LocationsLesotho Advances Digital and Strategic Policing with Launch of Lehokela App, Policy Frameworks, and ICT Initiative
April 20, 2026
The Government of Lesotho, through the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), has taken a major step toward modernising policing with the launch of the Lehokela Application, alongside key strategic and digital policy frameworks and an ICT Enablement Initiative.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Secretary‑General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) through the project 'Supporting Community‑driven Violence Reduction and Sustainable Peace in Lesotho'.
The project is jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and UN Women, reflecting a coordinated effort to strengthen inclusive, accountable, and technology‑enabled policing in Lesotho.
At the centre of the launch is the Lehokela Application, a mobile-based platform co-developed by LMPS, UNDP, the National University of Lesotho (NUL), and Econet Telecom Lesotho. The app enables communities and Crime Prevention Committees (CPCs) to report crime and violence in real time using text, images, audio, and location-sharing features. Currently available for Android users, the application is expected to expand to iOS users in due course. By improving communication between citizens and the police, the platform is expected to enhance response times, strengthen accountability, and support data-driven decision-making.
This digital innovation is grounded in a set of strategic institutional frameworks shaping the transformation of policing in Lesotho. These include a five-year Strategic Plan for LMPS, a Digital Transformation Policy, a Digital Transformation Strategy, and a Community Policing Sub-Strategic Plan. Developed with technical support from UNDP, these frameworks provide the governance, policy direction, and operational structure needed to ensure that innovations like the Lehokela App are effectively implemented and sustained.
To support both the digital platform and the broader strategic direction, the launch also introduced an ICT Enablement Initiative, which will equip police stations with essential digital infrastructure, including desktop computers and related tools. This will enable officers to monitor reported cases, coordinate responses more efficiently, and provide timely support to victims.
Together, the three components the app, the policy frameworks, and the ICT infrastructure represent an integrated approach to policing reform. While the Lehokela App strengthens real-time engagement with communities, the strategic documents ensure institutional alignment and accountability, and the ICT investments provide the operational capacity required for implementation.
Speaking at the launch, Police Commissioner Advocate Borotho Matsoso emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring the success of these interventions. He noted that the tools introduced are meant to enhance delivery service, improve transparency, and strengthen trust between the police and the public.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Taija Kontinen-Sharp highlighted that the initiative aligns with broader peacebuilding efforts, stressing that sustainable peace is rooted in strong relationships between institutions and communities.
Community representatives also welcomed the developments, noting that improved reporting mechanisms and stronger collaboration with law enforcement will be critical in addressing challenges such as gender-based violence, livestock theft, and community-level crime.
In a move to ensure accessibility, Econet Telecom Lesotho announced that the Lehokela App will be zero-rated, allowing users to report incidents without consuming data or airtime removing barriers to participation, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
The initiative is expected to deliver tangible outcomes, including improved communication between communities and police, faster response times, enhanced victim support services, and stronger trust in law enforcement. It also establishes a foundation for a centralised, digital system for tracking crime and violence across the country.
As Lesotho continues to embrace innovation in public service delivery, this integrated approach underscores a shared commitment by government and partners to build a safer, more responsive, and more inclusive policing system one that is grounded in both technology and strong institutional frameworks.
Related
content
content
