A group of 74 young delinquents who had for months terrorised communities living around the city of Maseru was finally sent home after completing a three-month rehabilitation programme at the Makoanyane Barracks.

The now reformed youngsters who formerly called themselves ’Manomoro’ - a name they earned from associating with prison gangs now go by the name ‘Makoanyane Rangers’.

The group comprises young men and women aged between 15 and 24 drawn from villages including Ha Tšosane, Ha Mabote, Naledi and Koalabata.

Before their detention by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), the gangs terrorised their respective communities through criminal activities such as theft, burglaries, armed robberies, rape and assault among others.

Speaking at their send-off ceremony on Saturday, the Minister of Defence and National Security, Halebonoe Setšabi was hopeful that the youth would be accepted back into their respective communities after a successful rehabilitation programme.

“I hope their communities are ready and willing to create a conducive environment that will be well accommodating as well as beneficial to the  ‘Makoanyane rangers’ as they are now called.”
For his part, the Army Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela applauded the parents of the former offenders for allowing the LDF to help rehabilitate their children.

“The initiative was done by the LDF with the purpose of ensuring the safety and well-being of the Basotho within their respective villages.”

The commander said the three-month period that the youth spent under rehabilitation must have changed their lives and their outlook at life.

He said they should now work on issues of discipline and help fight crime and drug abuse in their respective areas, adding that the army will keep monitoring their progress going forward.