Maseru- Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Hon. Lebona Fabian Lephema declared famo gang organizations “unlawful for being involved , promoting and encouraging subversive activities”.
Famo gangs have been blamed for most of murders that have projected Lesotho into the sixth most homicidal nation in the world as per the world population review. Gang clashes have been ongoing for a very long time, with members of rival groups attacking and fatally killing each other and fighting for each other’s territories.
Internal security declaration of unlawful organizations comes after five people were shot dead at their home in Fobane on 20 April 2024, and it is alleged that it is revenge attack linked to Famo gangs involved in illegal gold mining (Zama Zama) in South Africa.
Additionally Police and army officers have been accused of being part of the Famo gangs and selling them stolen weapons belonging to state. Roughly 75 fire arms were stolen from mafeteng police station in 2022, and it was believed to be inside job by police officers.
The names of the organizations declared unlawful are Terene ea mokata-lirope, Terene ea Chakela, Letlama (seakhi), letlama le le khubelu, Liala Mabatha, Khang kholo, Sephiri, Phula-bobete, Parachuti, Tonado, Mahana Puso and Terene ea hlaba. Internal security notice 2024 is pursuant to section 10 of the internal security (General) act, 1984; 1.
Hon. Machesetsa Mofomobe leader of Basotho National Party (BNP) stated that the government failed decimally to put an end to murderers; moreover the government should try new strategies to end crime.
“All of us are concerned by the crime in this country, looking at the level we are at as a country, the government was supposed to take action, but it should be actions that do not present us as failures to modern ways of policing, the government should invest significant resources in modern policing initiatives. Our crime intelligence should be equipped and given money to work, the moment you see government resorting to crime to fight crime, you should know that government is a failure.”
“If the government will command army to go and use force against people in the villages, you should know that government has failed to fight crime. This is an old gazette, the internal security act of 1984, if you remember BNP was the ruling party at the time.” Mofomobe said.
Famo organizations are often registered as burial societies, for example Terene ea Mokota burial society. The purpose of the society is to assist with burial expenses and to look after orphans and widows.
It remains to be seen whether this ban will yield the desired results.
