About Lesotho

Lesotho

Lesotho, meaning "the land of the people who speak Sesotho" is a small enclave kingdom within the borders of South Africa with a population of just over two million people. Formerly known as Basutoland, it gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Whilst life is already difficult in the mountainous kingdom with only 10% of its land being cultivable, a recent United Nations report concluded that climate change could shrink this even further to just 3% within twenty five years.

Like many other African countries, Lesotho has suffered from internal politicking which has left an already disadvantaged country even weaker, where a quarter of the population has HIV/AIDS, alongside high unemployment, near economic collapse and a week currency. 30% of all children in Lesotho are orphans with live expectancy not even 40 years.

These children have very poor life opportunities. Most have to walk two hours to school and the same back, often arriving at school unable to concentrate due to malnourishment. On their return from school many are required to look after sick parents in addition to other chores such as collecting sticks for firewood and replenishing water supplies.

As these children grow up, doctors, teachers and other workers are dying around them in great number from AIDS with no similarly 'skilled' workforce to replace them. It is as though the kingdom is facing extinction.

Matters were compounded with the global economic crisis of 2009 which affected employment opportunities as many Lesotho adults worked in South African mines, but this employment dried up and has not yet recovered. For all the latest news from Lesotho click here for our news service.