IT has been almost a week since the country imposed the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but members of the state security organs are hardly seen manning the streets to enforce the regulations of the curfew.
news
Jan. 19, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Security agencies shy away from COVID-19
Police manning the streets during a past riot by students
In spite of the skyrocketing cases of new infections, people still move around as they please and attend funerals in great numbers.
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.
This, he said has forced them to work in shifts to among others avoid crowding in one place at a time.
“But it is the responsibility of every person to abide by the World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID regulations as well as the gazette, which prohibits gatherings of not more than 30 people at funerals,” he said.
Mopeli said police cannot go to funerals just to ensure that people abide by the rules.
His army counterpart Captain Sakeng Lekola said they take rotationally patrols every now and again to ensure that members of the public comply with the curfew regulations.
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Soldiers on patrol in Maseru
Echoing Mopeli’s sentiments, Lekola said: “But neither the army nor the police will 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 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 second lockdown which came into effect last Thursday ends on January 27.