MASERU – The Government of Lesotho, through the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS)  in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on  Thursday launched the Lehokela Application, a digital platform designed to help communities report crime and violence in real time.

Speaking at the launch, Chief of Police Advocate Borotho Matsoso described the day as significant for the police service, saying the application is an important tool in the fight against crime.

He said the Lehokela App is not just a gift but a weapon in the battle against crime, adding that it forms part of the LMPS strategic plan which aims to modernise policing and improve service delivery.

Adv. Matsoso explained that the application will help eliminate misinformation and rumours by allowing communities to report incidents directly and quickly through a digital platform.

He said the tool will bring police services closer to the people and strengthen efforts to protect communities.

He urged police officers to be prepared to receive reports through different channels and emphasised that the success of the application will require dedication, respect and patience from officers when serving the public.

The Chief of Police also encouraged Basotho to make use of the application to report crime and suspicious activities, stressing that policing is a shared responsibility between the police and the public.

He further appealed to citizens to stop bribing police officers, saying the application will also allow people to report corruption within the police service, including traffic officers who accept money from motorists.

Meanwhile, United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Taija Kontinen-Sharp welcomed the launch, describing it as an important innovation that brings technology into community safety and peace building efforts.

Ms. Kontinen-Sharp said peace is built within communities where there is trust between citizens and institutions, noting that the police play a critical role in maintaining law and order while also safeguarding public confidence.

She added that the LMPS Strategic Plan, Community Policing Sub-Strategy and Digital Transformation Policy, launched alongside the application, will help guide planning, strengthen resource allocation and support evidence-based decision-making.

She mentioned that the Lehokela App will enable communities to report incidents in real time, improve coordination between police and crime prevention committees, and allow faster responses to crime and violence.

She said the application will also support the creation of a centralised digital system for tracking information, enabling government institutions to respond more effectively.

Ms. Kontinen-Sharp also commended telecommunications partners for ensuring the application is zero-rated, meaning people can access it without data charges, promoting digital inclusion.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Senele Ezekiel Senti said the Lehokela App is a community-based technological tool designed to strengthen communication between the police and communities.

He said the project began about five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was piloted in selected policing areas, where community members welcomed the initiative.

He said the application will help overcome common challenges such as long distances to police stations, fear of reporting crime and delays in communication, which criminals often take advantage of.

He said through the platform, community members will be able to report suspicious activities, ongoing crimes and threats to public safety quickly and directly to the police, allowing information to reach authorities faster.

He emphasised that crime prevention is a shared responsibility, and the application empowers citizens to play an active role in protecting their families, villages and property.

The Lehokela app is a digital platform developed by the UNDP Lesotho Accelerator Lab and Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS) to enable communities to report crimes and emergencies in real-time. It allows users to document conflicts and criminal incidents facilitating faster response, improved coordination and better community policing.

By Lesotho News Agency