Lesotho

Ts'okolo Koro

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Focus Area(s)
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2
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Daniel Scher
Name
Ts'okolo Koro
Interviewee's Position
Former Director
Interviewee's Organization
Police Inspectorate, Lesotho
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Lesotho
Town/City
Maseru
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Ts'okolo Koro discusses the challenges facing the Lesotho national police force and provides an overview of the transition from a joint national security force, which included the army and other security forces, to a separate police force.   A substantial portion of the interview details how he established and expanded a police inspections office to oversee the activities of the police service.    

Case Study:  Reining in a Rogue Agency: Police Reform in Lesotho, 1997-2010 

Profile

Ts’okolo Koro became the first inspector of the Lesotho national police force in 2005, after the inspectorate was established with the goal of improving the public image and performance of the police service in terms of organization, administration and discipline.  Before taking that post, he served as acting commissioner of police during much of 2004.  Koro joined the police service as a trooper in 1979 and worked his way through the ranks to become deputy commissioner from 2000 to 2004.  He graduated from the National University of Lesotho, holding a bachelor of education degree and a master of arts degree in police and criminal justice studies from the University of Exeter in the U.K..  

Full Audio File Size
68MB
Full Audio Title
Ts'okolo Koro interview

Limakatso Mokhothu

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Focus Area(s)
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5
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Amy Mawson
Name
Limakatso Mokhothu
Interviewee's Position
Chairwoman
Interviewee's Organization
Independent Electoral Commission, Lesotho
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Lesotho
Place (Building/Street)
Independent Electoral Commission
Town/City
Maseru
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
Limakatso Mokhothu discusses the challenges of organizing Lesotho’s first snap election in 2007.  She highlights the difficulties the Independent Electoral Commission faced due to the short timeframe, weaknesses in the voter registration process, inadequate technological capacity, and the lack of engagement with political parties before the poll.  Mokhothu talks about the disputes that emerged following the election, particularly surrounding informal party alliances, and the political difficulties the commission faced in deciding how to manage the problems that informal party alliances created.  
 
 
Profile

Limakatso Mokhothu was nominated by one of Lesotho’s main political parties to serve as an electoral commissioner in 2003.  She was one of three commissioners who oversaw Lesotho’s controversial 2007 election.  The following year she was appointed chairwoman of the commission.  Before joining the Independent Electoral Commission, Mokhothu worked on governance issues at the Irish consulate in Lesotho.

Full Audio File Size
65MB
Full Audio Title
Limakatso Mokhothu Interview

Motlepu Marhakhe

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Focus Area(s)
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3
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Daniel Scher
Name
Motlepu Marhakhe
Interviewee's Position
Deputy Director
Interviewee's Organization
Office of the Inspector of Police
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Lesotho
Place (Building/Street)
Police Inspectorate
Town/City
Maseru
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Motlepu Marhakhe discusses the various entities comprising Lesotho’s police force. He focuses on the Police Inspectorate, Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and the Police Authority who oversees both agencies. Lesotho’s police service was relatively new at the time of the interview, having been created only five years prior. Marhakhe says that the nature of policing in Lesotho has changed over time. The focus of the police has increasingly been towards community-oriented policing on account of democratic influences in Lesotho. In much of the interview, Marhakhe discusses the relationship between the main Police Authority, and the LMPS and Police Inspectorate. Marhakhe explains that the Minister does not propose policies, but rather approves or denies proposals made by the LMPS. Most of the responsibilities of the police force in Lesotho fall on the shoulders of those working in the Police Inspectorate, not the Police Authority (Minister). When given a mandate by the Police Authority, Marhakhe said that both the Police Inspectorate and LMPS regularly collaborate and discuss to form strategies.    

Case Study:  Reining in a Rogue Agency: Police Reform in Lesotho, 1997-2010

Profile

At the time of this interview, Marhakhe was deputy inspector at the Police Inspectorate. This agency is separate from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS). Marhakhe had previously served as assistant commissioner of the police for LMPS. On account of his prior experience in LMPS, he was later recruited to work in the Police Inspectorate, which oversees the policing service in Lesotho.

Full Audio File Size
25 MB
Full Audio Title
Motlepu Marhakhe Interview