Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship. Home Affairs and Police Hon. Lebona Lephema says the Government is concerned with the high rate of crime in the country.

In his statement he made in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Lephema said the crime such as drug trafficking, rampant killings using guns and stock theft have put the country in a crisis.He made an example of the killings which claimed a total of eight lives, where five peoplewere shot and killed at Fobane in Leribe, as well as three people who were also shot and

killed at Mahloenyeng, Matsieng.The Minister said the government cannot fold arms and watch while innocent lives are being lost, promising to take action aimed at restoring peace and stability in the country. Hon Lephema said fortunately the police have already traced and arrested three suspects for the Mahloenyeng killings, while at Fobane the police investigations are at the advanced stage to arrest the perpetrators.

The Minister attributed the killings to Famo groups who distinguish themselves with certain blankets as well as illegal mining gangs in neighbouring South Africa. Lephema appealed to those with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to approach the police and went further to assure the nation of maximum peace and security in the country.

He also mentioned that the Government has introduced ‘Operation Fiela’ in which over 30 suspects of crime have been arrested in less than a month. However, Basotho National Party (BNP) Leader Mr. Machesetsa Mofomobe asked the Minister to come up with a clear plan on how to curb the escalating crime in the country.