English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Lesotho's newly found democracy did not see its full term of five years. Dr Jonathanefailed to hand over power to the Basotholand Congress Party, which had won the 1970elections, for reasons best known to himself. Actually what Dr Jonathane did was tosuspend the 1966 constitution, declare a state of emergency and ruled by degree up untilhe was overthrown by the military in a bloodless coup in 1986. The military handed overpower to the civilian government in 1993, under the leadership of Dr Ntsu Mokheh le.Lesotho's people, the Basotho are largely a rural people with about 84% of the populationliving in the rural villages. The population has a high proportion of children, whichproportion is expected to grow further.1.3 POLITICAL HISTORY AND FRAMEWORK(a)Nation BuildingLesotho's political history goes as far back as the days of nation building by MoshoeshoeI (founder of the Basotho). Moshoeshoe built the nation from remnants of tribes fleeingfrom the destructive lifaqane wars lead by the Zulus. His tribe, the Mokoteli was one ofthe smallest tribes among the Basotho tribes, but Moshoeshoe was able to build a nationfrom such a small tribe. His success was not largely, as other people believe, due todesperation on the side of those fleeing the Zulu mayhem, but it was due, in most part.to his genius, his diplomacy (which was quite in short supply in those days), and hismilitary skills.Moshoeshoe's political organisation during nation building and beyond was to put smalltribes directly under his control and members of his immediate family. Bigger tribes wereallowed to keep their chieftaincy intact provided they pledged allegiance to him.(b)Missionaries and MoshoeshoeIn 1832 Moshoeshoe heard about the Christian faith and white missionaries.Moshoeshoe saw this as an opportunity to have some experienced advisors to help in hisdealings with the white settlers on his land. French Missionaries from the ParisEvangelical Society namely, Abbousset, Casalis and Gosselin arrived in Basotholandin 1833. The missionaries were allowed to propagate their religion freely among theBasotho. In return they were to be treated as Moshoeshoe's subjects, which means thatthey could be compelled to advise him on any matters pertaining to Basotho affairs. Themissionaries were quite instrumental in securing protection for the Basotho from theBritish, when the Boers were poised to take over Basotholand by force.