A villager of Lekhalong Ha Qamo in the Leribe district says the brutal torture he endured at the hands of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) members for six days without charge has left him unable to provide for his family and will always haunt him for the rest of his life.
He is also demanding justice.
Thirty-nine-year old Liteboho Mahloane was ‘abducted’ by seven soldiers from his home at Lekhalong on July 4 at around 3am, for alleged possession of illegal firearms.
He was later detained at Makoanyane Base in Maseru until he was released through an order by the High Court a week after.
In an exclusive interview with theReporter, Mahloane said six men in army uniform and one in plain clothes arrived at his home and ordered him to open the door. While he was preparing to do so, they started firing guns in the air several times, he said.
Mahloane noted that the men pulled him outside and introduced themselves as soldiers, before beating him with sticks interchangeably, even when he was lying down.
The devastated Mahloane alleges the soldiers were directed to him by a Fobane resident who is a member of the rival famo group, Seakhi, to settle a feud.
“Those soldiers were just a tool for someone with money and influence to settle a personal score. As they were beating me, they were demanding guns and uttering that they knew I was a famo gang member, and a rival to the man (name withheld) who is a villager at Fobane.
“When they saw that I was tired and couldn’t even protect myself since they had broken my arms and leg, they put me in a vehicle since I was not able to walk by myself. They drove me to Mokotakoti Military Base where they continued to beat me until around 14:30pm when they took me to Makonyane Barracks in Maseru.
“By that time, both my legs and arms were broken and I was in severe pain. I felt weak and could hardly hear them talking,” Mahloane said, adding that he was kept at the Makoanyane military clinic where he was unattended but only given injections and painkillers daily, under the guard of soldiers
He also noted that while in custody, he was taken to a local clinic in Maseru for an X-ray and the doctor confirmed broken arms and legs, as well as ribs on the left side.
Mahloane further indicated that following the incident, it would now take him time to be able to work and provide for his wife and their three children.
“Both my arms and legs are broken and I may not fully recover from the damage inflicted by those soldiers. I am unable to work, my family and I are now relying on the generosity of my siblings to survive.
“I want justice for what has been done to me. Those soldiers knew very well that I didn’t have any guns but they just wanted to torture me to satisfy a rival.
“If the army really protects the law, and if they suspected that I had illegal fire arms, they could not have left me in this condition. Beating me to a pulp will never convince me that they wanted to fight crime,” he lamented.
Despite the controversy and violence often associated with famo, Mahloane said his involvement with a group has helped him own rental properties and provide for his family.
He stated that the sole purpose of the famo music groups was not to kill each other or become enemies, but rather to build oneness. However, it is unfortunate that some gang members are misusing the concept by involving the army and politicians to help them settle old scores.
Mahloane’s suspicions about his famo rival’s political connections and financial sway only deepens his belief that the LDF was not motivated by justice, but by corruption and vendetta.
He further pleaded with the government to treat all famo groups equally without taking sides.
State officials should also constantly engage with the groups’ leaders to condemn the killings and promote oneness.
“I have never hurt anyone, and yet the soldiers took my responsibility to provide for my family away from me, all because someone with a grudge against me made a call. Being a famo member does not necessary mean one is a killer or owns illegal firearms.
“If the government really wants to end these wars, they should invite all famo group leaders, condemn the wars, order them to stop bribing politicians and soldiers and keep the oneness that we have all vowed to have,” he added.
Contacted for comment this week, the army’s spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sakeng Lekola, said the LDF had abided by the High Court order to release Mahloane.
Asked to comment on allegations that some members of the army are pushing the agenda of certain famo groups, Lekola said, “LDF does not condone any form of crime or violence. The public should come forward with tangible information and names of LDF officers who serve the interest of such groups so that they could face disciplinary actions.”
He added that he could not comment further on Mahloane’s allegations since the matter was before the court.
Government spokesperson, Thabo Sekonyela told theReporter this week that the government does not condone any form of violence or famo music promoting such.
Sekonyela noted that the government recently outlawed famo groups as a way of curbing violence.
However, he pointed out, such efforts will remain in vain if the gang leaders do not have the desire to desist from such acts.
“The violence between rival famo groups has always existed way before the current government came into office. We are trying new strategies to end the skirmishes.
“Previous governments summoned gang leaders but this failed to yield any positive results because there was no by-in from those in the forefront,” Sekonyela added.
