By Neo Kolane
The ministry of defence and national security plans to inspect and maintain dilapidated military bases after the budgetary allocation for the financial year 2022/2023, it has emerged.
One such base requiring major repair works is that in Ha Peete in the southern district of Quthing.
And, a light of hope for the renovations of these aging bases came to the fore when the Prime Minister’s ministry’s portfolio committee chairman, Lehloka Hlalele, told theReporter that the committee was already conducting inspections to study the state of some of the army bases.
But, he added, it has not inspected the Quthing base yet.
He cited the emergence of Covid-19 as an impediment to steer ahead with the inspection of the conditions of the military buildings.
He said such inspection was a result of an outcry from the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) during the budgetary allocation of 2021/2022.
The acting Chief of Ha Peete, ‘Mathesele Nkuebe, commented that the base required major works for renovation. But she lamented that poor road infrastructure might be a stumbling block for such works to be carried out, saying it would be difficult to transport the necessary building materials.
The public relations officer of the LDF, Captain Sakeng Lekola, said the primary role of the army is to protect the territory of Lesotho, the property and its people.
But Lekola was not in a position to specifically comment on the maintenance of the military bases. He said if the LDF needed some assistance such is sought from the ministry of defence and national security.
He advised the reporter to contact authorities at the ministry for comment on the possible repairs.
He could only say such repairs are to be facilitated by the ministry.
The ministry of defence and national security public relations officer, ‘Matṧepo Morojele, told theReporter such maintenance works are in the offing, but she could not divulge further information about the condition of the Quthing military base.
The principal secretary of the ministry of defence and national security, ‘Maphunye Bohloko, explained that the different military bases were bound to be fixed after the 2021/2022 budget allocations.
She said that due to the priorities of the country, the money that was meant to maintain the military bases was then diverted to the soldiers in Mozambique who were in need of some resources.
She was hopeful that this year’s budgetary allocation would cater for such works.
During his presentation of the 2021/2022 budget the minister of fiancé Thabo Sophonea, said the government was eager to build strong institutions of governance, rule of law and security.
“The government will continue to protect our country and its citizens against any forms of threats, be it domestic or foreign. This sector has been allocated M2.4 billion.
“The focus of the 2021/22 will be to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Military and National Security Services and to further promote peace and stability within and outside Lesotho.
“The intelligence will be provided for strategic and operational decision making. Participation of Bilateral and Multilateral relations in order to be able to identify, monitor and neutralise emerging threats that have potential to undermine the country’s national security,” Sophonea said.
