Lesotho independence at 60: A nation divided or just disappointed?

Lesotho’s 60th independence anniversary has exposed a divide in how Basotho feel about their country. While some celebrated, others stayed away from the public festivities, most visibly at the main celebration at Setsoto Stadium on 4 October.

On social media and radio call-in programmes, critics took their grievances to the government, accusing it of rampant corruption, high youth unemployment, nepotism and poor service delivery, among other things.

On the eve of the anniversary, scores of people, particularly children and youth, went to the main roundabout to watch the fireworks.

On 4 October itself, however, the official celebration at Setsoto Stadium failed to draw large crowds. The historic occasion had been expected to ignite patriotism and strengthen social cohesion.

King Letsie III declared that, as the country celebrates 60 years of independence, those serving it should say “Lesotho, we love you; we will die for you’”.

He called on Basotho to treat the anniversary as a moment to honour those who have contributed to the country’s journey and to renew their collective determination to build a more peaceful, equitable, resilient and prosperous nation. He also warned against spreading lies, saying they could fuel conflict within the nation.

The Monarch urged Lesotho to look to the future by strengthening cooperation and partnerships in youth leadership, climate action, sustainable security, renewable energy, digital transformation and wider development.

He said future efforts should be guided by a shared commitment to addressing contemporary challenges and seizing opportunities. The anniversary, he added, was also a celebration of the friendships and partnerships that had empowered Lesotho and its people.

Delivering a message of solidarity, Eswatini’s King Mswati III called for stronger cooperation between the two countries, stressing peace, regional integration and a shared commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Vision 2050.

He paid tribute to Lesotho’s role in supporting South African refugees and exiles during the struggle against apartheid, including by providing access to education. He also noted the country’s contributions through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, soil and water conservation initiatives and its textile industry.

Describing Lesotho and Eswatini as “sister monarchies”, King Mswati III pointed to their longstanding historical, cultural and royal ties. He paid tribute to King Moshoeshoe I, saying Lesotho was founded on the principles of peace, diplomacy, unity and refuge, and shared that Eswatini has named a street after King Moshoeshoe II.

The muted turnout has also raised questions about how the celebrations were planned and prepared. There were no billboards in towns and urban centres reminding people of the anniversary, and the limited publicity suggested the celebrations were not widely promoted, either by the organising committee or by the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC).

The Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has also not issued a commemorative coin or banknote, and it is not immediately clear whether one will be launched. Some have also asked what message those who stayed away sent to the outside world about how patriotic Basotho are, and whether they pursue a common purpose for their country.

Sixty years on, how does Lesotho’s journey compare with those of its neighbours, Botswana and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland? Lesotho gained independence in 1966, the same year as Botswana, while Eswatini followed two years later, in 1968.

Today the three countries present different development trajectories, particularly in their economies and higher-education systems. Economists have reported that Eswatini’s economy is three times bigger than Lesotho’s, while Botswana’s is about seven times bigger.

There was a time, however, when the three were closely bound together through higher education. The University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland (UBBS), established at Roma in 1964, became the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS) after the countries gained independence.

It served students from all three countries, with Basotho, Batswana and emaSwati studying under the same university system.

In 1975, the Roma campus withdrew from the arrangement and became the National University of Lesotho (NUL). Lesotho has had one public university since. The remaining University of Botswana and Swaziland (UBS) gave way to separate national universities in 1982.

The University of Botswana was formally inaugurated in October that year, and the University of Swaziland, now the University of Eswatini, was established as an independent institution.

The contrast today raises an uncomfortable question: how did countries that once shared a university, and whose citizens studied together under the same system, arrive at such different levels of institutional development?

Botswana now has three public universities, while Eswatini has expanded beyond its historic national university to a number of private universities and other tertiary institutions. Botswana also has a medical school and no longer relies heavily on training its people abroad.

For Lesotho, establishing a medical school remains a long-standing aspiration. A recent assessment by the Bertelsmann Stiftung offers a wider view. Its Lesotho Country Report, part of the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) 2026, assessed Lesotho’s political transformation, economic transformation and governance for the period from 1 February 2023 to 31 January 2025.

The report says Lesotho has made some progress in democracy, with peaceful and transparent elections and active participation by civil society and trade unions. However, political patronage, a fragmented party system and weak implementation of reforms continue to undermine good governance.

The report also raises concern about the selective application of the law and alleged misconduct by security forces, saying these problems have weakened public trust in state institutions. It argues that completing constitutional reforms and strengthening oversight institutions will be important for improving political stability and accountability.

Economically, it describes growth as modest and heavily dependent on infrastructure projects such as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II. It points to weaknesses in manufacturing and agriculture, and says high unemployment and dependence on foreign aid remain major obstacles to sustainable growth.

Although government finances improved, partly because of higher Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues, inflation and external economic pressures remain concerns.

Thoboloko Ntšonyane

Thoboloko Ntšonyane is a dedicated journalist who has contributed to various publications. He reports on accountability, human rights, exposes corruption and wrong doing by those in power. He reports have exposed corruption, abuse of power, fraud, misconduct and negligence. He subscribes to evidence-based reporting. He reports on governance, parliament, courts, climate change, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health, business and agriculture. He gives a voice to the marginalised while also demanding accountability. His work inspires change, triggers dialogue and also promote transparency in a society.