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#CARD:Lesotho:Background Notes
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BACKGROUND NOTES:  LESOTHO

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. [phone]).  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: [phone], 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.(###)


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