Tiny Lesotho faced with a difficult past, present and future
Wracked with HIV/Aids, which has cut life expectancy quite dramatically, the land-locked kingdom of Lesotho, formerly Basutoland under British rule, nevertheless enjoys political stability under His Majesty King Letsie III, who surprisingly is in his second term as monarch. Whether King Letsie attends Thailand's royal celebrations or not, his country makes an interesting study into the role of monarchs in the political system.
His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho rules a tiny landlocked kingdom with a population of about 2 million, but with an HIV/Aids prevalence rate that is among the highest in the world. His own accession to the throne was in keeping with the stormy but comparatively non-violent history of his country. Christened in the Catholic faith as David Mohato Bereng Seeiso when he was born on July 17, 1963, he originally became king when his father, Moshoeshoe II, was forced into exile in 1990 after falling out with the army. During this time, King Letsie worked hard for the reinstatement of his father, who returned to Lesotho three years later. At first a private citizen, King Moshoeshoe was restored to the throne in 1995, following the abdication of his son. His reign lasted only a year. In 1996, he was killed in an automobile accident, and his son resumed the throne. In its early years, King Letsie's second monarchy witnessed violent protests and a military mutiny. Arising from a controversial election, the violence brought intervention from South Africa, which surrounds Lesotho, and Botswana. The intercession was brief, and today political stability has been restored. Parliamentary elections were held in 2002 without any violence. Although his father had been granted executive powers, King Letsie holds little political power. The king is forbidden to participate in political initiatives, and most of his duties are ceremonial. It is the prime minister who, as head of government, holds executive authority. According to the present premier, Pakalitha Mosisili, the major issue of his government is Aids. In his own country, the HIV/Aids rate is about 29 per cent, which the UN estimates will rise to 36 per cent in the next 15 years. Although the government has initiated several plans to address the education, prevention, counselling and treatment of the populace, results have been limited. Life expectancy, which the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics put at a low 48 for men and 56 for women in 2001, is estimated to have fallen to an average 37 years. Resources are scant, especially in terms of trained personnel and medical supplies. Poverty is deep in this country. The UN describes 40 per cent of the population as "ultra-poor". Aids has affected food output, as farmers have died, and the textile industry - another major income-earner - has been hit by Asian competition. The economy continues to depend on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock. Today, the country's major income comes from exports of water and electricity to South Africa. His Majesty King Letsie spends his leisure time indulging in his favourite sports: horse riding, squash, tennis and rugby. Laurie Rosenthal The Nation
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