The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) has bowed to public pressure and broadened the age range for young people eligible to join the army.
Earlier this month, the LDF had issued a recruitment memo inviting young Basotho men and women interested in joining the army to apply.
The memo stated that applicants must hold a Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE) with a minimum of four passes. It further noted that individuals with qualifications beyond LGCSE, such as certificates, diplomas, or degrees, were not eligible.
Applicants were required to be Lesotho citizens with valid identity documents, between the ages of 18 and 24 (born between October 1, 2000, and September 30, 2007), physically fit, and free from criminal records, pending trials, or gang affiliations.
They were also expected not to belong to any religion that would prevent them from fulfilling military duties.
Applications are to be submitted in person at 10 designated locations—one in each district, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, where candidates will also be interviewed on the same day.
However, the age restriction sparked criticism from the opposition Democratic Congress Youth League (DCYL), which argued the criteria excluded many capable and deserving young Basotho.
DCYL President Pheello Sehlabaka said: “LDF has not been hiring for six years. Isn’t it wise that now it should start with young people born as early as 1997 as a measure to fight youth unemployment? The army missed the opportunity to recruit these youth when they were within the age now being targeted.”
During a press conference on Wednesday, the DCYL appealed to the government to revise the age limit, highlighting that many young people who were eligible during the previous recruitment cycle have since aged out and should be given a second chance.
“Some of these youth have since gone on to pursue tertiary education. We request that they also be given a fair opportunity to join the LDF,” the Youth League said.
They specifically called for the inclusion of those aged 25 and 26, born between September 2, 1999, and September 30, 2000, who were excluded from both the 2019 recruitment drive and the new one.
The League warned that continued lack of employment opportunities could push young people toward crime.
“As the National Committee of the Youth League, we appeal to the government to fight youth unemployment with full force by ensuring that every young person in the Kingdom of Lesotho is taken into consideration,” they said.
That same day, the LDF issued a revised memo expanding the age limit to include those aged 18 to 28, meaning applicants born between September 30, 1997, and October 1, 2007, are now eligible.
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