By Thabo Ntsukunyane | Senior Correspondent
How Major General Ramanka Mokaloba Defied Obedience
In a climate where silence is often rewarded and complicity quietly promoted, one senior officer in Lesotho’s military did what few others dared: he refused to obey.
Major General Ramanka Mokaloba and the Future of the Lesotho Defense Force
As the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) prepares for a change of command, the coming appointment will not simply determine who wears the crown of rank. It will define the credibility of an institution long scarred by political interference, internal divisions, and a history of extrajudicial operations.
A Name Echoing Through the Barracks and Courtrooms
Amid the quiet maneuvering behind the scenes, there is one man who has not been campaigning, not issuing subtle threats, not lobbying his way to the top. Yet his name is being spoken, not in political circles, but in the barracks, in the courtrooms, and in the minds of those who remember a particular moment in Lesotho’s military history.
When False Narratives Masked a Deeper Truth
In January 2014, while the country teetered on the edge of constitutional collapse, bombings struck the homes of then-First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane and Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana. At the time, it was labelled the result of a “police feud.” That version of events was convenient. It was also false.
According to sworn court testimony, the operation was authorized by then-Commander Tlali Kamoli. But not all officers complied.
Major General Ramanka Mokaloba then a senior logistics commander refused.
Major General Ramanka Mokaloba: Standing for Legality and Truth
He questioned the legality of the plan. He warned of collateral damage. He declined the meeting that would initiate the strike. And when the operation went ahead regardless, he made no effort to claim innocence by hiding. Instead, years later, when summoned to testify, he told the truth.
Discipline Over Blind Obedience
It was not a popular decision. It did not result in promotion. But at that moment, Mokaloba did what the LDF desperately needs today: he drew a line between military discipline and blind obedience.
Integrity and Influence Beyond the Spotlight
In the years since, he has kept to the periphery of power, overseeing core military logistics and supporting constitutional reforms under successive administrations. His record is unblemished. His rise, quiet. And yet his credibility, unshaken.
As LDF Faces a New Commander, Major General Ramanka Mokaloba Stands Out
Now, with the retirement of Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela drawing near, a new commander must be chosen. The process will not be an election, but it is no less political. Factions within the military have begun asserting themselves. Names are being floated some with known loyalties, others carrying the shadow of past controversies.
Civilian Leadership’s Dilemma in Military Appointments
The question for civilian leadership is not simply who they trust to command troops. It is who they trust to uphold the line between military power and constitutional order.
Courage Amid Crisis: A Stand Against Blind Orders
Major General Mokaloba has already passed that test. In a chapter of national trauma when others hid behind orders, he faced the mirror of duty and said no.
Major General Ramanka Mokaloba: Recognition for Loyalty to the Nation
The time has come to ask if that act of integrity should finally be met with something long denied in Lesotho’s command circles: recognition not for loyalty to a man, but for loyalty to the country.
For more detailed coverage on this topic, you can refer to the article titled “Mokaloba, Motoa bury Kamoli” on the Lesotho Times website. Les Times
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