Community-Based Crime Prevention Strategies In The Mountain Areas of Lesotho:Social Capital Deficiencies And Implications For Sustainable Livelihood

The problem of stock theft in the mountain areas of Lesotho bordering the Republic of SouthAfrica is one of the major challenges facing both the government of Lesotho and thecommunities affected. This is because this form of crime has significantly affected thelivelihoods of the communities by depriving them of one of the important resources that hashistorically formed the cornerstone of the economic activities in these areas. The problem hasbeen addressed in various ways both at national and community levels but in vain. One of theimportant strategies that were adopted in the 1990s is formation of anti-stock theft groups atcommunity level. These groups police communities and are expected to collaborate with statepolice agencies to combat stock theft. Ironically, stock theft has persisted despite theformation of social capital among communities’ members and between state institutions andcommunities. This paper explains these failures by analysing how social capital is weakenedby lack of trust within communities and between communities and police. It is argued thatlack of trust among members of these various community structures brings about deficienciesand ineffectiveness in the social networks formed consequently, deterioration of livelihoodsgoes unabated because economic productivity cannot be enhanced in such environment