**Lesotho Mounted Police Service Defends Recall of Retired Officers Amid Staffing Shortage**
*MASERU, Lesotho –* The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) announced on Thursday that it will retain 80 officers who are due to retire, a move the force says is intended to alleviate severe understaffing. The decision has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and raised questions about transparency and recruitment practices.
**Police leadership cites staffing crisis**
Advocate Borotho Matsoso, who was appointed chief of the LMPS in May 2024 after a career that included service with the LMPS, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) and Revenue Services Lesotho, described the force as “critically understaffed” and said officers are “overburdened.” At a press conference in Maseru, Matsoso explained that the LMPS currently has a police‑to‑population ratio of 1:551, meaning each officer is responsible for 551 citizens.
“The kids are burdened. You are complaining because they are burdened,” Matsoso said, referring to the rank‑and‑file officers. He added that the force needs to recruit at least 500 new officers each year to approach the target of 9,000‑10,000 officers that the LMPS is “rightfully supposed to have.” Retaining the 80 officers, he said, does not replace recruitment but is intended to fill immediate gaps while new hires are processed.
**Attrition outpaces recruitment**
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Matšepang Ramarikhoane provided figures on the force’s personnel changes. Since 2022, the LMPS has lost 474 officers, while only 297 have been recruited in the same period. The losses include retirements, deaths, resignations and dismissals. Ramarikhoane linked the recruitment shortfall to a December 2022 government directive that halted hiring across ministries after the public wage bill rose to roughly 15 % of gross domestic product, exceeding the recommended ceiling of 10 %.
“The police‑population ratio stands at 1:551. When I am attending to one person, those 550 other people are still waiting for my response too,” Ramarikhoane said. “Owing to this burden, police management decided to halt the retirement of officers currently on leave pending retirement, so that they keep working while we stabilise the situation through recruitment.”
Under Section 84 of the Police Service Act of 1998 and Regulation 15(5) of the LMPS (Administration) Regulations of 2003, the Police Authority is permitted to retain officers beyond the normal retirement age for up to five years. The LMPS says the 80 officers being retained fall under this provision.
**Opposition challenges the decision**
Basotho National Party (BNP) leader Machesetsa Mofomobe wrote a four‑page letter to Prime Minister Sam Matekane on 26 August 2026, questioning the transparency and fairness of the recall. Mofomobe asked for details on the selection criteria, whether the positions were advertised or filled competitively, and why serving officers were not promoted instead.
“This decision raises serious questions about transparency, fairness, institutional development and, importantly, the opportunities being denied to serving police officers and the unemployed youth of Lesotho,” Mofomobe wrote. He warned that bypassing serving members could damage morale and career prospects, and he highlighted the contrast between recalling retired officers and the high level of youth unemployment in the country.
Mofomobe acknowledged that “exceptional cases” might exist where a retiree’s specialised expertise is needed, but he called for a public explanation of any such cases.
**Police spokesperson cites budget constraints**
LMPS spokesperson Superintendent Thabo Mohai said the recall is driven by a lack of funding rather than a shortage of expertise. “We are not recalling people who have retired, but those on leave pending retirement. Everyone would have expected promotions, but that is not possible because we do not have the budget for that. Promotions come with costs, the same way as hiring new officers,” Mohai explained. He added that the recalled officers will continue drawing their existing salaries and that no separate funds have been allocated for the move.
**Next steps**
The LMPS indicated that recruitment efforts will continue, aiming for the annual target of 500 new officers. The force has not disclosed a timeline for achieving the desired staffing level of 9,000‑10,000 officers. The opposition’s letter to the prime minister remains under consideration, and further clarification on the selection process for the 80 retained officers may be forthcoming.
Article and image source: sundayexpress.co.ls
