Lesotho+Pictures



**Lesotho Map**


 * Timeline Of Lesotho:**

1824 Lesotho in was founded by the Basotho chieftain Moshoeshoe on a natural rock fortress called Mountain of the Night. (WSJ, 3/25/98, p.A11)

1835-1868 Lesotho acted as a buffer between the Afrikaner’s and British colonial interests and supplied seasonal farm workers to both. (WSJ, 3/25/98, p.A11)(EWH, 4th ed, p.885)

1868 Lesotho was annexed by the British. (WSJ, 3/25/98, p.A11)

1943 May 1, British India SN Company troop transport in convoy with 23 merchantmen and escorted by eleven destroyers, was bound for Malta. When some 30 miles north of Benghazi, the convoy was attacked by German bombers and torpedo carrying aircraft. On board the Erinpura (Capt. P.V. Cotter) were 1,025 troops. One large bomb exploded in the hold sinking the ship in a matter of minutes. Forty four crewmembers, three gunners and an unspecified number of troops were lost. On the same day, near the Tunisian coast, another troopship (name unknown) was torpedoed and sank. On board were a number of troops from Basutoland (later Lesotho) who were serving with the British Eighth Army. In this tragic sinking, 618 Basutos lost their lives. (http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/maritime-1a.html)

1963 Moshoeshoe II was crowned king. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1966 Lesotho gained independence from Britain. (SFC, 7/1/97, p.A9)

1985 In South Africa 2 ANC activists and 8 others were killed in a raid into Lesotho. A government assassin told a court in 1996 that plans for the raid were approved by the highest levels of Pres. Botha’s apartheid regime. (WSJ, 9/17/96, p.A1)

1990 King Moshoeshoe II was forced into exile after a series of 3 military coups ousted him from the throne. His son Letsie assumed the throne. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1994 Letsie backed a palace coup to reinstate his father as king. He ousted the first government to be elected in a multiparty vote and temporarily assumed the throne. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1995 Jan, Letsie gave up the crown to his returned father. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1996 Moshoeshoe II, king of Lesotho, was killed in an automobile accident. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1997 Feb, Soldiers put down a police mutiny in Maseru after 2 hours of shooting. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1997 Jun, Protestors in Maseru marched against the formation of a new ruling party by Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)

1997 Oct 31, Letsie III (34) was crowned king of Lesotho, a figurehead position. (LVRJ, 11/1/97, p.14A)(SFC, 9/22/98, p.A7)

1998 Sep 21, In Lesotho opposition protestors clashed with South African and Botswanan troops at the royal palace. A faction of the Lesotho army rebelled 11 days ago and deposed the new military leadership. They charged that the May elections swept by the Lesotho Congress party were rigged. (SFC, 9/22/98, p.A7)

1998 Sep 22, South African troops poured over the border and 30 people were reported killed. (SFC, 9/23/98, p.A12)

1998 Sep 23, Nine South Africans and 40 rebels were killed since the SADC (Southern African Development Community) task force entered the country to restore the government of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. Maseru was virtually destroyed by arson and looting that followed the military intervention. Damages were estimated at $39 million. (SFC, 9/24/98, p.A14)(SFC, 4/10/99, p.C14)

1998 Nov 30, Britain along with Lesotho, Burkino Faso, the Ivory Coast and Tajikistan signed a global treaty for an Int’l. Criminal Court to try war crimes. The accord was approved in July at conference in Rome and 61 countries had signed on. The court required 60 countries to pass legislation for ratification. (SFC, 12/1/98, p.A11)

1999 Apr 9, Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili announced that South Africa and Botswana would soon pull their forces out of Lesotho following a 7 month peacekeeping operation. (SFC, 4/10/99, p.C14)

1999 Dec 13, Val Pringle (63), American entertainer, was stabbed to death while confronting burglars at his home outside Maseru. Police later arrested 2 men suspected in the murder. (SFC, 12/21/99, p.C8)

2003 Sep 7, Mamohato Bereng Seeiso (62), the queen mother of the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, died after collapsing in a church outside the capital. (AP, 9/8/03)

2004 Jan 29, Widespread drought was reported across southern Africa. Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe were all affected. (SFC, 1/29/04, p.A16)

2004 Jul 15, The Gates Foundation announced a $44.7 million award at the AIDS Conference in Bangkok to a consortium of TB and AIDS researchers. The 2 diseases were often linked. A UN report cited 7 countries as the hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic: Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, the Central African Republic and Mozambique. (WSJ, 7/15/04, p.B1)(SFC, 7/16/04, p.A6)


 * Current Event:**

Lesotho newspaper sued by ruling party MP [|afrol News], 23 March - The Sesotho newspaper 'Mololi' is being sued for defamation by a Member of Parliament (MP) of Lesotho's ruling party. 'Mololi', which is published by the party itself, had published details of the alleged misbehaviour of the MP, which had led to his dismissal from the party. 'Mololi', a weekly Sesotho tabloid and a publication of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) political party, has been served with a court summons by Mr Lehlohonolo T'sehlana, an LDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Mokhotlong constituency, demanding maloti 350,000 (approximately US$ 54,000), for defamation.

The civil litigation is in relation to an article that appeared in the 'Mololi' edition of 19 February, under the heading: "Tlhase e nyenyane e chesa hlaha", which roughly translates to: "a small spark causes fire-outbreak", according to reports from the Windhoek-based Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

The 'Mololi' article alleged that the MP had, on two occasions, showed disrespect to the Speaker of Parliament, disregarded and acted against the constitution of the LCD and that he had no respect whatsoever for the elderly and other members of the ruling party.

In his legal submissions to party newspaper, the MP has categorically denied all the allegations featured in the publication, which he deems "defamatory". As a result he is suing the publication and its editor and author of the article in question. According to Mr T'sehlana, he has resorted to civil litigation following the refusal of 'Mololi' to publish a retraction of its statements in the edition in question.

Mr T'sehlana is currently involved in squabbles with the ruling party, of which he was a member until his dismissal from the party ranks in mid-February 2004 following appearance before the party's disciplinary committee, on charges of defaming the party leadership and non-adherence to the party constitution.

Zoé Titus, researcher at MISA, today issued an international "alert" due to what it sees as a "threat" to a Basotho newspaper. MISA in general holds that the possibility of pursuing such defamation cases constitutes a threat to press freedom. In this particular case, the compensation sought also may pose a financial threat to the survival of 'Mololi'.

Press freedom in Lesotho generally reaches a high level, although several libel and defamation cases during the last year have threatened the financial fundament of the country's pluralistic media.

While Lesotho has a relative high density of independent and other media, most of these media are of very small size and thus financially vulnerable. A successful court case against a newspaper thus easily could mean the bankruptcy of the media outlet.

Popular descriptions of this rugged country, with majestic beauty and serene simplicity, are "Mountain Kingdom" and "Kingdom in the Sky". Lesotho Offers a very different tourism experience, with the potential of the tourism sector lying in its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna, and absorbing prehistoric and cultural heritage. The appeal of this extraordinary country is rarely found in more commercialized destinations.
 * Tourist Infomation:**

Mountains, valleys, and rivers provide memorable scenery for tourists. This is where Lesotho gets its crystal clear water as well as green pastures for livestock. Minerals such as diamond are found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho is the Kingdom in the Sky. Mountains of Lesotho

Most tourists travel many kilometers from their countries just to come and patch in the rocks of Lesotho. They also enjoy playing around the clean water of Lesotho' s mountains. This is one of the biggest source of income to the country.

Basotho are a nation that has solid traditions, beliefs and customs. The annual Morija arts festival portrays at the best level the rich culture and celebrations that Lesotho is truly proud of. If you want to be part of these celebrations you will be welcomed with smiling faces. And in the villages, you will be offered the traditional porridge -- Motoho. Come and experience a wealth of savory food, natural attractions, and reserves. **The Basotho Hat - The Nations Symbol** The Maluti Mountains, spurs of the Drakensberg range, extend north and south. They form a high plateau from 9,000 to 10,000 ft in height. The highest point is Thabana Ntlenyana (11,425ft) in the east. The rich volcanic soils of the foothills and mountains are some of the best in the country.

The sources of two of the principal rivers in South Africa, the Orange and the Tugeld, are in these mountains. Tributaries of the Caledon River, which forms the country's western border, also rise here.

Look for the Basotho Hat (Mokorotlo) building in Maseru (near Victoria hotel) and you will find a souvenir of a lifetime in it -- at a price that will make you smile. Check out some of these handicraft products at www.ecommerce.co.ls

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 * Where I Got The Pictures From Lesotho At:**