Government and Politics of Lesotho

Government Type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995, while his father, King Moshoeshoe II, was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Samuel Matekane (since 28 October 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the king elections: none - according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party or coalition in the National Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but under the terms of the constitution, which came into effect following the March 1993 elections, the monarch serves as a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law, the college of chiefs retains the authority to depose the monarch, determine the line of succession, or appoint a regent in the event that the successor has not reached maturity

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members — 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the National Assembly (120 seats — 80 members elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies and 40 seats allocated by proportional representation; members serve five-year terms). Elections: last held on 7 October 2022 (next to be held in 2027). Election results: percent of vote by party — RFP 38.5%, DC 19.5%, ABC 7.6%, AD 4.9%, MEC 4.5%, other 25%; seats by party — RFP 56, DC 29, ABC 8, AD 6, MEC 6, other 15.

Judicial Branch

High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court

Political Parties

Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [MOSALA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] - the governing party; Lesotho Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO]; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho Workers Party of LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP [Masitise SELESO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [C.D. MOFELI]; United Party or UP [Makara SEKAUTU]

Head of State

King LETSIE III

Head of Government

Prime Minister Samuel Matekane

Elections

last held on 7 October 2022 (next to be held in 2027).

Election Results

In the 2022 parliamentary elections, the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) emerged as the leading party with approximately 38.5% of the vote, winning 56 seats in the National Assembly. The Democratic Congress (DC) placed second with 19.5% of the vote and 29 seats, followed by the All Basotho Convention (ABC) with 7.6% and 8 seats. The Alliance of Democrats (AD) secured 4.9% of the vote and 6 seats, while the Movement for Economic Change (MEC) received 4.5% and 6 seats. Remaining seats were distributed among smaller parties and independents. RFP leader Sam Matekane subsequently became Prime Minister, forming a coalition government.

Constitution

2-Apr-93

Independence

4 October 1966 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 22 312666 FAX: [266] 22 310116

Capital City

Maseru

Location

29 19 S, 27 29 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

in the Sesotho language the name means "[place of] red sandstones"

U.S. Embassy Maseru 254 Kingsway Avenue Maseru 100, Lesotho Telephone: (266) 2231-2666 Emergency after-hours telephone: (266) 5888-4035 Facsimile: (266) 2231-0116 Email: USConsularMaseru@state.gov

Military Branches

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing)

Service Age and Obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women serve as commissioned officers