Warden Messages

                   

             Action to Prevent Unlicensed Street Vendors, November 26, 2007

According to local sources, the Maseru City Council (MCC), in coordination with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), is taking steps to inspect street vendors’ stalls with a view to preventing unlicensed vendors from selling their wares on downtown municipal streets. This latest security action to enforce city regulations began the morning of Monday, November 26, and could continue in subsequent days. Some vendors are resisting this action, and security officials have responded with tear gas. As of 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 26, the situation is tense but stable, with a significant police presence working closely with the City Council to maintain security.

The U.S. Embassy recommends that American citizens heed all government security measures during this and similar security actions. We also strongly advise you to avoid the city center, i.e., Kingsway Avenue from the Basotho Hat complex to the main traffic circle at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in the Cathedral Area and the central bus stop area off Main Road North between the Cathedral and the National Stadium, during normal business hours today and for the next few days.

Should emergency circumstances require you to travel through these parts of town during City Council and/or LMPS operations, be sure to practice good situational awareness, avoid large crowds of people, lock your car doors, and keep vehicle windows closed.

If you are living or traveling in Lesotho, please register with the U.S. Embassy Maseru in person or through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Lesotho.

The Consular Section of the Embassy in Maseru, Lesotho is located at 254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru. American citizens can call 22-312-666 during office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday. For after-hours emergencies an American officer from the Embassy can be reached by cellular telephone at 5888-4035. The email address for the Consular Section in Maseru is USConsularMaseru@state.gov.