Staff Reporter
MASERU – POLICE are investigating two cases of assault after a mob rallying behind Democratic Congress (DC) deputy leader Monyane Moleleki beat up party members opposed to his faction last Friday.
Police spokesman Superintendent Clifford Molefe told thepost last night that “we have so far received reports from two women complainants who said they were assaulted”.
“We have launched investigations,” Molefe said.
A nasty factional fight ensued between followers of Moleleki and the party leader Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili at the DC offices in Maseru shortly before and after Moleleki addressed his well-wishers on his ordeal with the police following his ‘arrest’ last Friday.
Mosisili’s supporters, dubbed Lithope (Maidens), were outnumbered and were beaten up using sticks, stones, fists while others were kicked until they bled.
Moleleki’s followers are known as Lirurubele (Butterflies).
While Lithope were being clobbered, Lirurubele were singing a song that said “Shapa thope e mathe lebelo” loosely translated “beat up a maiden so that she runs away fast”.
Lirurubele also had in their midst members from the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Basotho National Party (BNP), Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) and a faction of the Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC) who are supporting Moleleki’s faction in its fight against Mosisili.
The first to be beaten up was Bulane Mokhehle who was sitting at the DC office door. Mokhehle allegedly refused to move after the party’s youth leader Thuso Litjobo told him to give way so that Moleleki could pass.
Moleleki was at the time inside the office and was about to go out to address the masses when Litjobo wanted to clear the way for him.
When Mokhehle refused to move, Litjobo pushed him and when he insisted on sitting at the door the youth league chairman Lekhotla Matšaba joined the push.
They pushed him for about six metres to where the mob was singing and that was when Mokhehle got a thorough beating.
He ran away to safety – at the side where 15 riot police officers were standing.
Moleleki then got out and addressed the people.
During that time some groups of Lithope alighted from their cars near the office and some of them started hurling insults.
Soon after Moleleki went back to the office, the Lirurubele descended on Lithope with sticks.
Litjobo tried to stop them but in vain until the police came to their rescue.
Later that day the party spokesman, Serialong Qoo, who is a staunch supporter of Mosisili condemned the beatings and apologised to the injured members.