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Jan. 20, 2021

STAFF REPORTER

4 min read

Mourners violate COVID-19 rules

Mourners violate COVID-19 rules

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MOURNERS attending funerals throughout the country keep increasing in numbers despite the prime minister’s order to keep it at a minimal in a bid to curb the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing the lockdown last week Tuesday, Dr Moeketsi Majoro said only 20 people should attend a funeral service, including 10 members of the deceased’s family and 10 other people to assist with the burial process.

Last weekend, scores of mourners attended the funeral service of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) youth league chairperson, Taelo Ntsokotsane.

There was also no social distancing observed at the service as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 protocols.

It has been almost a week since the country imposed the two-week nationwide lockdown to control the spread of the pandemic.

The lockdown ends on January 27.

But members of the state security organs are hardly seen manning the streets to enforce the regulations of the curfew, despite the skyrocketing cases of new infections.

Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said the reason there are few police officers patrolling the streets now is that the organisation has also been hard hit by the pandemic.

To date, four police officers have died from COVID-19 related complications, the Lesotho Police Staff Association (LEPOSA) has announced.

Senior Superintendent Mopeli said the pandemic has forced the police to work in shifts in order to try to avoid crowding in one place at a time.

“But it is the responsibility of every person to abide by WHO COVID-19 regulations as well as the gazette, which prohibits gatherings of not more than 30 people at funerals,” he said.

Police he said cannot go to funerals just to ensure that people abide by the set rules.

His army counterpart Captain Sakeng Lekola said they take routine patrols to ensure that members of the public comply with the curfew regulations.

As Lesotho moved to the red colour code which entails a total shut down of the country, Dr Majoro said people are expected to remain in their homes from 7pm until 6am the next day.

Captain Lekola said: “But neither the army nor the police can stop the spread of this pandemic. I therefore appeal to members of the public, especially the community leaders, parents and media to play their part and educate people on the importance of complying with WHO COVID-19 regulations as it is the responsibility of all people to combat this disease.”

The police had earlier announced in a statement that they will take strict measures against people who ignore the curfew regulations.

The area chief of Matsatseng in Mafeteng, Chief Tšitso Ranteme said community leaders in his area battle to control the number of mourners attending funerals.

“This is because mourners are not only coming from the same village. People come from all over to join the already huge number of mourners at the deceased’s village. The situation is completely out of control,” he said.

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He added: “During funeral services, we usually advise people to always put on the masks and to practice social distancing. But these people clearly lack understanding about the pandemic.”

In his village, Chief Ranteme said women never go the cemetery in order to avoid crowding during the burial process.

For his part, Chief Sekake Mohale of Tajane, Ha Seqobela appealed to the leaders to lead by example.

He said people in power such as cabinet ministers should not in any way be seen amongst mourners attending a funeral.

“They should be the ones to lead by example,” Chief Mohale said.

He added: “It is difficult to control the number of mourners at funerals because everybody says they are close relatives of the deceased. This is really tough business but only the people themselves can control it.”

 

 

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