Lesotho

Official name: Kingdom of Lesotho

Capital city: Maseru

Internet country code: .ls

Flag description: Three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; cen­tered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat represent­ing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in Octo­ber 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Geographical description: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Total area: 11,718 sq. mi. (30,355 sq. km.)

Climate: Temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural); adjective: Basotho

Population: 2,125,262 (July 2007 CIA est.)

Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%

Languages spoken: Sesotho (southern Sotho; official), Eng­lish (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Religions: Christian 80%, including Roman Catholic (majority), Lesotho Evangelical, Anglican, other denomi­nations; other religions include Islam, Hindu, indigenous religions

(Kingdom of Lesotho; before 1966, the British protectorate of Basutoland), a state in southern Africa; a member of the British Commonwealth. An enclave within the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho has an area of 30,300 sq km. Population, approximately 1 million (1972, estimate). The capital is Maseru. Administratively, Lesotho is divided into nine districts.

Constitution and government. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, and according to the constitution of 1966 the king is the head of state. Parliament consists of two houses: the Senate and National Assembly (60 members elected for five years on the basis of universal and direct suffrage). The upper house (the Senate) is made up of 33 senators—22 principal chiefs occupying seats by virtue of their positions and 11 senators appointed by the king. Executive power is exercised by the government—a cabinet consisting of a prime minister and not less than seven ministers appointed by the king from representatives of the political party having a majority in the National Assembly. All citizens who have reached the age of 21 can vote. In January 1970 the constitution was suspended and Parliament dissolved. The king was deprived of all prerogatives. State power is actually exercised by the government. In April 1973 an interim national assembly, whose members are appointed by the government, was formed. One of the tasks of this body is to prepare a new constitution for Lesotho.

Local administrative organs consist of district councils elected by the population. A number of judicial and administrative functions are carried out by local chiefs.

The judicial system includes a court of appeal, a high court, and district courts. Judicial commissioners’ courts deal with appeals from lower-level Basuto courts. Central and local Basuto courts review cases on the basis of norms of customary law. Decisions and sentences of all courts in Lesotho may be appealed to a judicial committee of Great Britain’s Privy Council.

Natural features. Lesotho occupies the Basuto plateau (average elevation, 2,300–3,000 m), which is composed of sandstones and shales overlain by basalts and is bounded by the Drakensberg Mountains (Mount Thabana Ntlenyana, 3,482 m) on the east and south. The average temperature is 25°-26°C in January and 15°C, in July; however, there are frequent frosts, and snow falls in the mountains. From east to west annual precipitation decreases from 1,000 to 750 mm (summer maximum). The rivers are full of rapids and contain considerable reserves of hydroelectric power. The major river is the Orange. Soils in the western region are sandy and shallow, and in the east they are fertile and volcanic. Vegetation consists mainly of gramineous steppes, with shrubs and alpine mountain meadows in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Population. About 98 percent of the population consists of Africans, mainly Basuto, a people who speak Sesotho (a language of the Bantu language family). The Zulu, a people related to the Basuto in terms of language and culture, live near the eastern border of the country. There are approximately 2,000 Europeans (Englishmen) and Afrikaners (emigrants from the Republic of South Africa). Sesotho and English are the official languages. The majority of the population are Christians (Catholics and Protestants), but part of the population maintains local traditional religious beliefs. The official calendar is the Gregorian.

The natural growth rate of the population amounts to 2.5 percent per year. The overwhelming majority of the economically active population is employed in agriculture. Owing to the low level of economic development, approximately 200,000 Basuto are recruited annually for work in the coal and gold mines and farms of the Republic of South Africa. About one-seventh of the able-bodied population is unemployed. Most of the population lives in the eastern part of Lesotho. The major towns are Maseru, Leribe, and Mafeteng.

Historical survey. The early history of Lesotho has been poorly studied. Bushmen, who constituted the original population of the country, were displaced in the 17th and 18th centuries by Basuto who came from the north. In the first half of the 19th century Moshoeshoe (Moshesh) I, the leader of one of the Basuto clans, united under his authority various scattered tribes. By the 1830’s the Basuto occupied territory more than twice the size of present-day Lesotho.

In 1836, the Boers began to seize Basuto lands, and at the same time the English showed an interest in these territories. The Basuto waged a stubborn struggle for their independence, which did not cease even after the territory of the Basuto was proclaimed the British protectorate of Basutoland. (In 1868, Moshoeshoe I concluded a “protection treaty” with Great Britain; in 1871 the territory of Lesotho was transferred to the Cape Colony, and in 1884 it was officially declared a protectorate of Great Britain.) Having established a system of “indirect rule” (through a council of tribal chiefs under an English commissioner), the British authorities converted Basutoland into a source of cheap manpower for the industry of other colonial holdings of Great Britain in southern Africa.

The Basutoland Progressive Association, the first Basuto organization, was formed in 1907. The organization united teachers, clerks, and petty merchants and advocated social reforms and “greater opportunities for Africans in the areas of education, commerce, and enterprise.” The League of Commoners (Lekhotla la bafo), formed several years later, called for the democratization of public life and the elimination of colonial rule. The great contribution of the League of Commoners was its struggle against the attempts of the racists of the Union of South Africa to annex Basutoland. During World War II thousands of Basuto fought with the British colonial forces in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

After the war the national-liberation movement experienced a new upsurge. In 1952 a group of young people from the League of Commoners, headed by the teacher N. Mokhehle, organized a party called the Basutoland African Congress, which called for immediate self-government for the protectorate, to be followed by complete independence. Other parties (including the National Party) also emerged in the late 1950’s. Activization of the liberation struggle forced the British authorities to undertake reforms. In 1960 local organs of self-government were established; in elections to these organs the Congress Party (before 1959 the Basutoland African Congress) was victorious. In 1965 a constitution came into force, in accordance with which Basutoland was granted internal self-government. The first general elections for parliament were held in 1965; the National Party was victorious, and its leader, L. Jonathan, became prime minister of the government. The formation of the Communist Party of Lesotho was an important event in the political life of the country. On Oct. 4, 1966, Basutoland became independent, remaining in the Commonwealth, and became known as the Kingdom of Lesotho (King Moshoeshoe II) in accordance with the new constitution adopted in 1966. Lesotho joined the United Nations on Oct. 17, 1966.

The government of Lesotho pursued a policy of strengthening ties with the Republic of South Africa and suppressing democratic forces. After the defeat of the ruling National Party in the general parliamentary elections of Jan. 27, 1970, L. Jonathan declared a state of emergency, annulled the results of the elections, and suspended the constitution. The Communist Party of Lesotho was declared illegal. Negotiations for solving the political crisis were conducted in 1971–73 between L. Jonathan and leaders of the opposition. In 1973 the state of emergency was lifted.

Political parties and trade unions. The National Party was founded in 1959. It represents the interests of tribal leaders and the Catholic Church and is the ruling party. The Congress Party was founded in 1952 (before 1959, the Basutoland African Congress); it is the opposition party, and it represents the interests of the nationalistically minded intelligentsia and enjoys the support of the popular masses. The Marematlou Freedom Party was founded in 1962; it is the party of the supporters of King Moshoeshoe II and favors expansion of the power of the monarch. The groundwork for the establishment of the Communist Party of Lesotho was laid in November 1961, and the founding congress was held on May 5, 1962. The Communist Party has been banned since February 1970.

There are eight trade unions (1973). The largest ones are the Lesotho General Workers’ Union (founded in 1954), the Industrial Commercial and Allied Workers’ Union, and the Union of Printing, Bookbinding, and Allied Workers.

Economy. Lesotho is economically one of Africa’s least developed countries. It is economically completely dependent on the Republic of South Africa, with which it is linked by a common currency and customs system. Monopoly capital of the Republic of South Africa controls the main sectors of Lesotho’s national economy (including foreign and domestic trade). During the period of British rule Lesotho’s role was that of a supplier of cheap manpower for the Republic of South Africa. Nor did this situation change after Lesotho became politically independent. The per capita income averages only US $64 (1970).

The principal occupation of the population is agriculture. Its development is being retarded by survivals of precapitalist relations, insufficient land, soil erosion, low levels of agricultural technology, and shortages of manpower (much of which, moreover, is recruited for work in the Republic of South Africa). All land, essentially, is under the control of tribal chiefs. Livestock raising is the main branch of agriculture. In 1970–71 there were 410,000 cattle, 1,750,000 sheep, and 940,000 goats (Angora). Horses, mules, and donkeys are also raised. Livestock raising is of the extensive and distant pasture variety. Depletion of pastures and frequent droughts hinder increases in the number of livestock. Crop farming is developed only in the plains regions. Crops include corn (100,000 hectares [ha], with a yield of 80,000 tons in 1971), sorghum (72,000 ha, 60,000 tons), wheat (87,000 ha, 70,000 tons), barley, and vegetables. Agricultural production is not sufficient to supply the needs of the population.

There is almost no industry. By 1972 manufacturing industry consisted of about 12 small enterprises, including a rug-weaving factory, plants producing fertilizers and candles, a sawmill, a brickyard, and a mill; each enterprise employed from 20 to 30 persons. Half of the shares of enterprises belong to the Lesotho National Development Corporation, and the other half is controlled by foreign capital. Diamond deposits are being worked in the Kao region, with mining (16,900 carats in 1971) operations being conducted by a branch of the British-South African company De Beers. Further explorations for diamonds as well as for oil are being carried out. Electric power plants produce approximately 5 million kilowatt-hours per year (1970).

The city of Maseru is linked by a railroad branch with the South African Bloemfontein-Durban main line. There are more than 1,000 km of macadam roads (1971) and four airstrips.

In 1970 exports totaled 3.7 million rand, and imports, 22.9 million rand. The trade balance is usually unfavorable, and deficits are partially covered through foreign loans and “invisible” exports (export of manpower). All foreign trade is conducted with or through the Republic of South Africa. Sheep’s wool, mohair, livestock, and diamonds are the main exports; imports consist of manufactured goods, cereals (corn, sorghum), fats, and tobacco. The country’s finances, in essence, are controlled by two banks—Barclays Bank (England) and the Standard Bank of South Africa (Republic of South Africa). Remittances sent back to Lesotho by workers employed in South African mining industry are an important source of foreign exchange.

Lesotho does not have its own currency unit but uses the rand (1 rand = US $1.1 as of February 1973), the currency unit of the Republic of South Africa.

Medicine and public health. From 1965 to 1970 the average annual birthrate was 38.8 per 1,000 population, and the death rate was 21 per 1,000 population; child mortality was 179 per 1,000 live births. The basic causes of death are tuberculosis, infections in newborns, typhoid and paratyphoids, cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms, and diseases associated with malnutrition. There have been mass vaccinations (1967) against tuberculosis, smallpox, typhoid and paratyphoids, yellow fever, cholera, and childhood infections.

As of 1969 there were 78 hospitals (including 34 state hospitals) with 1,900 beds (about 2 beds per 1,000 population). Outpatient care was delivered by four health centers, 31 dispensaries, 35 outpatient clinics, and two dental centers. There were (1968) 48 women’s and 40 children’s medical consultation offices. There were (1969) 39 doctors (1 doctor per 23,000 persons), 21 of whom were state employees, and more than 350 medium-level medical personnel (of whom about 150 were employed by the state).

In 1967–68, expenditures for public health accounted for 9.8 percent of the state budget. Lesotho receives assistance from the World Health Organization and the International Children’s Emergency Fund (US $70,500 in 1971).

Press, radio, and television. There are no daily newspapers (as of 1975). The most important periodical publications are The Africa Digest (circulation, 2,000; a quarterly Catholic journal published in English), Lesotho News (published since 1927; circulation, 800; weekly newspaper in English), Lesotho Times (circulation, 3,000; weekly government newspaper in English and Sesotho), Moeletsioa Basotho (published since 1933; circulation, 15,000; weekly Catholic newpaper in Sesotho and English), and Nketu (published since 1965, weekly newspaper in Sesotho and English; organ of the National Party). There are two radio stations (government and Catholic), which broadcast in Sesotho and English. Television service began in 1971.

Folk art. Rock paintings and engravings, apparently executed by Bushmen, have been preserved in Lesotho. The indigenous population (Basuto) lives in regularly laid out large villages, in which huts of diverse form are arranged in a circle (with the meeting house in the center). They are built of stone or adobe brick; walls are decorated with colored geometric designs (carved or inlaid with stone); and roofs have two or four sloping surfaces made of straw. In the mountains a tunnel-like corridor of trees bent in an arc is arranged before the entrance to the hut. Wooden household utensils are decorated with carved geometric designs. Primitive wooden figurines and ceramics are encountered. Necklaces and aprons are made from colored glass beads.