He said MPs should help curb the proliferation of illegal firearms if Lesotho is to reduce livestock theft. He made an example with a family in Lebakeng, Qacha’s Nek, which lost 7 000 sheep to thieves. “I visited that family and found them pitiable after thieves stole all 7 000 of their livestock, their only means of livelihood,” he said. The prime minister said the government will check if there are people who have been assaulted during police operations. “We will make a follow-up to see who has been assaulted and who has not. As for public servants who were injured during the course of duty we have full responsibility because they were sent by us,” he said. He said they relied on tip offs from the public and chiefs on the villages they were to search during the operation. Other searches were based on intelligence gathered by police’s undercover agents.