By Kefiloe Kajane
Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS) deputy commissioner Moqebi Likhang says Operation Restore Hope has seen the police successful making arrests and recovering stolen livestock since October 2020.
Operation Restore Hope was inaugurated in 2020 by the Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro to bring back lost public confidence in the police.
He said they managed to arrest 297 crime suspects, 67 of whom them have had their day in court while the rest are yet to appear before court.
He further revealed that they recovered 757 cows, 1,258 sheep, 379 goats, 66 donkeys and 119 horses that were stolen.
He said Qacha’s Nek, Butha Buthe and Mokhotlong seem to be the leading districts in terms of stock theft.
“Operation Restore Hope has been very successful and it could not have been this fruitful if it was not for the help of the public. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the tip-offs and cooperation.
“We would also like to also encourage our communities to consider taking part in policing forums as hey help a lot when it comes to fighting crime. We have, however, encountered a few challenges such as lack of transport. Some places are hard to reach; we need cars or horses.”