigadier Maaparankoa Mahao, Mamphanya. |
Lesotho Times
Nqosa Mahao‘We expected government to condemn General Mahao’s murder and order the immediate arrest of perpetrators of this foul act. It has done neither, and seems to treat the grieving family and the nation with disdain’
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane
The family of slain former Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Maaparankoe Mahao has condemned government for “deliberately distorting information” about the shooting which led to his death.
Brigadier Mahao was shot dead by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members as he left his farm in Mokema on the afternoon of 25 June. The army has since said Brigadier Mahao (47) was killed during a special operation investigating alleged mutiny in the LDF.
The operation, which started last month, has seen several LDF members being arrested and detained at Maseru Maximum Security Prison, amid claims that they are being tortured.
On the day Brigadier Mahao died, Defence and National Security minister Tšeliso Mokhosi issued a statement that he had been shot “following a confrontation” with LDF members who were on a mission to arrest him.
The family has also taken exception to yet another statement it said the government told King Letsie III “and others,” the following: “There were only two vehicles used by the soldiers during the operation; General Mahao drew his gun during an attempt to arrest him; General Mahao was only shot in the arm; and General Mahao walked himself from his vehicle and into an LDF vehicle and again from this vehicle into the hospital.”
However, addressing a heavily attended press conference in Maseru on Tuesday this week, family spokesperson Professor Nqosa Mahao, said the least government could have done was tell the nation what “really happened” on the fateful day.
“As a family, we strongly dispute this disinformation which may point to possible complicity of government in the heinous assassination of our beloved son.
“We expected government to condemn General Mahao’s murder and order the immediate arrest of perpetrators of this foul act. It has done neither, and seems to treat the grieving family and the nation with disdain,” Professor Mahao said.
The Mahao family, the Professor added, had since issued a statement addressed to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson Robert Mugabe, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United States and Lesotho governments, King Letsie III and South African President Jacob Zuma “to set the record straight”.
He continued: “It is with heavy hearts that the family announces to the nation and international community the death of Lt General Maaparankoe Mahao. Around 14:45 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015, the General, in the company of his two nephews was driving from his farm in the village of Mokema when he was ambushed by elements of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). Circumstances are such that we do not know when he actually died as his attackers took him away and the family was only officially informed of his demise at about 21:00hrs.
“As the family mourns the premature demise of a beloved husband, father, brother and son, our hearts sink with a hurtful and inconsolable sense of loss. To us, General Mahao was the very embodiment of human decency, a man of unshakeable principles, absolutely incorruptible and with a deep sense of concern for fellow human beings. He did not deserve to die the brutal and degrading way he did.
“The nation has lost a disciplined soldier and loyal servant. He was charismatic and yet consistently humble and respectful to everyone, high and low.
“As we nurse our hurt, we also fully understand the trauma all Basotho are going through on account of his premeditated and professionally executed assassination. We know that we are in this grief together with a traumatised nation, and all those in SADC and the AU with whom he served in his life, now cut short by assassins. The Mahao family says to all: We are sorry!”
Professor Mahao also noted since Brigadier Mahao’s death, “the Lesotho government propaganda machine went into a frenzy of spin.”
The object, the National University of Lesotho (NUL) vice-chancellor added, was to “impute the blame on him for his callous assassination; to confuse the nation and to manage the expected international fallout from this cowardly act through disinformation.”
This, Professor Mahao said, was consistent with the “hostile political climate they (government authorities) and the rogue elements now in charge of the LDF had unleashed on him for some time now.”
Professor Mahao added the family owed it to the former army commander—who was removed as LDF boss last month by the new seven-party government led by Dr Pakalitha Mosisili and also demoted from Lieutenant General to his old position of Brigadier with the premier arguing his promotion on 28 August 2014 had not followed due process—to tell the truth about how he was “callously executed.”
“Our sources of information are our family members who were with him when he was unexpectedly attacked. And these are the facts: At about 14:45 hours on Thursday 25th June 2015, having driven with his two nephews for about three kilometers from Mokema village, all of a sudden, a silver grey twin-cab vehicle wearing no registration number overtook General Mahao’s half-truck vehicle at break-neck speed.
“This vehicle swerved in front of his and diagonally blocked the road. As the General, who was driving, wrestled with his vehicle to avoid ramming into the vehicle ahead, a white twin-cab registration number M 6839 suddenly screeched to a stop exactly parallel the General’s vehicle on the driver’s side and without a word, an estimated three or four rounds shots rang out of what was thought to have been an AK 47 machine gun and hit the General’s right-side of the body.
“Meanwhile, another white twin cab registration A 0734 had screeched to a halt just behind the General’s vehicle. The General’s nephews then jumped out through the passenger door. He too, obviously already mortally wounded, attempted to crawl out through the passenger door. But considerably weakened by the injuries sustained, he fell to the ground flat on his face while bleeding profusely.
“By this time, three soldiers with AK 47 machineguns drawn, had walked out of the vehicle without registration numbers and a light-complexioned soldier wearing a black uniform appeared to take command. This soldier ordered the General’s nephews who had attempted to run away to stop where they were. The soldier then called through his cellular phone and reported “Re mo fumane. Re mo thuntse. Ke na le Sajene Makara” (“We found him. We shot him. I am with Sergeant Makara”.
“After this apparent report-back, two soldiers from vehicle M 6839 walked out, dehumanisingly dragged General Mahao with his feet face-down for about 10 metres through the tarmac into vehicle M 6839 which had moved ahead of the vehicle without registration numbers. The two vehicles, M 6839 and the one without registration numbers, then drove off with the General, leaving behind the soldier apparently in charge of the operation and vehicle A 0734 holding his nephews hostage for an estimated 40 minutes.
“During this moment of pain and despair, we make an impassionate appeal to all of you powerful leaders of our global community that for the sake of the mourning Basotho nation, you move into action before it is too late. The world cannot afford to look the other way when a nation is being driven to the edge of a precipice by a small band of rogues sprawling about, torturing and killing to their hearts’ content.”
The professor added in the name of humanity’s common decency, the rule of law and accountability, the family pleaded for an institution of a “comprehensive international investigation” into the security developments in Lesotho.
The investigation, he said, should involve security and legal experts drawn from AU, Commonwealth and SADC nations.
“We request that the investigations should include the following: All circumstances surrounding the cold-blooded execution of General Mahao; The wave of torture of scores of LDF soldiers many of whom will never again lead normal lives because of brutalities they have endured at the hands of rogue elements of the LDF.
“These soldiers were tortured by their abductors to force them to confess that from August 2014 to May 2015, led by General Mahao, they planned to mutiny against the Command of the LDF. The absurdity and profound cynicism underlying these claims should be glaring for everyone. This is more so because the period mentioned was when General Mahao was the lawful Commander of the LDF commissioned in that position by His Majesty the King.
“The family expresses its fervent hope that their request will be honoured. We hope that only such investigations would lay firm foundations for the return of sanity, peace and stability in Lesotho and arrest further descent into anarchy and impunity. As we deep our banners in our son’s honour, we call upon the world not to allow his gruesome death to be in vain!”
Meanwhile, the family also announced that Brigadier Mahao would be buried on 21 July 2015.
Professor Mahao, who ended his speech in tears, said he wanted to make it clear that the LDF was not welcome at the funeral.
“With respect to the Lesotho Defence Force being involved in our son’s funeral, let’s make it plain and clear; law-abiding disciplined members of the Lesotho Defence Force, as individuals—I emphasise, as individuals—are welcome to lay to rest their comrade, colleague and leader. They should come as individuals.
“As for an institution called Lesotho Defence Force, which we haven’t seen (since the fateful 25 June 2015), we hope they stay where they are. In any case, if this criminal act was in their name, then quite obviously, were they to be present at the funeral they would traumatise my mother, who is in her 80s and has completely been devastated by this criminal killing of her very, very loved son.
“They would traumatise the wife of the deceased, the children of the deceased and us. They would traumatise the nation that we must thank in the way it has overwhelmingly come to offer us its solace and support.”
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/mahao-family-breathes-fire/#sthash.6y4K070R.dpuf
Mahao Knew He Was Going to Die: Family
July 2, 2015
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane
Former Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Commander Maaparankoe Mahao knew about a plot to assassinate him and had since prepared his family for that painful moment which came at the hands of the army on Thursday last week.
This revelation was made by the slain soldier’s family during a media briefing in Maseru on Tuesday this week.
A day before his fatal shooting by LDF members who had come to arrest him for allegedly being part of a plot to overthrow the army command, Brigadier Mahao and his wife ’Mamphanya, received cellphone messages from “sources” informing them that night was the last they would spend together, the family said.
Their phones were “cut off” afterwards and this, according to the family, suggested indeed the moment had come for Brig Mahao to be assassinated.
“The couple was informed through their phones that they were spending their last night together that day. Very ironically, their phones were subsequently cut-off from communication the same night around 9pm. They were convinced now that day had come,” Professor Nqosa Mahao, who was speaking on behalf of the family, said.
According to Professor Mahao, his brother had frequently received information from his LDF colleagues about the plot to kill him. The family advised him to flee the country when he told them about this, but the 47-year-old soldier refused to leave, insisting “if I should be killed, it better be on my home country’s soil”, Professor Mahao said.
He continued: “People from as far as the United Kingdom and Rwanda had always insisted that General Mahao should join them there so that he could be safe from the assassination which he knew was coming.
“This is very interesting because if people that far could sense that General Mahao was in danger, what more of the national intelligence agencies which should have protected him?
“There was also a link on the internet which listed several names of people to be assassinated. The national intelligence agencies should have made a follow-up on such information. It is a constitutional entitlement, not only to a person at the level of General Mahao, but also even an ordinary citizen, that they be protected by the State.
“Members of the family residing outside the country have also always wanted to take him with them to protect him. Our family extends to Botswana and South Africa. We tried to advise Ntate Maaparankoe to leave, and he told us repeatedly that we should accept the fact that he was not going to run away from the Kingdom of Lesotho because he had done nothing wrong.
“He so much believed in the rule of law that if he had done something wrong, he should be dealt with procedurally by the law. He once remarked about the soldiers who were being abducted, tortured and forced by some army elements to admit that there was a mutiny plot they had planned with him.
“He said because those soldiers were being tortured in his name, he would therefore, not run away.
And eventually he found out that yes, there were plans to assassinate him. Last week, there was a funeral for one of our relatives in Ha-Makhoathi. This was shortly after he briefed me about the plan to have him assassinated. And I asked him to keep a low profile and not come to the funeral where he would be exposed to his attackers, but he refused and came alone in his truck.”
Professor Mahao said he was directly told by his late brother that the reason he travelled alone was because he knew he was going to be attacked anytime and that when that happened, he did not want other people to be injured and die because of him.
“He said he would rather die alone. By the surprise of God, and against his will, Maaparankoe was fatally shot in the company of his two nephews and because of that, we were able, as a family, to know how the events unfolded, hence the evidence that we are able to provide to you today.
“It was solely God’s decision that Maaparankoe’s last moments had to be witnessed, otherwise the only version you would have now is that which is fabricated. The long and shot of this is that Maaparankoe knew his death was imminent. He therefore, prepared his wife and the rest of the family for this moment. We expected it anytime,” Professor Mahao said, weeping.
Brief biography
Born at Paray Hospital in 1968—the sixth child of Mphanya and ‘Manqosa.
Attended Mokema Primary School from 1976 to 1982 and wrote his COSC exams at St Joseph High School in 1987.
Graduated from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) with a law degree in 1994.
Obtained a Master’s Degree in Managing Peace and Security in Africa at the Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2012.
Attended several military courses in Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Started his work experience as a volunteer for Community, Legal, Resource and Advice Centre in Maseru. He practised with S Mphutlane & Co. Law Firm after graduation in 1994.
Joined the LDF in 1996.
Appointed LDF Special Forces boss in 2002 and held the position until 2007. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time.
He was subsequently appointed Brigadier and then Lt Gen and LDF Commander on 29 August 2014.
Survives assassination attempt on 30 August 2014 when unknown gunmen attacked his home. He hid in the outside toilet until the gunmen had gone.
On 21 May 2015, he was removed as head of the LDF and demoted from Lt Gen to Brigadier after government argued his appointment and promotion had been illegally made by then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
Married to ‘Malechesa Matela (now ‘Mamphanya Mahao) on 28 February 1998. The couple was blessed with three sons: Mphanya now 16 years of age, Lehloenya (12) and Setlokoane (Six).
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/mahao-knew-he-was-going-to-die-family/#sthash.CCg6cU9G.dpuf
Opposition leaders seek SA asylum
Date : July 2, 2015
Lesotho’s three opposition leaders who fled to South Africa two months ago fearing for their lives have allegedly applied for political asylum in that country.
Former prime minister and All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader Thomas Thabane, his Basotho National Party (BNP) and Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) counterparts Thesele ‘Maseribane and Keketso Rantšo sought refuge in South Africa on 11, 13 and 26 May respectively, alleging they had been alerted of a plot to kill them by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members— an accusation government has since denied.
However, impeccable sources told the Lesotho Times this week that the exiled politicians had since sought official protection from the South African government due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.
According to the sources, last week’s fatal shooting of former LDF commander Maaparankoe Mahao by soldiers who had come to arrest him for allegedly planning to overthrow the army leadership, was the major reason behind the leaders’ decision.
Chief ‘Maseribane was cagey when asked about the issue this week, and told the Lesotho Times he could not say whether or not they had applied for political refugee status.
However, the BNP leader was quick to admit their stay in South Africa was “only but a casual arrangement”.
“I cannot get into whether or not we will be seeking official political asylum or if we have done so already. But what I can tell you is that our stay in this country is but a casual arrangement, of which the South African government is aware,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“As things stand, we’re under serious security threat after learning that there are plans to assassinate us and that people have been paid to kill us before serious talks about the security situation in Lesotho get underway.”
The Lesotho Times could not immediately get comments from Ms Rantšo and Dr Thabane on the issue, while South Africa’s High Commissioner to Lesotho Sello Jele said he was not aware if the leaders had decided to apply for asylum.
“All I know is that they are liaising with South African government authorities while in the country. I actually asked one of them if they were considering official asylum but he was not forthcoming,” Mr Jele said.
“But I believe consideration for official political asylum in South Africa for the three leaders will be part of Friday’s SADC summit agenda.”
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Double Troika is holding an extraordinary summit in Pretoria tomorrow where Lesotho’s security situation would top the agenda.
The Double Troika comprises leaders of Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
According to Mr Jele, tomorrow’s meeting would, among others, discuss Lesotho’s current security and political situation, as well as pathologists’ reports on the death of Brigadier Mahao. The Lesotho Times understands three pathologists—two provided by SADC and one by the Mahao family—would conduct the autopsy in Bloemfontein, South Africa today, and their findings discussed at Friday’s Summit.
“The Summit will be held in Pretoria on Friday, with Lesotho’s issues such as the pathologists’ reports on Mahao’s death and the state of the three exiled leaders dominating the agenda,” Mr Jele said.
However, Mr Jele also told the Lesotho Times that although Brigadier Mahao’s death would form part of the agenda, it should be noted that tomorrow’s Summit was planned “long before his death”.
“However, now that it has happened, the death will form part of the meeting’s agenda,” Mr Jele said.
“The Extraordinary Summit was called to discuss Lesotho’s issues. The current security situation has culminated in Mahao’s death and now there are conflicting statements on what transpired.
“There is the official line, that of stakeholders and another from the Mahao family. So the summit would be discussing the issue.”
Meanwhile, asked about tomorrow’s SADC meeting, Chief ‘Maseribane said he was aware of it adding however, that the opposition had not been invited to attend.
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/opposition-leaders-seek-sa-asylum/#sthash.SgdVYXRG.dpuf
LDF Now a ‘Lawless Ghetto’ – Analysts
July 2, 2015
Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE government’s failure to take tangible measures to stop atrocities being committed by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and hold its officers accountable was ample proof that it was complicit in the commission of “acts of terror” by the military, analysts said.
Condemning the LDF as having become a “lawless ghetto”, the analysts said the responsibility for all the military’s “heinous acts of terror” ultimately rested with the government. Its failure to halt these could only be interpreted to mean the government was either complicit or conniving with soldiers to commit these acts.
The assaults and torture of alleged planned mutiny suspects and last week’s murder of former LDF Commander Maaparankoe Mahao could not have happened if Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s coalition had taken corrective measures against errant soldiers.
Nqosa Mahao, the Vice Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho (NUL), who is the late Brigadier Mahao’s blood brother, has since condemned the “small clique of rogues” whom he said has hijacked the LDF.
“They (the small clique) have taken control of instruments of coercion and are able to impose their authority on the LDF,” Professor Mahao said.
“I don’t believe the vast majority of LDF personnel support these incidents. We can’t say it’s the entire LDF, but only a select few because the same names always crop up in all bad acts.”
Renowned local political analyst Kopano Makoa, who is head of Political and Administrative Studies at the NUL said the fact that the military had been committing heinous acts without being called to account simply proved “a criminal orientation of the coalition government”.
“Their (soldiers) criminal acts are a reflection of the government’s own criminal orientation. Their criminal acts are being endorsed by government,” Professor Makoa said.
According to Professor Makoa, if the Lesotho government was not in bed with the military, then the LDF should have long been held accountable for the various “acts of terror” being committed by its members.
“But government has never called them to book for their atrocities, an indication that they are partners in crime and that there’s no rule of law. They (the military) are being endorsed by government in everything they do,” Professor Makoa said.
“The military is a reflection of a political project that the government is pursuing. The project is to use the military to secure power…”
Professor Makoa, nevertheless seemed to differ with Professor Mahao’s viewpoint that a few rogue elements were tainting the LDF. He said it did not make sense to take a “divisive approach” by pointing fingers at individuals within the military instead of “regarding the army as a whole”.
“When we speak of the army, we are referring to an institution from a scientific point of view. We cannot fragment it, it’s indivisible,” Professor Makoa said.
“The truth of the matter is that the army is one unit, whose overriding authority is the government, which seems to be endorsing criminal acts committed by the military.”
Tsikoane Peshoane, Head of the Social and Environmental Justice Department at the Transformation Resource Center (TRC) concurred, labelling the military a “lawless ghetto”.
“Politicisation of the military and militarisation of politics in Lesotho is now a major problem. The fact is, the military has deteriorated into a professional ghetto,” Mr Peshoane said.
Mr Peshoane said the arrests of soldiers accused of plotting a mutiny further proved the lawlessness being perpetrated by the army. It was legally inappropriate for soldiers to arrest other soldiers.
“The arresting officers are actually also the complainants who are virtually investigating their own case against all principles of natural justice,” Mr Peshoane said.
“If there was indeed a mutiny or a conspiracy thereof, the military should have set up a credible investigating team instead of using complainants as arresting officers. Any evidence against those arrested is therefore not credible, it is biased.”
He added: “Investigations of any mutiny need to have been undertaken by a credible commission of inquiry, for the sake of transparency and justice.”
He described the manner of Brigadier Mahao’s death at the hands of the military as being “ugly and painful”.
“The government is trying to cover up the truth…..The truth is that there is now rampant lawlessness in the army….,” Mr Peshoane said. He said Brigadier Mahao had been eliminated to prevent him from ever again ascending to the helm of the LDF as he would have ultimately exposed those who had abused the military for their own selfish ends.
However, Fako Likoti, another political scientist who is a former Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) commissioner, begged to differ, saying it was uncalled for to label the army “a band of rogues and a lawless ghetto”.
Dr Likoti says although Brigadier Mahao’s death wass “painful and unacceptable” people should refrain from “saying things when they are angry, that they might regret later”.
Dr Likoti said the military was a professional institution whose duties were “unique and of a confidential nature” and “executed within the context of the law”.
“Mistakes do happen in the line of duty but in general the military has been executing its duties quite well,” Dr Likoti said.
“I do not believe soldiers are angels. Hence, the need for constant reforms to professionalise the military.”
Dr Likoti also warned against dragging the army into the politics saying the military should be left to protect citizens and the country.
“Let’s not drag the military into our politics and let’s refrain from calling it names . . .,” Dr Likoti said.
He nevertheless urged a thorough and proper investigation of Lt General Mahao’s death “to establish how this tragedy happened”.
“We need to establish how this tragedy happened, to avoid a similar fate for any other person and the apportioning of blame in the future. But I must say I don’t accept the term rogues,” Dr Likoti said.
- See more at: http://lestimes.com/ldf-now-a-lawless-ghetto-analysts/#sthash.LwllbjM3.dpuf
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