Lesotho 17781 225038639 2008-07-11T16:17:56Z Million Moments 2907231 remove possible vandalism {{tooshort}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = ''Muso oa Lesotho'' |conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Lesotho |common_name = Lesotho |image_flag = Flag of Lesotho.svg |image_coat = Lesotho Coat of Arms.svg |image_map = LocationLesotho.svg |national_motto = "Khotso, Pula, Nala"{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Sesotho language|Sesotho]])<br/>"Peace, Rain, Prosperity"</small> |national_anthem = ''[[Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona]]'' |official_languages = [[Sotho_language|Southern Sotho]], [[English language|English]] |demonym = Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) |capital = [[Maseru]] |latd=29 |latm=18 |latNS=S |longd=27 |longm=28 |longEW=E |largest_city = Maseru |government_type = [[Constitutional monarchy]] |leader_title1 = [[List of Kings of Lesotho|King]] |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Lesotho|Prime Minister]] |leader_name1 = [[Letsie III of Lesotho|Letsie III]] |leader_name2 = [[Pakalitha Mosisili]] |area_rank = 140th |area_magnitude = 1 E10 |area_km2 = 30,355 |area_sq_mi = 11,717 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |percent_water = negligible |population_estimate = 1,795,000<sup>1</sup> |population_estimate_rank = 146th |population_estimate_year = July 2005 |population_census = 2,031,348 |population_census_year = 2004 |population_density_km2 = 59 |population_density_sq_mi = 153 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 138th |GDP_PPP = $4.996 billion <!--IMF--> |GDP_PPP_rank = 150th |GDP_PPP_year = 2005 |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $2,113 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 139th |sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |established_event1 = from the [[United Kingdom]] |established_date1 = [[October 4]] [[1966]] |HDI = {{increase}} 0.549 |HDI_rank = 138th |HDI_year = 2007 |HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font> |Gini = 63.2 |Gini_year = 1995 |Gini_category = <font color="red">high</font> |currency = [[Lesotho loti|Loti]] |currency_code = LSL |country_code = |time_zone = |utc_offset = +2 |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |cctld = [[.ls]] |calling_code = 266 |footnotes = <sup>1</sup> Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.}} '''Lesotho''' ({{pronEng|lɪˈsuːtuː}} {{audio|Lesotho.ogg|listen}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Lesotho''', is a [[landlocked]] country and [[enclave]] — entirely surrounded by the [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]]. Formerly [[Basutoland]], it is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. The name Lesotho roughly translates into "the land of the people who speak [[Sesotho]]."{{Fact|date=October 2007}}. ==History== {{main|History of Lesotho}} The earliest inhabitants of the area were [[Khoisan]] [[hunter-gatherers]]. They were largely replaced by Bantu-speaking tribes during [[Bantu]] [[bantu expansion|migrations]]. The present Lesotho (then called Basutoland) emerged as a single [[polity]] under paramount chief [[Moshoeshoe I]] in 1822. It was recognized by the [[United Kingdom]] on [[13 December]] [[1843]], and on [[12 March]] [[1868]] became one of the [[High_Commissioner_%28Commonwealth%29#Governors_doubling_as_High_Commissioners|High Commission Territories]]. On [[30 April]] [[1965]] it was granted autonomy. Its name changed when Lesotho gained full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations on [[October 4]], [[1966]]. In January 1970 the ruling [[Basotho National Party]] (BNP) lost the first post-independence general elections, with 23 seats to the Basutoland Congress Party's 36. Prime Minister [[Leabua Jonathan]] refused to cede power to the [[Basotho Congress Party]] (BCP), declared himself Tona Kholo (Sesotho translation of prime minister),{{Fact|date=October 2007}} and imprisoned the BCP leadership. The BCP began a rebellion and then received training in [[Libya]] for its Lesotho Liberation Army (LLA) under the pretence of being Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) soldiers of the [[Pan Africanist Congress]] (PAC). Deprived of arms and supplies by the [[David Sibeko|Sibeko]] faction of the PAC in 1978, the 178-strong LLA was rescued from their [[Tanzania]]n base by the financial assistance of a [[Maoism|Maoist]] PAC officer but launched the guerrilla war with a handful of old weapons. The main force was defeated in northern Lesotho and later guerrillas launched sporadic but usually ineffectual attacks. The campaign was severely compromised when BCP's leader, [[Ntsu Mokhehle]], went to [[Pretoria]]. In the early 1980s, several Basotho who sympathized with the exiled BCP were threatened with death and attacked by the government of [[Leabua Jonathan]]. In September 1981 the family of [[Benjamin Masilo]] was attacked. A few days later, [[Edgar Mahlomola Motuba]] was taken from his home and murdered. The BNP ruled by [[decree]] until January 1986 when a military [[Coup d'état|coup]] forced it out of office. The Military Council that came to power granted executive powers to [[List of Kings of Lesotho|King]] [[Moshoeshoe II]], who was until then a ceremonial monarch. But in 1987 the King was forced into exile after a falling out with the army. His son was installed as [[Letsie III of Lesotho|King Letsie III]]. The chairman of the [[military junta]], Major General [[Justin Metsing Lekhanya]], was ousted in 1991 and replaced by Major General [[Elias Phisoana Ramaema]], who handed over power to a democratically elected government of the BCP in 1993. Moshoeshoe II returned from exile in 1992 as an ordinary citizen. After the return to democratic government, King Letsie III tried unsuccessfully to persuade the BCP government to reinstate his father (Moshoeshoe II) as [[head of state]]. In August 1994, Letsie III staged a military-backed coup that deposed the BCP government. The new government did not receive full international recognition. Member states of the [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) engaged in negotiations to reinstate the BCP government. One of the conditions Letsie III put forward for this was that his father should be re-installed as head of state. After protracted negotiations, the BCP government was reinstated and Letsie III abdicated in favor of his father in 1995, but Moshoeshoe II died in a car 'accident'{{what|date=May 2008}} in 1996 and was again succeeded by his son. In 1997, the ruling BCP split 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, which enabled him to form a new government. [[Pakalitha Mosisili]] succeeded Mokhehle as party leader and the LCD won the general elections in 1998. Although the elections were pronounced free and fair by local and international observers and a subsequent special commission appointed by SADC, the opposition [[political party|political parties]] rejected the results. Opposition protests in the country intensified, culminating in a peaceful demonstration outside the royal palace in August 1998. Exact details of what followed are greatly disputed and it remain contested even within [[South Africa]], but in September that year, a SADC task force operating on orders of unclear provenance entered the capital Maseru. While the [[Botswana Defence Force]] troops were welcomed, tensions with [[South African National Defence Force]] troops were high, resulting in fighting. Incidences of sporadic rioting intensified when South African troops hoisted a South African flag over the Royal Palace. By the time the SADC forces withdrew in May 1999, much of Maseru lay in ruins, and the southern provincial capital towns of [[Mafeteng]] and [[Mohale's Hoek]] had seen the loss of over a third of their commercial real estate. A number of South Africans and Basotho also died in the fighting. An Interim Political Authority (IPA), charged with reviewing the electoral structure in the country, was created in December 1998. The IPA devised a proportional electoral system to ensure that the opposition would be represented in the National Assembly. The new system retained the existing 80 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, gaining 54% of the vote. But for the first time, opposition political parties won significant numbers of seats, and despite some irregularities and threats of violence from Major General Lekhanya, Lesotho experienced its first peaceful election. Nine opposition parties now 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, including a recount; none has been successful. ==Politics== {{main|Politics of Lesotho}} The Lesotho Government is a [[constitutional monarchy]]. The Prime Minister, [[Pakalitha Bethuel 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 of Lesotho|National Assembly]] (the lower house of parliament) with 62 seats. The [[All Basotho Convention]] (ABC), a party formed shortly before the poll under the leadership of former foreign minister [[Tom Thabane]], is the main opposition. The Basotho National Party (BNP), the Alliance of Congress Parties (ACP) and the newly formed Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP) and the Basotho Democratic National Party (BDNP) Lesotho are among the other five opposition parties represented. The ABC has brought a dramatic change in the Lesotho's politics, due to it having won 17, mainly urban, seats out of 80 Constituency seats, only a few months after it was formed in September 2006. Of the 40 Proportional Representation (PR) seats, the National Independent Party (NIP), a parliamentary ally of the ruling party, has the highest number of seats at 21. The Lesotho Workers Party has the next highest number of proportional seats with 10. The BNP is the opposition party with the biggest loss in the February 2007 election with its representation reduced from 21 to 3 seats. A total of 12 political parties are represented in the 120-member parliament. The upper house of parliament, called the [[Senate of Lesotho|Senate]], is composed of twenty-two principal chiefs whose membership is hereditary, and eleven appointees of the king, acting on the advice of the prime minister. The [[constitution]] provides for an independent judicial system, made up of the High Court, the Court of Appeal, Magistrate's Courts, and traditional courts that exist predominantly 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]], [[freedom of association]], [[freedom of the press]], [[freedom of assembly|freedom of peaceful assembly]] and [[freedom of religion]]. == Districts == [[Image:Lesotho.geohive.gif|thumb|350px|right|Districts of Lesotho]] {{main|Districts of Lesotho}} Administratively, Lesotho is divided into [[Districts of Lesotho|ten districts]], each headed by a district administrator. Each district has a capital known as a ''[[camptown]]''. {{columns |col1 = *[[Bertie District|Berea]] *[[Butha-Buthe District|Butha-Buthe]] *[[Leribe District|Leribe]] *[[Mafeteng District|Mafeteng]] *[[Maseru District|Maseru]] |col2 = *[[Mohale's Hoek District|Mohale's Hoek]] *[[Mokhotlong District|Mokhotlong]] *[[Qacha's Nek District|Qacha's Nek]] *[[Quthing District|Quthing]] *[[Thaba-Tseka District|Thaba-Tseka]] }} The districts are further subdivided into 80 constituencies, which consists of 129 local community councils. {{clear}} ==Geography== {{MapLibrary|Lesotho_sat.png|Lesotho}} [[Image:Snowfall Lesotho 2.jpg|thumb|left|Snow on the Lesotho [[Moteng pass]]]] {{main|Geography of Lesotho}} Lesotho covers 30,355 [[square kilometre]]s (11,720&nbsp;[[Square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]). The most notable geographic fact about Lesotho, apart from its status as an [[Enclave and exclave|enclave]], is that it is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres (3,300&nbsp;ft) in elevation. Its lowest point is 1,400 metres (4,593&nbsp;ft), and over 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres (5,900&nbsp;ft). ===Climate=== Due to its altitude, Lesotho remains cooler throughout the year than other regions at the same latitude. Most of the rain falls as summer [[thunderstorm]]s. [[Maseru]] and surrounding lowlands often reach 30 °[[Celsius|C]] (86 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]) in summer. Winters can be cold with the lowlands getting down to &minus;7 °C (19 °F) and the highlands to &minus;18 °C (0 °F) at times. [[Snow]] is common in the [[desert]]s and low [[valley]]s between May and September; the higher peaks can experience snowfalls year-round. {{clear}} ==Economy== {{main|Economy of Lesotho}} Lesotho's economy is based on exports of [[water]] sold to South Africa, manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, and to some extent the earnings of laborers employed in South Africa. Lesotho also exports [[diamond]]s, [[wool]], [[mohair]], [[clothing]], and [[footwear]]. One of [[Levi's]] jeans manufacturing facilities is located there. Also in Lesotho is one of Russell Athletics plants. 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 who remain in South Africa for 3 to 9 months. The western lowlands form the main agricultural zone. Almost 50% of the population earns some income through crop cultivation or animal husbandry, with over half the country's income coming from the agricultural sector. [[Image:Lesotho Makhaleng.jpg|thumb|left|Gorges of the River Makhaleng in Lesotho's highlands.]] [[Water]] is Lesotho's only significant natural resource. It is utilised through the 21-year, multi-billion-dollar [[Lesotho Highlands Water Project]] (LHWP), which began in 1986. The LHWP is designed to capture, store, and transfer water from the [[Orange River]] system 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 $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 US 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. Lesotho has nearly 6,000 kilometers of unpaved and modern all-weather roads. There is a short freight rail line linking Lesotho with South Africa that is owned and operated by South Africa. The official currency is the [[loti]] (plural: maloti), but can be used interchangeably with the South African [[Rand (currency)|rand]]. Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, and South Africa also form a common currency and exchange control area known as the [[Common Monetary Area]] (CMA). The loti is at par with the rand, while one hundred [[lisente]] equal one loti. [[Image:AfriSki.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Afriski]] resort in the [[Maluti]] Mountains of Lesotho.]] 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 [[Botswana]], [[Namibia]], [[South Africa]], and [[Swaziland]]. Lesotho has received economic aid from a variety of sources, including the [[United States]], the [[World Bank]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[European Union]], and [[Germany]]. Tourism is a slowly growing industry. A ski resort recently opened in the high [[Maluti|Maluti]] Mountains is drawing tourists from South Africa. Significant levels of child labour exist in Lesotho, and the country is in the process of formulating an Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (APEC), which is likely to be adopted in the period 2006-2007 (see [[Child labour in Lesotho]]). ==Demographics== {{seealso|Demographics of Lesotho}} The Demographics of Lesotho describe the condition and overview of Lesotho's peoples. Demographic topics include basic education, health, and population statistics as well as identified racial and religious affiliations. Contents [hide] 1 Population 2 Ethnic groups and languages 3 Religion 4 Education and literacy 5 References [edit]Population Historical population of Lesotho, Data of FAO, year 2005; Number of inhabitants in thousands. According to the 2006 census, Lesotho has a total population of 1,872,721.[1] Of the population, 23.74 percent lived in urban and 76.26 percent in rural areas.[1] The country's capital, Maseru, accounts for around half of the total urban population. The sex distribution is 911,848 male and 960,873 female, or around 95 males for each 100 females.[1] The average population density in the country is around 61,7 people per square kilometer. The density is lower in the highlands than in the western lowlands. Although the majority of the population—59.8 percent—is between 15 and 64 years of age, Lesotho has a substantial youth population numbering around 35.3 percent.[2] The annual population growth rate is estimated at 0.13%[2] [edit]Ethnic groups and languages 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 homogenous. Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists almost entirely of the Basotho (singular Mosotho), a Bantu-speaking people: an estimate of 99.7 percent of the people identify as Basotho.[2] 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.[3] Sesotho (Southern Sotho) and English languages are both official.[2] Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and French are also spoken. [edit]Religion Main article: Religion in Lesotho The population of Lesotho is estimated to be around 90 percent Christian.[4] Roman Catholics, the largest religious group, make up around 45 percent of the population.[4] Evangelicals comprise 26 percent of the population, and Anglican and other Christian groups an additional 19 percent.[4] Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha'i, and members of traditional indigenous religions comprise the remaining 10 percent of the population.[4] [edit]Education and literacy According to recent estimates, 85 percent of the population 15 and over was literate. Among women the literacy rate was around 95 percent, and among men around 75 percent.[2] As such, Lesotho boasts one of the higher literacy rates in Africa. Although education is not compulsory, the Government of Lesotho is incrementally implementing a programme for free primary education. It was expected that the program would be fully in place by 2006. The National University of Lesotho located in Roma is the only university in the country.[5] In addition, the country has almost 20 other public and 15 private institutes giving tertiary education.[5] ===Population=== Lesotho has a population of approximately 1.881 million, according to 2006 Census.<ref>Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. August 2007. 2006 Lesotho Census of Population and Housing: Preliminary Results Report. Maseru: BoS. page 2, Table 2.1 & page 14, Table A4.) </ref>{{Fact|date=October 2007}} The population distribution of Lesotho is 23.8 percent urban and 76.2 percent rural. Population density is lower in the highlands than in the western lowlands. Although the majority of the population -- 57.6 percent -- is between 15 and 64 years of age, Lesotho has a substantial youth population numbering around 37 percent. The annual population growth is -0.46%. ===Languages=== Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists almost entirely of the Basotho, a Bantu-speaking people. 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). [[Sotho language|Sesotho]] (Southern Sotho) and English languages are both official. [[Afrikaans]], [[Zulu]], [[Xhosa]] and [[French language|French]] are also spoken. ===Religion=== {{main|Religion in Lesotho}} [[Roman Catholics]], the largest religious group, make up more than two-fifths of the population; {{Fact|date=October 2007}} smaller groups include the Lesotho [[Evangelical Church]] which comprises more than one-fourth of the population; {{Fact|date=October 2007}} [[Anglican]], one-ninth; {{Fact|date=October 2007}} and other Christian and tribal religions. ===Education and literacy=== An estimated 85 percent of the population 15 and over was literate, according to recent estimates. As such, Lesotho boasts one of the higher literacy rates in Africa. Although education is not compulsory, the Government of Lesotho is incrementally implementing a programme for free primary education. It was expected that the program would be fully in place by 2006. ==HIV/AIDS== [[Image:Lucy in the sky.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A house in Lesotho.]] [[Image:Malealea.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Malealea, situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho.]] Lesotho is severely afflicted by [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]]. According to recent estimates, the [[prevalence]] is about 29%, one of the highest in the world.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} The United Nations projects that this will rise to 36% within fifteen years, {{Fact|date=October 2007}} resulting in a sharp drop in life expectancy. According to the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, in 2001 life expectancy was estimated at forty-eight years for men and fifty-six for women.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} Recent statistics estimate about thirty-seven years. Many children have lost parents. Traditionally lavish funerals leave survivors with another burden.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} The government of Lesotho was initially slow to recognise the scale of the crisis, and its efforts to date in combating the spread of the disease have had limited success. In 1999, the government finalised 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. Also in 2003 the government hosted a SADC Extraordinary Summit on HIV/AIDS. In 2005, programs for the distribution of [[anti-retrovirals]] were initiated. One such program is in [[Hlotse]], [[Leribe]] at Tsepong Clinic which is part of Motebang Hospital. However, such programs remain limited in resources and have relatively few participants. The government has also started a proactive program called "Know your status" to test for HIV everyone in the country who wants to be tested. The program is funded by the [[Clinton Foundation]] and started in June of 2006. [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Microsoft]] chairman [[Bill Gates]] visited Lesotho in July 2006 to assess its fight against AIDS. Dubbed "The two Bills" by the media,{{Fact|date=October 2007}} the two men visited the [[Mafeteng]] Hospital which is about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the capital, [[Maseru]], to assess progress in public health endeavours funded by their respective foundations. ==Taxation== The taxation system in Lesotho has undergone major revisions in recent years (in part due to the establishment of the Lesotho Revenue Authority in 2003 - www.lra.org.ls). Personal income tax: Personal income tax is due on income above M14,000 per annum, with a tax credit of M3,500. The standard rate is 25%, with a 35% rate on income over a certain threshold. Company / corporate tax: The headline rate is 25%, with a special 10% rate on income generated from manufacturing, and a 0% rate for income generated from exporting manufactures to outside the Southern African Customs Union (the so called extra-SACU rate). Capital depreciation allowances exist and are 25% for most types of capital asset. Value Added Tax: VAT was introduced in 2003 at 14% (replacing a 10% Government Sales Tax). An upfront VAT refund facility is in operation that effectively means that no VAT is paid on inputs into goods destined for export (a big help to Lesotho's garment exporters). Dividends paid to non-residents and interest are subject to a 25 percent withholding tax. Resident companies that pay dividends must make an advance income tax payment of 53.8 percent, unless the dividends are paid out of manufacturing income or out of dividends paid by another resident company. Manufacturing companies pay no tax on dividends. Repatriated income is subject to a 25 percent tax. ==Foreign relations== [[Image:Flag of Lesotho (1987-2006).svg|thumb|right|150px|The flag used by Lesotho until October 2006.]] [[Image:Lesotho-Gorge.jpg|thumb|A gorge in Lesotho.]] {{main|Foreign relations of Lesotho}} 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),<ref>[http://www.sadc.int/member_states/index.php?country=Lesotho Lesotho Country profile] on the Southern African Development Community website</ref> and the [[Southern African Customs Union]] (SACU).<ref>[http://www.sacu.int/ Southern African Customs Union website]</ref> It is also active in the [[United Nations]] (UN), the [[African Union]], the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], and many other international organizations.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} South Africa, the United States, Libya, Ireland, China, Botswana and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. The British High Commission closed in 2005 and the UK is now represented in Lesotho by its High Commissioner resident in South Africa. His Excellency, Prince [[Seeiso Bereng Seeiso]] is the present High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the [[Court of St. James's]]. The UN is represented by a resident mission as well, including [[UNDP]], [[UNICEF]], [[WHO]], [[FAO]], [[WFP]], and [[UNAIDS]]. Historically, Lesotho has maintained generally close ties with [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]],{{Fact|date=October 2007}} but also with the United Kingdom ([[Wales]] in particular), Germany, the United States and other Western states. Although in 1990 it broke relations with the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) and re-established relations with [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], it later restored ties with the PRC. Lesotho also recognises the [[State of Palestine]].{{Fact|date=March 2007}} In the past, it was a strong public supporter{{Fact|date=October 2007}} of the end of [[apartheid]] in South Africa and granted a number of South African refugees political asylum during the apartheid era. ==Culture== Traditional musical instruments include [[lekolulo]], a kind of flute used by herding boys, [[setolo-tolo]], played by men using their mouth, and the women's stringed [[thomo]]. The national anthem of Lesotho is "Lesotho Fatše La Bo-ntata Rona," which literally translates into "Lesotho, Land Of Our Fathers." The traditional style of housing in Lesotho is called a [[rondavel]]. The [[Morija Arts & Cultural Festival]] is a prominent Sesotho arts and music festival. It is held annually in the historical town of Morija, where the first missionaries arrived in 1833. {{seealso|Music of Lesotho}} ''and [[List of African writers (by country)#Lesotho|List of writers from Lesotho]]'' ==Human rights== {{Unreferencedsection|date=March 2007}} Lesotho is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. King Letsie III is the head of state but has no executive authority. In 2002, Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili was re-elected in what were judged to be free and fair elections. The government works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens; however some serious abuses were reported in the past year. Police and security forces have been known to use excessive force and torture against detainees, often with impunity. The judiciary is subject to external influences and due process cannot be guaranteed. Lengthy pre-trial detention and long delays in trial are problems. Child labor and discrimination against persons with disabilities and HIV/AIDS are other known abuses committed in the region. ==Assassinated leaders== *[[Selometsi Baholo]], Deputy Prime Minister *[[Makhele]] *[[Motuba]] *[[Seheri]] *[[Selala Sekhonyana]] *[[Sixishe]] ==See also== [[Image:Basotho blanket lesotho.jpg|thumb|Basotho-horseman with traditional blanket.]] * [[Communications in Lesotho]] * [[List of Basotho companies]] * [[List of Lesotho-related topics]] * [[Military of Lesotho]] * [[National University of Lesotho]] * [[National University of Lesotho International School]] * [[Transportation in Lesotho]] * [[Lesotho Scouts Association]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{portal}} {{sisterlinks|Lesotho}} * [http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/ Government of Lesotho] * [http://www.saflii.org/ls/cases/LSHC/ Judgments of the Lesotho High Court] * [http://internetcafedirectory.co.za/component/option,com_mtree/task,listcats/cat_id,45/Itemid,26/ Lesotho Internet Cafe directory] * {{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Lesotho}} * {{wikitravel|Lesotho}} * {{wikia|Lesotho}} {{Basotho Topics}} {{Template group |title = Geographic locale |list = [∑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lt.html CIA World Factbook] {{Countries of Africa}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{SACU}} {{Member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)}} {{Member states of the African Union}} {{Commonwealth of Nations}} {{Monarchies|state=collapsed}} }} <!--Interwiki--> <!--Categories--> [[Category:Lesotho| ]] [[Category:African Union member states]] [[Category:Landlocked countries]] [[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Constitutional monarchies]] [[Category:Least Developed Countries]] [[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]] {{Link FA|de}} <!--Other languages--> [[af:Lesotho]] [[als:Lesotho]] [[am:ሌሶቶ]] [[ang:Lesotho]] [[ar:ليسوتو]] [[an:Lesoto]] [[frp:Lesothô]] [[ast:Lesotho]] [[az:Lesoto]] [[bn:লেসোথো]] [[zh-min-nan:Lesotho]] [[be-x-old:Лесота]] [[bs:Lesoto]] [[br:Lesotho]] [[bg:Лесото]] [[ca:Lesotho]] [[cv:Лесото]] [[ceb:Lesotho]] [[cs:Lesotho]] [[cy:Lesotho]] [[da:Lesotho]] [[de:Lesotho]] [[dv:ލެސޯތޯ]] [[et:Lesotho]] [[el:Λεσότο]] [[es:Lesoto]] [[eo:Lesoto]] [[eu:Lesotho]] [[fa:لسوتو]] [[fr:Lesotho]] [[ga:Leosóta]] [[gv:Lesoto]] [[gd:Leasoto]] [[gl:Lesoto - Lesotho]] [[ko:레소토]] [[hy:Լեսոթո]] [[hi:लेसोथो]] [[hr:Lesoto]] [[io:Lesoto]] [[ilo:Lesoto]] [[bpy:লেসাথো]] [[id:Lesotho]] [[ie:Lesotho]] [[os:Лесото]] [[is:Lesótó]] [[it:Lesotho]] [[he:לסוטו]] [[jv:Lesotho]] [[pam:Lesotho]] [[kn:ಲೆಸೊಥೊ]] [[ka:ლესოთო]] [[kk:Лесуту]] [[kw:Lesotho]] [[sw:Lesotho]] [[ht:Lezoto]] [[ku:Lesoto]] [[la:Lesothum]] [[lv:Lesoto]] [[lb:Lesotho]] [[lt:Lesotas]] [[lij:Lesòthò]] [[ln:Lesoto]] [[hu:Lesotho]] [[mk:Лесото]] [[ml:ലെസോത്തോ]] [[ms:Lesotho]] [[nah:Lesotho]] [[nl:Lesotho]] [[ja:レソト]] [[no:Lesotho]] [[nn:Lesotho]] [[nov:Lesutu]] [[oc:Lesotho]] [[uz:Lesoto]] [[ps:لېسوتو]] [[pms:Lesotho]] [[nds:Lesotho]] [[pl:Lesotho]] [[pt:Lesoto]] [[crh:Lesoto]] [[ro:Lesotho]] [[qu:Suthusuyu]] [[ru:Лесото]] [[se:Lesotho]] [[sa:लेसोथो]] [[sco:Lesotho]] [[st:Lesotho]] [[sq:Lesoto]] [[scn:Lesothu]] [[simple:Lesotho]] [[ss:ÉLusûtfu]] [[sk:Lesotho]] [[sl:Lesoto]] [[sr:Лесото]] [[sh:Lesoto]] [[fi:Lesotho]] [[sv:Lesotho]] [[tl:Lesotho]] [[ta:லெசோத்தோ]] [[th:ประเทศเลโซโท]] [[vi:Lesotho]] [[tg:Лесото]] [[ve:Li-Sotho]] [[tr:Lesoto]] [[uk:Лесото]] [[ur:لیسوتھو]] [[vec:Lesotho]] [[vo:Sutuvän]] [[wo:Lesoto]] [[diq:Lesotho]] [[bat-smg:Lesuots]] [[zh:莱索托]]