Lesotho Location : Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Capital City : Maseru
Curreny : loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Languages Spoken : Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Climate : temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
National Holiday : Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Background Information
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
Geographical Note
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Economy
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's primary natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, remittances from miners employed in South Africa, and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties for Lesotho. The pace of privatization has increased in recent years. In December 1999, the government embarked on a nine-month IMF staff-monitored program aimed at structural adjustment and stabilization of macroeconomic fundamentals. The government is in the process of applying for a three-year successor program with the IMF under its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Lesotho has a marked inequality in income distribution and serious unemployment/underemployment problems that will not yield to short-run solutions.
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Ports : none
International Disputes - Risks to travellers
: none
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Lesotho
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