Background Notes: Lesotho
PA/PC
Source: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public
Affairs
Date: Nov 15, 199011/15/90
Category: Country Data
Region: Subsaharan Africa
Country: Lesotho
Subject: Travel, History, International Organizations,
Trade/Economics
[TEXT]
November 1990
Official Name: Kingdom of Lesotho
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 30,350 sq. km. (11,718 sq. mi.); about the size of Maryland.
Cities: Capital-Maseru (pop. 109,382). Other cities-Teyateyaneng
(14,251), Leribe (9,595), Mafeteng (12,667), Mohale's Hoek (8,526).
Terrain: High veld, plateau and mountains. Climate: Temperate;
summers hot, winters cool to cold; humidity generally low and
evenings cool year round. Rainy season in summer, winters dry.
People
Nationality: Noun-Mosotho (sing.); Basotho (pl.) Adjective-Basotho.
Population (1988): 1,666,000. Annual growth rate (1987): 2.7%.
Ethnic groups: Basotho 99.7%; Europeans 1,700; Asians, 900.
Religions: Roman Catholic (majority), Lesotho Evangelical,
Anglican, other denominations. Languages: English, Sesotho.
Education: Years compulsory-None. Literacy-59%. Health: Infant
mortality rate (1988)-83/1000. Life expectancy-60 years. Work
force-650,000. Farming-40%. Manufacturing and services-6%.
Government-4%. Migrant workers-27%. Unemployed-23%.
Government
Type: Military regime and constitutional monarchy with king as
head of state. Constitution: Suspended in 1970. Independence:
October 4, 1966.
Branches: Executive-Military council/civilian cabinet. Legislative-
In early 1986, by decree of the ruling military council, legislative
(and executive) power was concentrated in the person of the king,
subject to the advice of the military council. Judicial-Court of
Appeals, High Court, Magistrate Courts, Customary Courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 10 districts.
Political parties: By decree of the ruling military council in early
1986, political activities, but not political parties, were banned
indefinitely; Basotho National Party (BNP), Basutoland Congress
Party (BCP), Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), United Democratic
Party (UDP). Suffrage: Married men and women of all ages, singles
over 21. No national elections since 1970.
Central government budget (1988-89): $226.8 million.
Public order, safety, and defense (1988-89): 18% of government
budget.
Flag: Diagonal fields of green and blue with a traditional Basotho
shield on a diagonal field of white occupying remaining half of flag.
Economy
GNP (1988): $739 million. Annual growth rate (1987-88): 8.5%.
Per capita GNP: $446. Avg. inflation rate (1988): 11.4%.
Natural resources: Some diamonds and other minerals, water,
agricultural and grazing land.
Agriculture (20% of GDP): Products-corn, wheat sorghum, peas,
beans, asparagus, meat, wool, mohair. Arable land-13%.
Industry (14.6% of GDP): Types-Processing of agricultural products,
handicrafts, cottage industry weaving, apparel manufacture
(clothing, shoes etc.), primarily for export.
Trade (1988): Exports-$60 million: wool, mohair, peas, beans,
asparagus. Major markets-South Africa (approximately 85%),
Europe, US. Imports-$500 million: agricultural commodities and
products, manufactured goods of all types, machinery. Major
suppliers-South Africa (approximately 95%), Europe.
Fiscal year: April 1-March 31.
Economic aid received (1987): $74 million. Primary donors-US,
EEC, FRG, UK, World Bank, UNDP, Ireland. US AID-$9.6 million.
Membership in International Organizations
UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, including
the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT); Commonwealth, Nonaligned
Movement, Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Group of 77.
Regional groups: Southern African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU),
the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) of East and Southern Africa
States, and the Rand Monetary Area (RMA).
HISTORY
Basutoland (now Lesotho-pronounced le-SOO-too) was sparsely
populated by bushmen (Qhuaique) until the end of the 16th century.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, refugees from surrounding
areas gradually formed the Basotho ethnic group.
In 1818, Moshoeshoe (pronounced mo-SHWAY-shway) I,
consolidated various Basotho groupings and became their king.
During his reign (1823-1870), a series of wars with South Africa
(1856-68) resulted in the loss of extensive lands, now known as the
"Lost Territory." Moshoeshoe appealed to Queen Victoria for
assistance, and in 1868, the country was placed under British
protection.
In 1955, the Basutoland Council asked that it be empowered to
legislate on internal affairs, and in 1959, a new constitution gave
Basutoland its first elected legislature. General elections with
universal adult suffrage were held in April 1965. The Basutoland
National Party (BNP) won 31 of 60 seats in the legislature; the
Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), 25 seats; and the Maramatlou
Freedom Party (MFP), 4 seats. On October 4, 1966, the new Kingdom
of Lesotho attained full independence as a constitutional monarchy
with an elected bicameral parliament consisting of a 60-seat
National Assembly and a 33-seat Senate.
Early results of the January 27, 1970, election-the first held
after independence-indicated that the ruling BNP might lose control.
Citing election irregularities, Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan
nullified the elections, declared a national state of emergency,
suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament. An
appointed interim national assembly was established in 1973. With
an overwhelming progovernment majority, it was largely the
instrument of the BNP, led by Prime Minister Jonathan. Opposition
to the government produced violence and internal disorder which, in
1986, led to a military takeover. In addition to the Jonathan
regime's alienation of Basotho power brokers and the population,
South Africa had virtually closed the land borders because of
concerns over African National Congress (ANC) cross-border
operations and was publicly threatening more direct action if the
Jonathan government did not root out ANC presence in Lesotho.
Under a January 1986 Military Council decree, the state
executive and legislative powers were given to the king. He was to
act on the advice of the Military Council, a self-appointed group of
the leaders of the Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF) who carried
out the 1986 coup. All political party activity was suspended. A
military government chaired by Justin Lekhanya ruled Lesotho in
coordination with King Moshoeshoe II and a civilian cabinet
appointed by the king.
In February 1990, King Moshoeshoe II was stripped of his
executive and legislative powers and exiled by Lekhanya, and some
members of the Military Council and the Council of Ministers were
purged. Lekhanya accused those involved of undermining discipline
within the armed forces, subverting existing authority, and causing
an impasse on foreign policy which had been damaging to Lesotho's
image abroad. Lekhanya announced the establishment of a National
Constituent Assembly to formulate a new constitution for Lesotho
with the aim of returning the country to democratic, civilian rule by
June 1992.
After attempts at negotiating the king's return to Lesotho
failed, Lekhanya announced in November 1990 that a new law would
henceforth provide that the king shall be a constitutional monarch
and head of state and that King Moshoeshoe had ceased being king
and head of state. Later that month, Moshoeshoe's son was installed
as King Letsie III.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Lesotho is ruled by a military council and has a
military/civilian cabinet. The Military Council sets broad outlines
of government policy and overseas policy implementation carried
out by the cabinet (Council of Ministers). Political party activity is
still suspended, and there have been no national elections since
1970. By the 1986 Military Council decree, legislative and
executive power had been concentrated in the person of the king, but
then-King Moshoeshoe II was stripped of his powers in February
1990. The cabinet, consisting of civilians and several senior RLDF
officers, had been appointed by the king.
In February 1990, the military government established a task
force to work out the details of democratizing the country. The
task force recommended the establishment of a 109-member
National Constituent Assembly representing a broad range of social
and political opinion. Development of a new national constitution
acceptable to the majority of the Basotho people is the major task
of the assembly, but it was also charged with reviewing the
position and powers of the king, the status of the traditional
chieftainships, and the role of the army and political parties under
a new constitution. The National Constituent Assembly convened in
June 1990.
For administrative purposes, Lesotho is divided into 10
districts, each headed by a district secretary and a district
military officer appointed by the central government and the RLDF,
respectively.
Lesotho's highest court is the Court of Appeals, which
exercises limited appellate jurisdiction. The High Court has
unlimited original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters.
Subordinate courts administer statute law, and paramount chiefs
administer customary tribal laws.
Principal Government Officials
Head of State-King Letsie III Head of Government and Chairman of
the Military Council and Council of Ministers-Maj. Gen. Justin M.
Lekhanya Military Council Members-Brig. Benedict M. Lerotholi, Col.
Jacob M. Jane, Col. Elias P. Ramaema, Lt. Col. Ernest M. Mokete, Col.
Michael N. Ts'otetsi Ambassador to the United States-William Thabo
Van Tonder Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United
Nations-M.P. Phoofolo
Lesotho maintains an embassy in the United States at 2511
Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (Tel. 202-797-5533).
Lesotho's mission to the United Nations is at 204 East 39th Street,
NY, NY 10016 (Tel. 212-661-1690).
DEFENSE
The Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF) is the primary armed
service in the country. Made up of about 2,000 officers and enlisted
men and women, the RLDF is administratively based in the capital
city Maseru with smaller tactical bases scattered throughout the
country. The RLDF has six separate light infantry companies and a
small composite air squadron. The RLDF's principal mission
includes defense of Lesotho's borders and antiterrorist activities.
It also has responsibility for crime prevention (along with the
nearly 2,000 members of the Royal Lesotho Mounted Police Force)
and civic action programs.
The United States has an active International Military
Education and Training (IMET) program with the government of
Lesotho. The IMET program sends three or four RLDF officers each
year to the United States in various military specialties. A three-
man British army training team is assigned to Lesotho and provides
a range of in-country training.
ECONOMY
Lesotho's economy is based on agriculture, livestock,
manufacturing, and earnings of laborers employed in South Africa.
The people of Lesotho live primarily in the western lowlands, the
main agricultural zone. Much of the work force is employed from 3
to 9 months a year in South Africa in mining, farming, or industry.
At any given time, an estimated 200,000 workers are absent from
Lesotho. Remittances from workers in South Africa totaled about
$235 million in 1988.
About 360,000 hectares (900,000 acres-13%) of the country
are arable. Grazing rights are communal, but arable land is
allocated to individuals and families by village and district chiefs.
Traditionally, most land was held in trust for the Basotho by the
king and could not be given away. Under the 1979 Land Tenure Act,
however, the king could grant 99-year leases. Almost all
agricultural produce is consumed domestically, and substantial
amounts of food are imported from South Africa.
The Lesotho National Development Corporation encourages
foreign investment. The corporation has been successful in
stimulating the establishment of light industries and in attracting
investment in tourist facilities, including building a $12 million
hotel. Tourism is an attractive development option because of the
country's scenery and healthful, pleasant climate.
The three-phase Highlands Water Project agreement signed in
late 1986 between the governments of South Africa and Lesotho
represents one of the greatest investment and development
opportunities for Lesotho in the near future. Royalties, beginning in
1995 at about $12 million and tripling in the third phase, could be
directed toward substantially raising the per capita GDP. The
project is a 30-year, $2 billion plan to divert water from the
headwaters of several major river systems in Lesotho to the
Witswatersrand region of South Africa. Spin-off activities in road
building, rural agriculture, electricity generation, fishing, and
tourism will also be made possible. The project will be financed by
international lenders, including the World Bank, as well as by South
African and Lesotho capital.
Lesotho has received economic assistance from a number of
sources since independence, including the United States, the World
Bank, the United Kingdom, the European Economic Community,
Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany,
and South Africa. Several UN specialized agencies and programs are
active in Lesotho, including the UN Development Program, the World
Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Lesotho has about 4,000 kilometers (2,400 mi) of paved,
gravel, and earth roads and vehicle tracks. A 92-kilometer (57-mi.)
road along Lesotho's southern border was built with the help of the
US Agency for International Development (AID). Lesotho has an
extensive network of horse trails for areas inaccessible to motor
vehicles.
The country is linked with South Africa by a short rail line
from Maseru to Marseilles on the Bloemfontein-Bethlehem line.
Elsewhere, the railway runs close to the territorial boundary, and
goods can be transported by road to and from the nearest station in
the Orange Free State. Lesotho's traditional trade routes were
complicated by the October 1976 South Africa-sponsored
"independence" of the Transkei, which neither Lesotho nor any other
UN member recognizes and whose territory Lesotho does not wish to
transit.
Lesotho depends heavily on South Africa for trade as well as
employment. Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, and South
Africa belong to a customs union. No tariffs exist on most goods
moving among them. South Africa levies and collects most of the
customs, sales, and excise duties for the four countries, and it pays
a share determined by a formula of total customs collections to the
other three countries. Imports from outside the customs union,
regardless of ultimate destination, are subject to the same tariff
rates.
The customs agreement was renegotiated in 1969, and
Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland have substantially increased
their share of the customs revenues. In 1987-88, Lesotho received
approximately 54% of its total government receipts as tariff
revenues from the customs union.
Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, and South Africa also form a
common currency and exchange control area known as the Rand
Monetary Area which used the South African rand as common
currency. Lesotho introduced its own currency in 1980; on a par
with the South African rand is the loti (plural: maloti), and 100
lisente equal one loti.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Lesotho's geographic location and economic dependence on
South Africa make it very vulnerable to political and economic
developments there. Following Lesotho's January 1986 coup, the
new government indicated its willingness to be more sensitive to
South African security concerns and has actively sought UN High
Commissioner for Refugees and third-country assistance in
providing resettlement for South African refugees. Although
sharply critical of apartheid, the government of Lesotho cannot
avoid vital economic and commercial ties with its neighbor and
depends on it for transit, employment opportunities, and
development cooperation.
The current regime has sought a more cooperative relationship
with Pretoria. One result of this improved bilateral atmosphere
was the establishment of trade missions in the two countries.
Another result was the signature of an agreement in 1986 to
proceed with the long-planned Highlands Water Project.
Lesotho maintains very close relations with the United States,
the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and other
Western countries. It also has excellent ties with a number of
African states and is particularly close to Nigeria. In 1983,
Lesotho began to diversify its international contacts. Following
former Prime Minister Jonathan's May 1983 visit to Eastern Europe
and Asia, the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and
North Korea were permitted to open embassies in Maseru. Formal
diplomatic relations with most East European countries have since
been established, although only the Soviet Union has opened a
resident diplomatic mission in Lesotho.
Following the 1986 coup, the North Korean embassy was
closed, and regular diplomatic contact was suspended. In 1990,
Lesotho broke relations with the PRC and reestablished relations
with Taiwan. Other recent foreign policy initiatives have included
recognition of Palestine as a state, the establishment of relations
with Western Sahara and Namibia, and strong public support for
negotiations in South Africa aimed at creating a new, post-
apartheid society.
Lesotho remains active in the United Nations, Organization of
African Unity, the Nonaligned Movement, and other international
organizations. It also belongs to the Southern African Development
Coordination Conference, whose purpose is to lessen the dependence
of its members on neighboring South Africa, and to the Preferential
Trade Area, an association of East and southern African states.
US-LESOTHO RELATIONS
The United States has friendly relations with Lesotho and
encourages the country's political, economic, and social
development as a nonracial, democratic, independent nation.
Estimated US assistance to Lesotho for fiscal year 1989 was: AID,
$9.6 million; PL 480 (Food For Peace), $5.2 million; and Peace Corps,
100 volunteers.
AID programs in Lesotho have focused principally on
agriculture, primary education, child survival, family planning and
private sector development. Peace Corps volunteers work in
secondary school education-especially in mathematics and science
curriculum development-vocational training, teacher training,
horticulture, animal husbandry, health education, community and
rural development, and employment generation projects.
Principal US Officials
Ambassador-Vacant
Deputy Chief of Mission-Steven Wagenseil
Administrative Officer-Mike St. Clair
Consular Officer-Alan Hutchings
Public Affairs Office (USIS)-Douglas Ebner (Tel: 312335)
Director, AID-Furman Towery (Tel: 313954)
Director, Peace Corps-Kim Ward (Tel: 313871)
The mailing address of the US Embassy is PO Box 333, Maseru
100, Lesotho (Tel: 312666, Fax: 266-310-116, Telex: 4506 USAID
LO).
TRAVEL NOTES
Climate and clothing: Light summer wear is suitable from
October to May. Winter clothing is needed from June to September.
Entry requirements: Americans traveling to Lesotho can obtain
visas on arrival. However, all routes to Lesotho pass through South
Africa, and travelers without a South African multiple entry
visitor's visa are not permitted to leave the international area
while transiting Johannesburg's Jan Smuts Airport. A transit visa
is not acceptable for entry into South Africa. The airport has
inexpensive, poor-quality hotel rooms to accommodate those who
remain overnight to make onward connections.
Tourist attractions: These include pony trekking, horseback
riding, hiking, and trout fishing. Skiing in winter months is
sometimes possible. The mountain scenery is striking, and lodge
facilities are available in most mountain tourist areas.
Health: Tapwater is generally safe in the Maseru area, but it is
recommended that water be boiled and filtered. Medical facilities
in Maseru are adequate for emergency treatment; more extensive
facilities are in Bloemfontein, South Africa, 140 km. (81 mi.) away.
South Africa's more cosmopolitan areas, such as Johannesburg, Cape
Town, and Durban, have nonracial medical facilities.
Telecommunications: Telephone and telegraphic service is
available in and between the more populated areas of Lesotho, but
much of the interior can only be reached by radio. Lesotho is six
standard time zones ahead of eastern standard time. The country
does not observe daylight-saving time.
Transportation: Maseru is a short flight from Johannesburg.
Lesotho Airways operates daily commercial flights to and from
Johannesburg and weekly to Botswana. Royal Swazi Airways flies
to and from Maputo, Mozambique, by way of Manzini, Swaziland. A
new international airport is located 12 miles outside of Maseru.
Airstrips are located at Mokhotlong, Leribe, Mohale's Hoek, Thaba
Tseka, and Qacha's Nek. There are 28 other secondary landing fields
suitable only for light aircraft. Maseru has few taxis. Traffic
moves on the left. Car rental agencies are available.
Published by the United States Department of State -- Bureau of
Public Affairs -- Office of Public Communication -- Washington,
DC. November 1990 -- Editor: Marilyn J. Bremner
Department of State Publication 8091 -- Background Notes Series -
- This material is in the public domain and may be reprinted
without permission; citation of this source is appreciated. For sale
by the Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402.(###)