This article is a complete insight to Lesotho Country; background, origin, historical and Political configuration with cultural histories.
This is a background Study Of Lesotho:
Lesotho is a country located in the southern part of Africa, and it is enclosed within the borders of South Africa, making it one of the three independent countries which are entirely surrounded by another country.
The Country covers an area of 11,583 square miles and has a population of approximately 2 million inhabitants. The country's capital city, which is also the largest city in the country, is Maseru. Previously, Lesotho was a British colony, and it was known as Basutoland. The Country gained its independence from the British on October 4th, 1966. The original inhabitants of the region where it is present-day Lesotho were the San people.
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| Lesotho Flag |
This is the History of Lesotho:
The history of people living in the area now known as Lesotho goes back as many as 400 years. The present Lesotho (then called Basotholand during the UK colonial rule) emerged as a single polity under King Moshoeshoe I in 1822.
Under Moshoeshoe I, Basotho joined other clans in their struggle against the Lifaqane associated with famine and the reign of Shaka Zulu from 1818 to 1828. Subsequent evolution of the state was shaped by contact with the British and Dutch colonists from Cape Colony.
The Missionaries invited by Moshoeshoe I developed orthography and printed works in the Sesotho language between 1837 and 1855. The Country set up diplomatic channels and acquired guns for use against the encroaching Europeans and the Korana people.
Territorial conflicts with both British and Boer settlers arose periodically, including Moshoeshoe's notable victory over the Boers in the Free State–Basotho War, but the final war in 1867 with an appeal to Queen Victoria, who agreed to make Basotholand a British suzerainty.
In 1869, the British signed a treaty at Aliwal with the Boers that defined the boundaries of Basotholand and later Lesotho, which by ceding the western territories effectively reduced Moshoeshoe's kingdom to half its previous size.
The extent to which the British (UK) exerted direct control over Basotholand waxed and waned until Basotholand’s independence in October 4, 1966, when it became the Kingdom of Lesotho.
However, when the ruling Basotho National Party (BNP) lost the first post-independence general elections to the Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Leabua Jonathan refused to cede and declared himself Tona Kholo (Sesotho translation of prime minister). The BCP began an insurrection that culminated in a January 1986 military coup, that then forced the BNP out of office.
Power was transferred to King Moshoeshoe II, until then, a ceremonial monarch, but forced into exile when he lost favour with the military the following year. His son was installed as King Letsie III.
Conditions remained tumultuous, including an August 1994 self-coup by Letsie III, until 1998 when the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) came to power in elections which were deemed fair by international observers. Despite protests from opposition parties, the Country has remained relatively stable since.
The Country forms an enclave within South Africa, bordering on three of the latter’s provinces— KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Eastern Cape. Like only two other independent states in the world (Vatican City and the Republic of San Marino), Lesotho is completely encircled by another country, on which it must depend for access to the outside world.
What is the meaning of Lesotho?
Interestingly, the word "Lesotho" is interpreted as "the land of the people who speak Sesotho."
Here Are Quick facts About Lesotho:
Lesotho was a former subject of the UK colonial reign, unitll October 4, 1966, the Kingdom of Lesotho attained full independence, governed by a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral Parliament. More facts are:
- Continent - Africa
- Location - Lesotho is a Country located in the Southern Africa
- Capital - Maseru
- Largest City - Maseru
- Neighboring Countries - South Africa
- Administrative divisions - 10 districts
- Area 30,355 sq km
- Population - 2067000 (2009 estimate)
- Official Language - English, Sotho language
- Currency - Lesotho loti
- GDP - $4.277 billion (2013 estimate)
- Economy - The Economy of the Country is largely dependent upon diamonds exported all over the world. Besides, it also sells water to South Africa, manufacturing, agriculture, livestock etc.
Ethnic Configuration Of Lesotho:
Due to Lesotho's long history as a unified nation, that continued even through British colonial rule, the ethnic makeup of the country is very Homogeneous.
Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists almost entirely of the Basotho (singular Mosotho), a Bantu-speaking people with an estimate of 99.7 percent of the people identify as Basotho.
The Kwena (Bakoena) are the largest subgroup of the Sotho; other Basotho subgroups include the Natal (North) Nguni, Batloung (the Tlou), Baphuthi (the Phuti), Bafokeng, Bataung (the Tau), Bats'oeneng (the tso'ene) and the Cape (South) Nguni (Thembu). Other ethnic groups include Europeans, numbering in the thousands, and several hundred Asians.
The Sotho (also known as Basotho) form the overwhelming majority of the country’s population. They were originally united by a common loyalty to the royal house of Moshoeshoe I, who founded the Sotho nation in the 19th century.
Internally, divisions between different chiefdoms and within the royal lineage itself have had political significance, but externally a sense of Sotho nationhood and cultural unity remains strong. Lesotho is also home to a Zulu minority, a small population of Asian or mixed ancestry, and a European community that is dominated by expatriate teachers, missionaries, aid workers, technicians, and development advisers leaving Lesotho with 99.7% Basotho and 0.3% as others.
The are the Languages in Lesotho:
Sesotho (Southern Sotho) and English languages are both official. Except for English, all the main languages spoken in Lesotho are members of the Niger-Congo language family. Sotho (Sesotho), a Bantu language, is spoken by the majority of the population, though both Sotho and English are official languages in the Country. Zulu is spoken by a small but significant minority.
Phuthi, a dialect of Swati, and Xhosa are also spoken in parts of Lesotho. Sesotho, while Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and French are also spoken.
More Insight To The Ethnic Composition Of Lesotho:
At the turn of the 16th century, Lesotho was inhabited by the Sotho people who lived peacefully with the earlier inhabitants of the Khoisan people. Basotho began taking the shape of a nation when Moshoeshoe I in 1820, gathered a following from the several tribes in the region who had retreated to the northwestern part of modern-day Lesotho to avoid constant raids from the Matabele and Zulu tribes.
Although he had limited military power, he used diplomatic means to establish his kingdom, which lasted for several years. In 1924, Mashoeshoe became the chief of the local Basotho among other tribal groups which at the time number about 40,000 people. He successfully established a good relationship with missionaries, particularly the French Catholics who established schools and missions.
Mashoeshoe also sought advice from the missionaries on how to negotiate with Europeans. During the Great Trek of Boers in 1834, Moshoeshoe requested the protection of the British crown, which was better than annexation by the Boers.
In 1868, to Busotoland was given British protection and the land borders have remained unchanged to this day as it was established in 1869.
Who are the San People in Lesotho?
The San people are also known as the Bushmen and they are part of the Khoisan tribes, who lived as hunters and gatherers in the greater region of Southern Africa. The San people occupied regions where it is currently part of Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
The remnants of the ancient San people are found mainly in Botswana. Rock art and stone tools believed to have been the works of the San people are found in different parts in the greater southern part of Africa and date back to about 70,000 years ago making them by far the oldest known art in Africa.
The San people were nomads, and they moved seasonally to different areas based on the availability of resources such as water, edible plants, and game animals. As of 2010, the population of the San people in Botswana was estimated to be between 50,000 and 60,000.
Between the 1950s and 1980s, the San people have changed their lifestyle and adopted farming as a way of life because of the government programs of modernization.
Who are the Sotho People?
The Sotho ethnic group is by far the largest in Lesotho accounting for more than 99.7% of the country's population. They are part of the Bantu ethnic group who occupy the larger part of South Africa and are currently found in Lesotho and South Africa.
The Sotho people speak the Sesotho language. It is believed that the Basotho people have lived in the region starting from the 5th century and they are thought to be closely related to other Bantus in the Southern part of Africa. The identity of modern Lesotho was established following the accomplished diplomacy of King Moshoeshoe I, who manage to gather different clans that belonged to the Sotho-Tswana from different parts in South Africa in the 19th century.
The majority of the Basotho people today inhabit South Africa particularly in the Orange Free State which was previously part of the kingdom of Moshoeshoe and is now Lesotho.
Who are the Kwena People?
Kwena people are a subgroup of the Sotho ethnic group and they are found in Lesotho and parts of South Africa. Originally the Kwena people inhabited the Orange Free State, Bantustan, South Africa, and Basutoland, which later became Lesotho.
In the past, the Kwena people practiced agriculture, and even today they still practice subsistence agriculture as a way of livelihood, and some of the crops they cultivate include sorghum, corn, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits among others.
Who are the Nguni Ethnic Group?
The Nguni ethnic group is another sub-ethnic group of the larger Basotho ethnicity. Nguni people are predominantly in the southern part of Africa and they speak Nguni languages.
Nguni people include the Phuthi, Hlubi, Swati, Ndebele, Zulu, and Xhosa. The Phuthi and Hlubi people are in Lesotho and other parts in South Africa.
The Swati people are found in Eswatini and South Africa, while the Xhosa and Ndebele are predominantly in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
i. The Phuthi People
Phuthi is part of the Nguni speaking people, and they speak Phuthi language. They inhabit the southern part of Lesotho and areas of South Africa.
The Phuthi language is closely related to Swati or the Siswati language which is spoken mainly in Swaziland and South Africa's province of Mpumalanga. The language has been heavily influenced by the neighboring languages of Xhosa and Sesotho.
ii. The Hlubi People
The Hlubi or the AmaHlubi is part of the Nguni ethnic group who live in the Southern part of Lesotho, and they are also found in South Africa.
The Hlubi people are believed to have originated from Kenya and believed to be closely related to the Samburu ethnic group in Kenya as well as the Shubi ethnic group of Tanzania, who live mainly in Kagera.
The dialect of the Hlubi people is closely related to the Swazi language, which is one of the tekela languages in the Nguni branch and belong to the Niger-Congo family language.
The Hlubi language is one of the endangered languages because only the elderly can speak the language.
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| Lesotho Atlas | image credit: Google |
These are the other People In Lesotho:
Other people in Lesotho include the Zulu, who are the minority in the country. There is also a small population of Asian or mixed ancestry. The European community is also found in Lesotho.
Here is a Quick Snap At The Ethnic Configuration Of Lesotho
1. Sotho - 99.7%
2. Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%
The Religion in Lesotho:
There is no way we talk about the Ethnic configuration of Lesotho without adding the Religions Praticed in the Country.
Christianity is the dominant religion in Lesotho, which is estimated to be more than 95 per cent Christian. The 2021 Department of State report found Protestants outnumbered Catholics.
Non-Christian religions represent only 1.5% of the population, and those of no religion is 3.5%. non-Christian people primarily subscribe to traditional African religions, with an insignificant (< 0.2%) minor presence of Islam, Judaism and Asian religions.
The Type Of Government In Pratice In Lesotho:
The Country is a constitutional monarchy, with the King as Head of State, an elected Prime Minister as Head of Government, and a dual legal system consisting of traditional customary law and the common law. Succession to the throne of Lesotho is regulated by the Council of Chiefs
The System of Government And Sharing of Political Powers in Lesotho:
Executive Arm: Politics of Lesotho takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Lesotho is the head of government, and of a multi-party system.
Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of Parliament; the Senate and the National Assembly. It should be noted that the Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The Lesotho Government is a constitutional monarchy. The current Prime Minister, Sam Matekane, is head of government and has executive authority. The King serves a largely ceremonial function; he no longer possesses any executive authority and is proscribed from actively participating in political initiatives.
According to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers.
Under traditional law, the college of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of succession to the throne, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch.
Legislative Arm; Two Chambers/Dual Legislature/Bicameral Legislature.
The Parliament has two chambers. The National Assembly has 120 members, elected for a five-year term, 80 in single-seat constituencies and 40 by proportional representation. The Senate has 33 nominated members.
National legislature:
Bicameral parliament; 80 members of the National Assembly (the lower house) are elected on a constituency basis according to the terms of the 1993 constitution, and 40 members are elected by proportional representation; the Senate (the upper house) consists of 33 non-elected members, 11 of whom are nominated by the king on the advice of the prime minister, plus the 22 principal chiefs of Lesotho
Political Party Structure/System/Types In Lesotho:
Lesotho Party - political organisations were legalised in May 1991. The Country operates a multiparty type and most of them could be grouped as ideological Party system as they often have different ideologies each followed.
The ruling coalition consists of four parties: the All Basotho Convention (ABC), the Alliance of Democrats (AD), the Basotho National Party (BNP) and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL).
The main opposition parties are the Democratic Congress (DC), the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and the Movement for Economic Change (MEC). A total of 30 parties contested the 2017 election, and seven seats in parliament are occupied by smaller organisations.
This is a Snap shot to Lesotho Political Structure:
- Form of Government - Parliamentary
- System of Government - Constitutional Monarchy
- Party type - Multiparty
- Legal system - Based on Roman-Dutch law
Here are the record of Coups in Lesotho;
The Military Coups in Lesotho can be grouped into Three Categories; The 1970 Lesotho coup d'état was a self-coup that took place in Lesotho on 30th January, 1970, led by Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan.
It led to the assumption of dictatorial powers by Prime Minister Jonathan, who held the office since 1965. The coup was triggered by the victory of the opposition Basutoland Congress Party (BCP, led by Ntsu Mokhehle) over the ruling Basotholand National Party (BNP, led by Jonathan) in the general election.
Snap shot into the 1970 Lesotho coup d'état
- Type - Self-coup
- Cause - Electoral defeat of the ruling BNP in the general election
- Motive - Annulment of the general election
- Organised by - Leabua Jonathan
- Participants - Government of Lesotho
- Outcome - Coup succeeds
Prime Minister Jonathan declared a state of emergency, annulled the general election, dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution.
King Moshoeshoe II temporarily exiled from 5 June to 5 December 1970 after showing his disapproval of the actions; with Queen 'Mamohato serving as Regent.
Jonathan himself was deposed in the 1986 coup d'état, led by General Justin Lekhanya.
1986 Lesotho coup d'état
The 1986 Lesotho coup d'état was a military coup that took place in Lesotho on 20th January, 1986, led by General Justin Lekhanya. It led to the deposition of Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, who held the office since 1965 and assumed dictatorial powers in the 1970 coup d'état, after the general election was annulled.
Snap shot into 1986 Lesotho coup d'état:
- Type - Military coup
- Motive - Regime change
- Target - State House, Maseru
- Organised by - Justin Lekhanya
- Participants - Lesotho Defence Force (faction)
- Outcome - Coup succeeds
Overthrow of authoritarian BNP government of Prime Minister Jonathan. The establishment of military rule under the Military Council headed by General Lekhanya.
Deposition of King Moshoeshoe II in favour of his son Letsie III in 1990.
General Lekhanya announced the creation of the Military Council, which would exercise all executive and legislative powers in the name of King Moshoeshoe II. Eventually, a power struggle developed between Lekhanya and the King, with the latter being forced into exile in the United Kingdom in February 1990, and officially dethroned in December of that year. Lekhanya himself was deposed in the 1991 coup d'état, led by Colonel Elias Phisoana Ramaema.
1991 Lesotho coup d'état:
The 1991 Lesotho coup d'état was a military coup that took place in Lesotho on 30th April, 1991, led by Colonel Elias Phisoana Ramaema. It led to the resignation of Prime Minister General Justin Lekhanya, who held the office since the 1986 coup d'état.
Snap Shot into the 1991 Lesotho coup d'état:
- Type - Military coup
- Motive - Regime change
- Target - State House, Maseru
- Organised by - Elias Phisoana Ramaema
- Participants - Lesotho Defence Force (faction)
- Outcome - Coup succeeds
Overthrow of military government of Prime Minister Lekhanya. Colonel Ramaema assumed the leadership of the Military Council.
Thereafter, Multi-party general election was held in 1993, and King Moshoeshoe II was restored to the throne in 1995.
Colonel Ramaena besieged the government and forced Prime Minister Lekhanya to resign. During Ramaena's two years in power, a new constitution restoring the powers of the Parliament was adopted.
Multi-party general election was held on 27 March 1993, with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Nations, at the request of the government. Finally, the exiled King Moshoeshoe II, who was dethroned by General Lekhanya in 1990 was restored to the throne on 25 January 1995.
This is the Civil War History of Lesotho:
Though, there is not really obvious Civil war in Lesotho, but due to the fact that many tribes comes together to form Lesotho, the Country, at some extent experienced war with neighboring tribes and other States. It should also be noted that the Britain played some roles in some of the wars. The Wars are grouped into three.
Basotho (Now Lesotho) Wars 1858 - 1868
The three Basotho Wars (1858-68) and the formation of Lesotho (Background Knowledge)
The conflict between the Basotho people and White settlers in what is now the Free State/ Lesotho area, consisted of three wars (1858- 68). The purpose of these three wars was the
Maintenance of Territorial Rights in the area between the Caledon and Orange Rivers; from present day Wepener to Zastron, and the area north of the Caledon River, which includes present day Harrismith and the area further westwards.
The Basotho wars were preceded by the mass migration of several Nguni groups. This migration occurred during the reign of the Zulu King Shaka, who conquered several Nguni groups, which were absorbed into the Zulu kingdom. Other Nguni tribes fled and settled in other areas during this time - which is known as the Mfecane period.
Mfecane - Zulu name, also known as the Difaqane or Lifaqane in Sesotho), is an African expression which means something like "the crushing" or "scattering". It describes a period of widespread chaos and disturbance in southern Africa during the period between 1815 and about 1840.
In 1818, King Moshoeshoe, who was the son of the chief of the Bakotela branch of the Koena/Kwena (Crocodile) clan, helped to gain power over smaller fugitive and displaced clans. In 1820, Moshoeshoe became chief of a larger unit of Southern Sotho groups, who had fallen under his centralized authority due to competition for resources, which was intensified by a drought.
This competition for resources caused these larger groups to seek protection from other marauding groups, and Moshoeshoe and his people retreated to the mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu in 1824. Moshoeshoe gave assistance to his defeated enemies by giving them land, which led to the establishment of the Basotho nation.
In the late 1820s, a group of Kora (a group of Khoikhoi settlers also known as the Korana) and Dutch speaking people of mixed descent arrived in the vicinity of Moshoeshoe's kingdom. As they were mounted on horseback and armed with guns, the Basotho retreated. This also led to Moshoeshoe deciding to arm his people and give them horses.
The arrival of White settlers in the area, due to the Great Trek, was initially useful to Moshoeshoe, as the settlers created a buffer between the Basotho and the Kora. These White settlers (known as Boers) crossed the Orange River from the Cape Colony in the mid-1820s. Although these settlers allegedly asked for this permission to settle there, they later claimed it - despite Moshoeshoe's view that he had lent it to them.
In 1845, a treaty was signed, which recognised White settlement in the area; however no boundaries were drawn between the area of White settlement and Moshoeshoe's kingdom. This dispute led to inevitable border clashes and a discernible boundary became necessary.
The British, who then controlled the area between the Orange and Vaal Rivers (the Orange River Sovereignty) eventually proclaimed the Warden line (after Major Warden). This line divided territory between British territory and the Basotho under Moshoeshoe, and stretched from Cornetspruit and the Orange River through Vechtkop to Jammerbergdrift on the Caledon.
The Warden line caused much resentment, as the fertile Caledon River Valley served as a vital area in terms of agriculture for both the British and the Basotho. This border line was therefore not acceptable to Moshoeshoe, and hostility followed, which led to conflict between the Basotho and the British, who were defeated by Moshoeshoe at the battle of Viervoet in 1851.
In 1851, Moshoeshoe also offered Andries Pretorius an alliance against the British in the sovereignty.
As punishment to the Basotho, Sir George Cathcart then brought troops to the Mohokane River, and Moshoeshoe was ordered to pay a fine. When he did not pay the fine in full, a battle broke out on the Berea Plateau in 1852, where the British suffered heavy losses due to the armed Basotho cavalry. This sealed the fate of the sovereignty, even though Cathcart was initially in favour of withdrawal.
In 1854, the cost of maintaining the sovereignty became too much for the British and they therefore handed over the territory to the Boers through the signing of the Sand River Convention. The Boers therefore claimed the land beyond the Caledon River, naming it the Republic of the Orange Free State.
This began further conflict over land and undefined boundaries with the Basotho, who regarded themselves as the rightful owners, and who continued to use the land for grazing.
This is the summary of First Basotho War:
Further conflict occurred after JN Boshof; President of the OFS, and Moshoeshoe discussed issues of armed conflict and cattle rustling. However, these discussions only led to Boshof declaring war on the Basotho on 19 March 1858 (also stated as 22 March 1858). The Basotho were formidable opponents, and the Boers suffered substantial losses, as they were unable to penetrate the Basotho mountain stronghold of Thaba Bosiu (also called Thaba Bosigo). This war is also known as the First Basotho War or the WAR of SENEKAL (sometimes spelt Senegal).
During this war, the Boers also destroyed many mission stations in the Basotho kingdom, as they blamed them for educating and instilling a sense of pride among the Basotho. These mission stations had been set up by missionaries from the Paris Evangelical Society, who arrived at Thaba Bosiu in 1833. They had helped to unite the Basotho under Moshoeshoe, and were the first to write the Sesotho language.
This is the summary of the Second Basotho War (Seqiti War):
After this war an uneasy peace followed. J.H Brand, who replaced Boshoff, took initiative and negotiated with Moshoeshoe, who objected that the frontier was not clear. However, hostilities re-surfaced, and President Brand believed that the OFS should use its military superiority against the Basotho.
Moshoeshoe had also realized his precarious position, and had applied for British protection from Sir Philip Wodehouse, a new commissioner who had arrived in the Cape in 1861.
The Warden Line had then been reaffirmed, and although the Basotho were given time to withdraw, attacks continued later nonetheless. In 1865, the Orange Free State launched the Second Basotho War known in Sesotho as the Seqiti War. The word seqiti refers to the sound made by the new cannon the Boers used to crush the Basotho strongholds, mainly in the present day Free State province.
The Free State army then began to seize cattle and destroy crops, and two attempts were then made to storm Moshoeshoe's stronghold at Thaba Bosiu, where Commandant Wepener was killed.
Moshoeshoe was then compelled to accept the peace of Thaba Bosiu on 11 April 1866, due an exhaustion of Basotho food supplies. Moshoeshoe's son Molapo had also allegedly concluded a separate peace treaty.
Moshoeshoe then renewed entreaties for British protection after a short armistice. This was because due to the fact that the Free State Government was late in allocating land, the Basotho slowly advanced over the border line, and further tensions mounted. The Free State Government began to raise an armed force, which was aggravated by the murder of two Whites in Ladybrand in June 1867.
This is the summary of the Third Basotho War:
Brand demanded the hand over of the murderers, but Moshoeshoe stated that he had not agreed to the frontier line of 1866, and therefore the events had not occurred on Free State territory. In July 1867, the third war between the Free State and the Basotho in ten years began, and Boer forces overran Moshoeshoe's land and conquered all the land except the impregnable fortress of Thaba Bosiu.
The Free State forces had achieved great military success, and Moshoeshoe was compelled to ask for British assistance. Basutoland was then annexed on 12 March 1868, after Governor Wodehouse received instructions to negotiate with Moshoeshoe for the recognition of the Basotho as British subjects.
On the 12 March 1868, the British parliament declared the Basotho Kingdom a British protectorate. The Orange Free State was forced to discontinue the war if it was not to raise trouble with the British Empire.
In February 1869, the boundaries of present day Lesotho (previously Basutoland) were then drawn up according to the Convention of Aliwal-North. This convention gave the Conquered Territory to the Free State, and the boundary line was moved further south to Langeberg. No further armed conflict between the Free State and the Basotho took place after this.
As a result, King Moshoeshoe was able to save his kingdom from being overrun by the Boers. King Moshoeshoe died two years in 1870, after the end of war, and was buried at the summit of Thaba Bosiu.