| Bureau of African Affairs November 2003 Background Note: Lesotho PROFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Lesotho Geography Area: 30,355 sq. km. (11,718 sq. mi.), about the size of Maryland. Cities: CapitalMaseru (173,700). Other cities Teyateyaneng (22,800), Leribe (35,000), Mafeteng (32,900), Mohale's Hoek (18,400). 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. Southern hemisphere seasons are reversed. People Nationality: NounMosotho (sing.); Basotho (pl.) AdjectiveBasotho. Population (May 2002 est.): 2,200,100. Annual growth rate (2001 est.): 1.6%. Note: the population growth rate is depressed by an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate estimated to be over 30%. Ethnic groups: Basotho 99.7%; Europeans 1,600; Asians 3,000. Religions: 90% Christian, including Roman Catholic (majority), Lesotho Evangelical, Anglican, other denominations; Others: Islam, Hindu, indigenous. Languages: OfficialSesotho and English. OthersZulu, Xhosa. Education: Years compulsoryNone. Literacy (1998)71.3%. Health: Infant mortality rate (2001 est.)92/1,000. Life expectancy (2002 est.)44 years. Work force (2001 est.): 704,000. Government Type: Constitutional monarchy. Constitution: April 2, 1993. Independence: October 4, 1966. Branches: Executivemonarch is head of state; prime minister is head of government and cabinet. LegislativeBicameral parliament consists of elected assembly and non-elected senate. JudicialHigh Court, Court of Appeals, Magistrate's Court, traditional and customary courts. Administrative subdivisions: 10 districts. Political parties: Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Basotho National Party (BNP), Lesotho Peoples Congress (LPC), National Independent Party (NIP), Basutoland African Congress (BAC), Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Lesotho Workers Party (LWP), Popular Front for Democracy (PFD), Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), Christian Democratic Party (DCP), Kopanang Basotho Party (KBP), National Progressive Party (NPP), New Lesotho s Freedom Party (NLFP), Sefate Democratic Union (SDU), Social Democratic Party (SDP), United Party (UP). Suffrage: 18 years of age. Central government budget (FY 2002-2003 est.): Revenues$273 million. Expenditures$334 million. Flag: Lesotho flag Economy GDP (2002): $1.1 billion Annual growth rate (2002): 4% Per capita GDP (2002): $550. (2.8% projected for 2002) Average inflation rate (2002): 12% Natural resources: Water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals. Lesotho is an exporter of excess labor. Agriculture (2002 est.: 19% of GDP): Productscorn, wheat, sorghum, barley, peas, beans, asparagus, wool, mohair, livestock. Arable land11%. Industry (2002 est.: 40% of GDP): Types apparel, food, beverages, handicrafts, construction, tourism. Trade (2002): Exports$616 million; clothing, furniture, footwear and wool. PartnersSouth Africa, United States, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, EU. Imports$738 million; corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products. PartnersSouth Africa, Asia, EU. Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March. Economic aid received (2002): Primary donorsWorld Bank, IMF, EU, UN, UK, other bilateral donors. U.S. assistance$400,000 HISTORY Lesotho gained independence on October 4, 1966. In January 1970 the then ruling Basotho National Party (BNP) looked set to lose the first post-independence general elections. Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan annulled the election, refused to cede power to the opposition Basotho Congress Party (BCP) and imprisoned its leadership and ruled by decree. The BNP ruled until January 1986 when a military coup forced them out of office. The Military Council that came into power granted executive powers to King Moshoeshoe II, until then a ceremonial monarch. However, the King was forced into exile in 1987 following a falling out with the army and his son was installed as King Letsie III. The Chairman of the military junta, Major General Metsing Lekhanya, was ousted in 1991 and replaced by Major General Phisoane Ramaema, who handed power to a democratically elected government of the BCP in 1993. Moshoeshoe II returned from exile in 1992 as an ordinary citizen. His son abdicated in his favor in 1995, but Moshoeshoe II died in a car accident in 1996 and was again succeeded by his son, Letsie III. The ruling BCP split in 1997 over leadership disputes. Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle formed a new party, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), and was followed by a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs), which enabled him to form a new government. The LCD won the general elections in 1998 under the leadership of Pakalitha Mosisili, who had succeeded Mokhehle as party leader. Despite the elections being pronounced free and fair by local and international observers and a subsequent special commission appointed by SADC, the opposition political parties rejected the results. Opposition protest in the country intensified, culminating in a violent demonstration outside the royal palace in August 1998.Looting, casualties, and widespread destruction of property followed. When junior members of the armed services mutinied in September, the government requested a SADC task force intervene to prevent a coup and restore stability. A military group, consisting of South African and Botswana troops, entered the country in September and put down the mutiny. It withdrew in May 1999. An Interim Political Authority (IPA), charged with reviewing the electoral structure in the country, was created in December 1998. The IPA devised a mixed proportional electoral system designed to ensure opposition representation in the National Assembly. The new system retained the existing 80 directly elected Assembly seats but added 40 seats to be filled on a proportional basis. Elections were held under this new system in May 2002 and the LCD won again. For the first time, however, opposition political parties won significant numbers of seats. Nine opposition parties hold all 40 of the proportional seats, with the BNP having the largest share (21). The LCD has 79 of the 80 constituency based seats. Although its elected members participate in the National Assembly, the BNP has launched several legal challenges to the elections; none has been successful. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS The Lesotho Government is a constitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, 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. The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) controls a majority in the National Assembly, with the Basotho National Party (BNP), Lesotho Peoples Congress, and the National Independent Party, among the nine opposition parties represented. The constitution provides for an independent judicial system. The judiciary is made up of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, magistrate's courts, and traditional courts that exist predominately in rural areas. All but one of the Justices on the Court of Appeal are South African jurists. There is no trial by jury; rather, judges make rulings alone, or, in the case of criminal trials, with two other judges as observers. The constitution also protects basic civil liberties, including freedom of speech, association, and the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of religion. For administrative purposes, Lesotho is divided into 10 districts, each headed by a district secretary. Principal Government Officials Head of StateKing Letsie III Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili Cabinet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EducationArchibald Lesao Lehohla Minister of DefensePakalitha Mosisili Minister of Foreign AffairsMohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa Minister of Natural ResourcesMonyane Moleleki Minister of Home Affairs and Public SafetyMotsoahae Thomas Thabane Minister of Local Government Pontso Sekatle Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Law and Constitutional AffairsRefiloe Masemene Minister of Finance and Development Planning Timothy Thahane Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Lebohang Ntsinyi Minister of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and MarketingMpho 'Mali Malie Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology Mamphono Khaketla Minister of Health and Social WelfareMotloheloa Phooko Minister of Employment and LaborClement Machakela Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Rakoro Phororo Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, and RecreationMathabiso Lepono Minister in the Prime Minister's Officevacant Minister of Public Works and TransportationSolomon Mofelehetsi Moerane Ambassador to the United StatesMolelekeng Ernestina Rapolaki Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations Lebohang Moleko Lesotho maintains an embassy in the United States at 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel: 202-797-5533). Lesotho's mission to the United Nations is located at 204 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016 (tel: 212-661-1690). DEFENSE The security forces are composed of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and the Lesotho Mounted Police. The LDF consists of an army, an air wing, and a paramilitary wing. The LDF answers to the Prime Minister through the Ministry of Defense, while the Lesotho Mounted Police report to the Minister of Home Affairs. There also is a National Security Service, Intelligence, which is directly accountable to the Prime Minister. Relations between the police and the army have occasionally been tense, and in 1997 the army was called upon to put down a serious police mutiny. ECONOMY Lesotho's economy is based on agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, and the earnings of laborers employed in South Africa. Lesotho is geographically surrounded by South Africa and economically integrated with it as well. The majority of households subsist on farming or migrant labor, primarily miners in South Africa for 3 to 9 months. The western lowlands form the main agricultural zone. Almost 50% of the population earn some income through crop cultivation or animal husbandry with over half the country's income coming from the agricultural sector. Water is Lesotho's only significant natural resource. It is being exploited through the 30-year, multi-billion-dollar Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which was initiated in 1986. The LHWP is designed to capture, store, and transfer water from the Orange River system and send it to South Africa's Free State and greater Johannesburg area, which features a large concentration of South African industry, population, and agriculture. Completion of the first phase of the project has made Lesotho almost completely self-sufficient in the production of electricity and generated approximately M 168 million ($24 million) annually from the sale of electricity and water to South Africa. The World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and many other bilateral donors financed the project. Lesotho has taken advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to become the largest exporter of garments to the U.S. from sub-Saharan Africa. Exports totaled over $320 million in 2002. Employment reached over 50,000, marking the first time that manufacturing sector workers outnumbered government employees. Most factories are owned by Asian investors. Lesotho has received economic aid from a variety of sources, including the United States, the World Bank, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Germany. Lesotho has nearly 6,000 kilometers of unpaved and modern all-weather roads. There is a short rail line (freight) linking Lesotho with South Africa that is totally owned and operated by South Africa. Lesotho is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) in which tariffs have been eliminated on the trade of goods between other member countries, which also include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, and South Africa also form a common currency and exchange control area known as the Rand Monetary Area that uses the South African Rand as the common currency. In 1980, Lesotho introduced its own currency, the loti (plural: maloti). One hundred lisente equal one loti. The Loti is at par with the Rand. HIV/AIDS According to recent estimates, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Lesotho has surpassed 30%, one of the highest rates in the world. The United Nations estimates that this rate will rise to 36% within the next 15 years, resulting in an estimated drop in life expectancy of 30 years, to 37. The government of Lesotho was initially slow to recognize the scale of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and its efforts to date in combating the spread of the disease have met with limited success. In 1999, the government finalized its Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, a diagram for addressing the education, prevention, counseling, and treatment needs of the populace. In late 2003, the government announced that it was forming a new National AIDS Commission to coordinate society-wide anti-AIDS activities. FOREIGN RELATIONS Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. It is a member of many regional economic organizations including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the Nonaligned Movement, and many other international organizations. In addition to the United States, South Africa, China, the United Kingdom, Libya, Ireland (Consulate General), and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. The United Nations is represented by a resident mission as well, including UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, WFP and UNAIDS. Lesotho has historically maintained generally close ties with the UnitedStates, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other Western states. Although Lesotho decided in 1990 to break relations with the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) and reestablish relations with Taiwan, it has since restored ties with the P.R.C. Lesotho also recognized Palestine as a state and was a strong public supporter of the end of apartheid in South Africa. U.S.-LESOTHO RELATIONS The United States was one of the first four countries to establish an embassy in Maseru after Lesotho gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966. Since this time, Lesotho and the United States have consistently maintained warm bilateral relations. In 1996, the United States closed its bilateral aid program in Lesotho. The Southern African regional office of USAID now administers most of the U.S. assistance to Lesotho, which totaled approximately $400,000 in 2002. The Peace Corps has operated in Lesotho since 1966. Peace Corps volunteers concentrate in the sectors of health, agriculture, education, rural community development, and the environment. The Government of Lesotho encourages greater American participation in commercial life and welcomes interest from potential U.S. investors and suppliers. Principal U.S. Officials AmbassadorRobert G. Loftis Deputy Chief of Mission Karl Albrecht Management OfficerRobert Pitre Consular/ Public Diplomacy/ Political OfficerSharon Gordon Director, Peace Corps McGrath Jean Thomas The mailing address of the U.S. Embassy is P.O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho. Tel: (266) 22-312-666, Fax: (266) 22-310-116. E-mail: infomaseru@state.gov. TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas which pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad are on the internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250. Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-4000. Passport information can be obtained by calling the National Passport Information Center's automated system ($.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday ($1.05 per minute). The number is 1-900-225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778). Major credit card users (for a flat rate of $4.95) may call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888-498-3648). It also is available on the internet. Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800. Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication). U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency. Further Electronic Information Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://state.gov, the Department of State web site provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background Notes; daily press briefings; Country Commercial Guides; directories of key officers of Foreign Service posts and more. National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). Operated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the NTDB contains a wealth of trade-related information. It is available on the Internet (www.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the NTDB Help-Line at (202) 482-1986 for more information. *********************************************************** See http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/ for all Background notes ************************************************************ To change your subscription, go to http://www.state.gov/www/listservs_cms.html | |
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