Lesotho lauds penal system

A Lesotho High Court Judge, Tseliso Monapathi, has lauded the Government for introducing the community service programme. Speaking at the Mukono chief magistrate's court, Monapathi said that the programme would help decrease congestion in prisons. According to the district community service officer, Joseph Wamokhoti, over 100 people were serving sentences under the programme. Community service is punishment to offenders who have been convicted to minor offences. They work within their communities instead of committing them to prison. The programme is currently undertaken in Masaka, Masindi, Mukono and Mpigi magisterial areas. Wamokhoti explained that 1.500 offenders in four magisterial areas had served sentences since the programme started in 2000, adding that plans were underway to expand it all over. (New Vision, Kampala)