The Ministry of Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI) strongly condemned the rising acts of infrastructure vandalism taking place across the country.
The condemnation follows two major incidents where criminal elements targeted and destroyed critical national infrastructure. In the first incident, vandals struck an Econet Telecom substation in Lithabaneng, Maseru. In a separate but concurrent attack, the Radio Lesotho main medium wave transmission site at Sehlabeng sa Thuathe was heavily vandalized, disrupting vital communication networks.
Speaking on the developments, the ministry’s Principal Secretary Mr. Kanono Ramashamole highlighted the immense financial strain these criminal acts place on public and private resources.
He noted that the government invests vast sums of money to install this infrastructure and when these facilities are destroyed, funds must be diverted to repair them, money that could have otherwise been used to expand telecommunications and broadcasting networks to underserved rural areas.
He emphasized that it is working tirelessly with law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to tighten security measures.
He stressed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure vandalism becomes a thing of the past, warning perpetrators that they will face the full wrath of the law for sabotaging national development.
On the other hand, Econet Telecom Lesotho Public Relations Mr. Rets’elisitsoe Nkhahle said the areas affected for telecommunication are Lithabaneng, Ha-Matala, Ha-Abia, Lefikeng and Ha-‘Nelese saying this is a big population.
He added that this does not only affect telecommunications but other institutions such as hospitals and other service providers.
Meanwhile service providers within Lithabaneng vicinity complain that this has affected their services, especially mobile money services.
Vandalism in Lesotho heavily targets public infrastructure, particularly power grids and telecommunication networks, causing massive financial and social damage.
Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]
