Maseru – An opinion poll conducted by Lesotho Tribune reveals a significant lack of trust among Basotho in the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) to pursue economic offences without political favouritism. This survey, conducted through both Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook platforms, captures a snapshot of the public’s sentiment on the DCEO’s impartiality.
Twitter Poll Results
On Twitter, the poll posed the question: “Do you trust the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) to pursue economic offences without political favouritism?” The results were as follows:
– Yes: 15%
– No, they’re political: 73%
– Somewhat: 8%
– No opinion: 4%
With 26 votes in total, a resounding 73% of respondents expressed the belief that the DCEO operates with political bias.
Facebook Poll Insights
A similar question was posted on the Lesotho Tribune’s Facebook page, designed to encourage comments and deeper discussion. The question, written in Sesotho, asked: “Na o na le ts’epo ho setsi sa toantšo ea bobolu (DCEO) hore e loantša bobolu ka ho se sehe mpa ka lehare ebile e sebelisa lipolotiki?” which translates to, “Do you trust the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) to fight corruption without being politically biased?”
The post garnered 48 comments, with the majority expressing skepticism towards the DCEO. Many commenters elaborated on their views, suggesting that the DCEO is seen as a tool for the government of the day, used to settle political scores rather than pursue justice impartially. For instance, Teboho Phasumane commented, “No, e bapalla letshoele. ke batho ba bakae bao e atlehileng ho ba hlahisa makhotleng ba atleha hore ba koalloe?” which questions the DCEO’s effectiveness and impartiality.
WhatsApp Poll Insights
The results of this poll were interesting, with 83% of 419 responds detailing what seems to be similar instances where DCEO acted on economic crimes which were politically charged.
9% of the respondents said DCEO IS IMPARTIAL…
General Sentiment
The overall sentiment from both platforms indicates a widespread belief that the DCEO is politically influenced. This perception could undermine the agency’s efforts to combat corruption and economic offences, as public trust is crucial for the effectiveness of such institutions.
Conclusion
The findings from this poll underscore the urgent need for reforms to restore public trust in the DCEO. Ensuring transparency, accountability, and a clear separation from political influence will be key steps towards achieving this goal.
