English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
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Lesotho's newly found democracy did not see its full term of five years. Dr J<strong>on</strong>athanefailed to h<strong>and</strong> over power to the Basothol<strong>and</strong> C<strong>on</strong>gress Party, which had w<strong>on</strong> the 1970electi<strong>on</strong>s, for reas<strong>on</strong>s best known to himself. Actually what Dr J<strong>on</strong>athane did was tosuspend the 1966 c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, declare a state of emergency <strong>and</strong> ruled by degree up untilhe was overthrown by the military in a bloodless coup in 1986. The military h<strong>and</strong>ed 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 populati<strong>on</strong>living in the rural villages. The populati<strong>on</strong> has a high proporti<strong>on</strong> of children, whichproporti<strong>on</strong> is expected to grow further.1.3 POLITICAL HISTORY AND FRAMEWORK(a)Nati<strong>on</strong> BuildingLesotho's political history goes as far back as the days of nati<strong>on</strong> building by MoshoeshoeI (founder of the Basotho). Moshoeshoe built the nati<strong>on</strong> from remnants of tribes fleeingfrom the destructive lifaqane wars lead by the Zulus. His tribe, the Mokoteli was <strong>on</strong>e ofthe smallest tribes am<strong>on</strong>g the Basotho tribes, but Moshoeshoe was able to build a nati<strong>on</strong>from such a small tribe. His success was not largely, as other people believe, due todesperati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 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), <strong>and</strong> hismilitary skills.Moshoeshoe's political organisati<strong>on</strong> during nati<strong>on</strong> building <strong>and</strong> bey<strong>on</strong>d was to put smalltribes directly under his c<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>and</strong> members of his immediate family. Bigger tribes wereallowed to keep their chieftaincy intact provided they pledged allegiance to him.(b)Missi<strong>on</strong>aries <strong>and</strong> MoshoeshoeIn 1832 Moshoeshoe heard about the Christian faith <strong>and</strong> white missi<strong>on</strong>aries.Moshoeshoe saw this as an opportunity to have some experienced advisors to help in hisdealings with the white settlers <strong>on</strong> his l<strong>and</strong>. French Missi<strong>on</strong>aries from the ParisEvangelical Society namely, Abbousset, Casalis <strong>and</strong> Gosselin arrived in Basothol<strong>and</strong>in 1833. The missi<strong>on</strong>aries were allowed to propagate their religi<strong>on</strong> freely am<strong>on</strong>g theBasotho. In return they were to be treated as Moshoeshoe's subjects, which means thatthey could be compelled to advise him <strong>on</strong> any matters pertaining to Basotho affairs. Themissi<strong>on</strong>aries were quite instrumental in securing protecti<strong>on</strong> for the Basotho from theBritish, when the Boers were poised to take over Basothol<strong>and</strong> by force.