Radio journalist Ralikonelo Yoki was wounded a number of occasions by unknown assailants.
Lesotho authorities have declared an indefinite curfew within the hope that proscribing the motion of individuals at evening will assist curb gun violence within the small South African kingdom.
The curfew, which took impact on Tuesday, got here simply days after a outstanding radio journalist was shot lifeless in a nationwide homicide.
“As of in the present day, a curfew is in impact for all individuals all through the Kingdom of Lesotho,” the federal government newspaper mentioned in a discover printed on Tuesday.
Residents are prohibited from being outdoors between 22:00 (20:00 GMT) and 04:00 (02:00 GMT), based on a doc signed by Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli.
The curfew will stay in impact till additional discover, Molibeli mentioned. Those that don’t observe the foundations face a nice or as much as two years in jail.
Police Minister Lebona Lephema mentioned the transfer is aimed toward combating gun violence throughout the nation.
The Minister burdened that that is achieved so as to cease the expansion of crime within the nation.
eminent radio host, #RalikoneloYoki was killed final evening.
— Lesotho Information (@LsNewsday) Might 15, 2023
Ralikonelo journalist Joki, a present affairs presenter on a neighborhood non-public radio station, was shot lifeless by unidentified assailants as he left his office in Maseru on Sunday night.
The Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ) mentioned that unknown assailants shot Yoki as soon as within the head and at the very least 13 occasions within the physique.
Lesotho authorities should totally examine the homicide of Ts’enolo FM host Ralikonelo ‘Lekhashasha’ Joki and make sure that these accountable are delivered to justice,” the assertion mentioned. @angelaquintal , @Freedom of the pressAfrica Program Coordinator.
— CPJ Africa (@CPJAfrica) Might 15, 2023
Joki, host of the present affairs program Hlokoana La Celela (“I Heard It Via the Vine”), lined authorities, agriculture and corruption and was finest recognized for telling a narrative in 2021 about 5 politicians who illegally traded in alcohol. “, CPJ mentioned in an announcement.
“In March and April, the journalist acquired at the very least three loss of life threats from completely different Fb accounts associated to his work as a journalist,” the organizations added.
No arrests have been made within the case, and the investigation is ongoing.
CPJ urged authorities to launch a “credible investigation” into the killing.
Gang-related shootings are frequent in Lesotho, a mountainous, landlocked nation of two million folks the place a lot of unlicensed firearms are in circulation.
