The Kingdom of Lesotho is a country in South Africa. Its physical geography of is completely surrounded by Republic of South Africa. Its boundaries run with those of KwaZulu-Natal to the east, Eastern Cape to the south, and the Free State to the north and west.
In 1918, King Moshoeshoe (1786-1870) formed coalition with southern Sotho people and formed Basotho. This was occupying the entire area of present day Northern and Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho. Menkhoaneng, which in now northern part of present day Lesotho, was the birthplace of Moshoeshoe. He was the first son of minor chief of Bakoteli. Bakoteli was a branch of the Koena clan. Lepogo under the tutelage of his father played key role in augmenting the power of the Bakoteli sub clan. He brought the senior Sekake group and a number of Bafokeng clans, including the Makara and Ratsiu groups, under his father's control.
Moshoeshoe with his cohorts moved to Butha-Buthe Mountain and became a minor chief at the age of 34 in 1820. This coincided with the beginning of a highly tumultuous period that engulfed the whole of southern Africa and affected the economic and political lives of virtually all the people of the region. A number of factors were responsible for this, though related or unrelated. The conflict among Nguni people in Natal and arrival of white settlers across the Orange River had left the far-reaching impact on history of Bosotho and Lesotho.
The rise of the dictatorship of the Zulu King Saka on neighboring clans in northern natal caused ripple effect which were felt to as far as Lesotho. This was a process of nation building among the Nguni in Natal in the early 1820s. The region was hit by sever drought during 1800 which lead to huge competition between these kingdoms for control of prime pastureland and areas suitable for agriculture. Independent clans such as Amangwane were enforced to run off from the region under chief Matiwane. Hulbi and Zizi people were dislocated in this process; these were the people who fled across the Drakensburg in 1818 from the Upper Tugela river basin.
In 1820, Dutch-speaking people of mixed descent known as Kora came to the region. Many of these people came on the horsebacks; this was first time horses were introduced in Lesotho.
During mid 1830 white people from Cape Colony started crossing the Orange River in large groups. They slogged in ox – wagons and mainly depended upon hunting. Some of these settled as farmers on land within Moshoeshoe's Kingdom and surrounding areas. The diplomacy of Moshoeshoe saved Basotho from extinction for next 30 years.
A treaty was made with the Governor of the Cape in 1843, which recognized Moshoeshoe as a supporter with responsibilities to maintain order in a major north region of Orange River. In 1845, a second treaty was made which recognized white settlement but did not defined boundaries. The Sovereignty of Orange River was announced in 1848, which defined the area between Vaal and Orange rivers, a British territory. Maintaining Sovereignty in the region was proving costly affair to the British, that’s why in 1854 British withdrew from Bloemfontein, handing over liability to the newly declared Orange Free State Republic of the Boers. During initial years the relations with Lesotho were cordial but later in 1858 Senekal’s war broke, as the boundaries were not defined at the time of British withdrawal.
For the next few years, an uneasy peace prevailed in the region. Moshoeshoe, real'ising his precarious position, sought British protection from Sir Philip Wodehouse, the new High Commissioner, who arrived in the Cape in 1861. Seqiti War occurred in 1865. Moshoeshoe died in 1870 soon after seeing his country saved. The protection sought by Moshoeshoe proved like a blessing for Britain. British found it expedient to take over Lesotho to the Cape Colony. The shift was untoward for Lesotho, since the Cape Colony soon started to be appropriate to Lesotho the same laws and methods, which it found expedient for administering other areas already, annexed by force.
Gun War took place in 1880 – 81, cost the cape government heavily in terms of men and money both. By 1883 chronic misgovernment persuaded the Cape Government to ask for Britain to reinstate direct rule over Lesotho, in return for which it was even primed to pay any discrepancy in the annual recurrent budget. As a direct consequence of Gun War the Basotho won the right to administer their country separately.
British rule reestablished in 1884, which further led to declaration of independence of Lesotho by Britain in 1886. Under the British Resident Cornmissioner, Sir Marshall Clarke (1884-1894) and Sir Godfrey Lagden (1894-1902) together with the Paramount Chiefs Letsie (1870-91), and his son Lerotholi (1891-1905), a system of dual government evolved.
Lerotholi died in 1905, eventually this marked the end of paramountancy. His son Letsie 11 (1905-1913), allowed the Para- mountcy to drift, and took little interest in government. The sway of Letsie II's descendant, Paramount Chief Griffith Lerotholi (1913- 1939), was characterized by a struggle between the Paramountcy and various groups to define the future of Lesotho. Griffith died in 1939, his son, Seeiso came into power, and ruled for one year. He died under mysterious circumstances and was replaced by his first wife, the Regent 'Mantsebo (1941-1960), who oversaw a turbulent period of change.
By this time a new and more rational nationalist movement showed up led by the commoner Ntsu Mokhehle. His movement, the Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), called for self-determination and the end of all racist practices in Lesotho. The BCP place the political agenda for 1950s and the chieftainship lost the scheme in public life. By 1960 the National Council was serene evenly of both chiefs, who were selected, and members in a roundabout way selected from the nine District Councils.
The District Council Elections were held in 1960, the best-established political movement was BCP, but it was no longer alone. The elections showed the BCP and allied candidates wining 32 of 40 indirectly elected seats in the Legislative Council. The constitutional review commission appointed by Moshoeshoe II in 1961 approved a west minister style constitution in its report submitted in 1963. The Constitution enjoyed widespread support and was accepted by Britain. Elections for the first government held in 1965, with Independence following soon thereafter.
In the elections held in 1965 the BNP won 31 seats, the BCP 25 and the MTP only 4 seats. Lesotho got its independence under the leadership of BNP on October 4, 1966. Even though the BNP government did accomplish various gauge of success during its five-year term, the electorate were disenchanted and thought the party had done very little to perk up the lot of the people. The BCP enthused rapidly into this mounting vaccuurn and prepared successfully against the BNP in the 1970 elections.
Lesotho has made significant strides between 1973 to 1985 for improving basic infrastructure, like school, health, communication, and living. Foreign assistances from different corners were also poured into. Lesotho was ruled by military between 1986 to 1993. The major supporters to King were removed from the military council in 1990 and the Prince Mohato was sworn in as Lestie III in November 1990. The constitution adopted in 1966 was revised and general elections were held on March 27, 1993. BCP won by huge margins capturing all over 65 constituencies.
King Lestie III suspended the constitution and created an interim government on August 1994, this was known as ‘Palace Coup’. King Moshoeshoe was succeeded by his son who was sworn in as King Letsie III on 7 February 1996. Throughout the 1990s, politics in Lesotho were deeply affected by economic difficulties relating to the decline of the gold mining industry in South Africa.
The constitution adopted in 1993 redefined the role of Monarchy altered the legislative branch of the government. The King of Lesotho is head of the state without executive or legislative power. Prime minister holds the executive power; prime minister of Lesotho is leader of the major party in the national assembly and responsible for appointment of cabinet ministers.
The National Assembly has 120 members, these members are appointed for five years term. The Senate, which is made up of traditional chiefs and nominated representatives, is an advisory legislative body and has 33 members. Lesotho has ten districts, which are subdivided into wards and administered by hereditary chiefs.
People living in Lesotho are mainly Christians, these constitutes to about 90 percent of population. Remaining 10 percent are Muslims, Hindus, and members of traditional indigenous religions. English and Sesotho are the official languages of Lesotho. All indigenous people speak Sesotho. Zulu and Xhosa are other languages spoken.
The economy of Lesotho is largely based on agriculture and livestock exchange. Lesotho people working outside the country also significantly contribute to Lesotho’s economy. Approximately 40% male workers do work in South Africa. Gross domestic product, which does not reflect remittances from workers out of the country, stood at $1,450 million in 2005, or $808.10 per person. Some 11 percent of Lesotho’s land is cultivated. Maize, wheat, sorghum, and fruits and vegetables are the main crops. Tourism, particularly from South Africa, has expanded rapidly. In 2004 the estimated annual budget included revenues of $652 million with expenditures totaling $499 million.