Vodacom Lesotho has called for a coordinated national response to a growing wave of vandalism targeting telecommunications infrastructure, warning that attacks on network sites are disrupting essential services and undermining the country’s digital connectivity.
The appeal follows a series of incidents at Vodacom network sites across the country involving the deliberate destruction of critical infrastructure, including the cutting of communication cables, damage to electrical systems, tampering with equipment cabinets and the destruction of assets required to keep telecommunications services operational.
The attacks are affecting infrastructure that supports emergency communications, digital learning, business activity, mobile financial services and connectivity for public institutions, including health and law-enforcement agencies.
Ts’epo Ntaopane, Head of External Affairs and Regulatory at Vodacom Lesotho said these incidents are not victimless crimes.
“When a network site is vandalised, entire communities lose access to essential communications. Families are unable to make urgent calls, businesses are disrupted, learners lose access to educational resources and people requiring emergency assistance struggle to connect. Those responsible are not simply damaging equipment. They are interrupting services that our people depend on every day,” said Ntaopane.
He noted that repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure requires significant financial resources, specialist expertise and time, diverting investment away from network expansion, service improvements and community-development initiatives.
Vandalism further carries broader economic and social consequences, including service outages, revenue losses and increased operational costs, while slowing efforts to extend connectivity to more Basotho in underserved communities, he added.
Vodacom Lesotho has urged communities living near telecommunications sites to help protect this critical infrastructure by reporting suspicious activity, discouraging interference with network facilities and informing local authorities of any signs of damage or attempted theft.
Scrap-metal dealers, recyclers and members of the public are encouraged to reject the purchase and trade of cables, batteries, solar equipment and other items suspected of having been stolen from telecommunications or electricity infrastructure.
“We cannot continue investing in replacing infrastructure damaged by criminal acts when those same resources could be used to expand coverage, improve services and connect more Basotho to the opportunities of the digital economy. Protecting telecommunications infrastructure protects communities, businesses and the country’s future,” Ntaopane indicated.
