To the Editor:
It is a reasonable question to ask what threshold of failure must be crossed for senior public officials to lose their jobs in this country. Right now, the evidence suggests that even the total collapse of public trust in national security is not enough to force accountability.
Reports have emerged of a horrific attack in Bathlodge, where armed gunmen stormed a private residence. The violence has left a young woman dead, a 13-year-old boy clinging to life after being shot in the face, and a third adult with gunshot wounds. As this tragedy demonstrates, violent insecurity is spreading across the nation, with innocent people paying the ultimate price for systemic failure.
Despite this growing crisis, ordinary citizens are still told to extend their patience to a political and security establishment whose promises of safety have been proven empty, attack after attack. Enough is enough.
The nation’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Police must step down immediately. If they refuse to accept responsibility for the ongoing failure of public safety, the Prime Minister must formally demand their resignations. A country cannot keep mourning innocent victims of violence while the leaders tasked with protecting citizens face no consequences for their inaction or incompetence.
Across every other sector of work, ordinary employees face professional consequences when they fail to meet the basic requirements of their roles. Why should the small group of leaders entrusted with public safety be held to a far lower standard, shielded from the accountability that applies to everyone else?
The Prime Minister cannot avoid being held responsible for this crisis as well. Choosing to keep the same failed leadership in place is an active decision, just as choosing to accept the same hollow excuses for ongoing violence is a choice. The resulting harm from these decisions falls squarely on his leadership.
The positions these officials hold are public trusts, not personal property to be held regardless of performance. No amount of personal friendship, political loyalty, or years of service should protect a public official from removal when their failure puts the public’s safety at deadly risk.
Gunmen were able to walk into a civilian home and open fire on the people inside, leaving a child on the brink of death. How much more tragedy must the nation endure before protecting the public becomes a higher priority than protecting the jobs of incompetent officials?
Prime Minister, do not offer the country another empty promise of reform unless you are prepared to back that promise with tangible action. Your unwavering public confidence in these current security officials brings no comfort to the thousands of citizens who now go to bed afraid that a violent attack could come to their home next. If this level of deadly bloodshed is not enough to break your confidence in the leaders responsible for keeping us safe, the public has every right to withdraw their confidence in you.