Peace Without Poison

The man responsible for initiating covert depopulation measures in Lesotho was the secondPrime Minister of Lesotho, Leabua Jonathan (1965-1986). From 1975 until the end of his termin 1986, Lesotho’s total fertility rate dropped from 5.8 to 5.4 children per woman, a drop thatwas undoubtedly achieved through better education and provision of family planning services,though not necessarily through greater use of contraceptives since Lesotho’s contraceptiveprevalence rate during the seventies and eighties was a paltry 7%.Jonathan’s leadership was terminated by a military coup led by Major General Justin MetsingLekhanya who then ruled the country until 1986 as Chairman of the Military Council andCouncil of Ministers of Lesotho. He was replaced by Major-General Elias Phisoana Ramaemawho remained in office until 1993. Between 1986 and 1993, the total fertility rate dropped from5.4 to 4.7 children per woman, as the contraceptive prevalence rate rose to 22%.Between 1993 and 1998 the leadership of the country passed into the hands of Ntsu Mokhehleand the total fertility rate declined modestly to 4.5 children per woman.449 | P a g e