Lesotho police risk allowance dispute continues
Officers have waited since 1994 for an increase from M100 to M1500 monthly.
Members of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) are awaiting a proposed M1500 monthly risk allowance, a dispute that has faced bureaucratic delays. The current allowance of M100 has been in place since 1994, failing to reflect the dangers officers face daily.
Police officers routinely confront armed criminals, dangerous traffic, and volatile situations, often at personal risk. The proposed increase aims to better recognise the occupational hazards inherent in their unpredictable work environments.
While crime statistics are not provided, public perception suggests a decline in vehicle hijackings and drunk driving incidents. The LMPS faces ongoing challenges with organised crime, illegal firearms, and drug trafficking, but the risk allowance debate continues.
Why it mattersPolice officers in Lesotho are affected by the protracted administrative process delaying their risk allowance increase.