Country name:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form:
Lesotho
former:
Basutoland
Data code:
LT
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek,
Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following
the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); noteKing LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February
1995) while his father was in exile
head of government:
Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since NA May 1998)
cabinet:
Cabinet
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution
which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a
"living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers;
under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to determine who
is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event
that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members22 principal
chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly
(80 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); notenumber of seats in the Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election
elections:
last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held in late 1999 or early 2000)
election results:
percent of vote by partyLCD 61%; seats by partyLCD 79, BCP 1
note:
results contested; LCD, with only 61% of the vote, won 79 out of 80
parliamentary seats based on a historical political consensus for a "winner
take all" formula
Judicial branch:
High Court, chief justice appointed by the monarch; Court of Appeal;
Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Dr. Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader;
Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general]
opposition party:
Basotho National Party or BNP [leader NA]; Basotholand Congress Party or
BCP [Molapo QHOBELA]; Lesotho Labor Party/United Democratic Party Alliance
or LLP/UDP [Charles MOFELI and Mamolefi RANTHIMO]; Marematlou Freedom Party
or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete
Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; Lesotho
Congress for Democracy or LCD [leader NA]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX:
[1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON
embassy:
254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address:
P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone:
[266] 312666
FAX:
[266] 310116
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is
white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear
and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in
the corner