The Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) of Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) procured 5 prefabricated offices to address the problem of availability of space among CGPU officers and clients. The offices were distributed in the districts of Mafeteng, Quthing, Berea, Thaba Tseka and Mokhotlong with effect from March 2010.

The three-room CGPU prefabricated offices worth M760,000 (US$101,340) was supported under Global Fund Round 7 HIV grant. The aim is to support the police particularly CGPU unit to improve their services and create user friendly services particularly in protecting children and the community at large.

Caption: CGPU Mafeteng show their motorbike received with assistance of Global Fund. On the right is the CGPU prefablicated office in Quthing district.

Sergeant Setlaba Lebenya of Quthing CGPU said previously, CGPU officers were using one small room as district office for interviewing clients, for taking statements and for play therapy. “We had to go out and provide space each time there is client in our office because most of the rape clients are not free to disclose their ordeal let alone to one officer,” he explained.

Sergeant Lebenya thanked Global Fund for the camping sets that he said they used them during investigations campaign where district police from various sections camp together in a village to look for all criminal suspects include those crimes that are related to child abuse and gender based violence. “It is easy to capture criminals during camping because they are not able to hide for a long time when the Police stay longer in their areas,” said Lebenya.

Therefore camping helps police to arrest many criminal of different cases all at once compared to when they investigate an individual case once off, this provides time for criminals to hide and come back to the village at night. But during the camping the police are able to conduct house-to-house police rides even during the night.

Through Global Fund grants, CGPU offices in all districts were also assisted with motorbikes as well as regional vehicles to help them to speed up investigations to ensure justice to the victims.

Another Sergeant Malesaoana Masupha of CGPU Berea thanked for the prefabricated offices saying it ensure confidentiality among clients during reporting of their cases. Sergean Masupha thank for the motorbike because now their unit is able to follow up individual cases urgently and bring evidence to court to ensure justices take course and perpetrators are brought to book.

The CGPU offices collaborate hand in hand with other children’s stakeholders in the district to protect the welfare of children and other vulnerable communities. Among the district stakeholders that were mentioned by CGPU to be active in helping the police in this endeavour are Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Training through OVC bursary unit, World Vision and Red Cross by providing essential services such as food or clothing for needy children. Other stakeholders are Child Helpline, teachers, chiefs, community counselors and other individual people.