FORMER Airwing Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Exavery Letsoela, has been appointed the new commander of the Lesotho Defence Force as the government continues with efforts to restructure the security sector and weed out elements associated with detained former commander Tlali Kennedy Kamoli.

Lieutenant-General Letsoela replaces Major General Lineo Poopa who has been acting commander since the 5th September 2017, after the assassination of Lieutenant-Geneneral Khoantle Motšomotšo by his subordinates last year, Brigadier Bulane Sechele and Colonel Tefo Hashatsi.

Government also further made significant changes to the LDF top brass, appointing Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s former bodyguard, Matela Matobakele, Deputy Commander.

He has also been promoted to the rank of Major General.

Major-Geneneral Poqa Motoa, who previously held the rank of Brigadier, has also been appointed as Chief of Staff for Administration and Human Resources affairs while Major General Ramanka Mokaloba, (previously a Brigadier) was appointed Inspector General of the LDF.