The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Motsoahae Thabane says if the Police could commit themselves to stopping crime, the economy of the country would grow and poverty would be reduced. Speaking at the second annual celebration to mark the inception of the Police Service in the country, which was formed on October 26, 1872, the Minister said the Police Service is driving towards providing quality services to all citizens of Lesotho and asked those who are not committed to working for the public to resign.         

The Minister said the people who break the law in whatever part of the world are always in the minority, adding that it cannot be in the interest of democracy that the interests of the minority supersede that of the majority. Mr. Thabane said it cannot be correct that the Police Service can represent the interest of the criminal element, saying,  "in democracy, no provision is made for the interest of a criminal". He added that the basic mandate of the police is to prevent crime, and where crime has been committed, to bring those who have done so before the courts of law and to collect evidence to the best of their ability so that criminals could be convicted.

At the occasion, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jonas Malewa said since its inception some 130 years ago, the Police Service has grown from strength to strength.
Mr. Malewa said the Police Service is now committed to working together with the public in combating crime. The Commissioner of Police also pointed out that they are also committed to providing quality service, saying that those who are not committed should leave the service.

At the same occasion, Minister Thabane unveiled the LMPS monument and him together with  the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Malewa, the Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Lt. General Makhula Mosakeng, the former Commissioner of the Police, Mr. Tengo Phinda, the Commissioners of Police in Swaziland and Botswana, Messrs Edgar Hillary and Norman Maleboge respectively, laid wreaths. 137 police officers were also awarded medals in recognition of their
loyalty and long service and faithfulness. Present were among others, the Attorney General, Mr. Lebohang Maema, retired police officers, senior police officers and senior government officials.

10 November,2002