Africa News
Lesotho PM's Press Secretary still hiding in SA─── 12:45 Mon, 08 Sep 2014
Maseru - Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s Press Secretary, Thabo Thakalekoala, is still in hiding in South Africa and says he feels “abandoned” by the government, the Sunday Express reported.
Mr Thakalekoala was among dozens of Basotho who fled the country, alongside Thabane, just before and soon after members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) took over three key police stations in Maseru in what the premier has since described as a coup attempt.
However, Thabane returned to Lesotho on Wednesday last week amid tight security from the South African Police and army and remains under their protection until the country’s security situation returns to normal.
Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana, and other senior members of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) who also fled to South Africa due to the army activities, which left one police officer dead and many others injured, also returned home on Wednesday.
Newly appointed LDF Commander, Lt. Gen. Maaparankoe Mahao — whose home was attacked by unknown gunmen on Saturday August 30 morning in what is widely believed to have been an assassination attempt and part of the coup plot — also returned home on Wednesday after also fleeing to South Africa soon after the assault on his Koalabata residence, which left three vehicles on the premises damaged and one of his dogs dead.
Speaking from his hideout in South Africa, Mr Thakalekoala on Friday told the Sunday Express that he feared should he return to Lesotho without adequate security, soldiers loyal to ousted LDF Commander, Lt. Gen. Tlali Kamoli, who has been accused of being behind the coup attempt, would “kill me on the spot because I am their prime target”.
According to Mr Thakalekoala, he fled the country alongside some members of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Basotho National Party (BNP) and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), whom he said were all “targeted by the military”.
However, Mr Thakalekoala would not say how many remain in hiding in South Africa.
Mr Thakalekoala also urged the coalition government to work hard to restore stability in Lesotho “so that we can return home safely and with protection from the military.
Contacted for comment on Friday afternoon, Acting Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka, told the Sunday Express that “government is making arrangements for their return”.
* The Sunday Express is published on Sundays in Lesotho. Read the full article written by Bongiwe Zihlangu here.
