The government has distanced itself from Dr. Tšepo Lipholo’s petition to the United Nations (UN), which seeks to reclaim land lost during the colonial era, stating that Lipholo is acting on his own agenda.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations clarified that Lipholo’s appeal for the UN to pressure South Africa into returning the disputed territory was not sanctioned by the government.
The ministry further condemned his unauthorised trip to the United States, where he presented the petition.
At a press conference on Monday at State House, Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane emphasised that Lipholo, despite being a Member of Parliament (
MP), does not represent the official stance of Lesotho.
He argued that Lipholo should have obtained parliamentary approval before engaging with the UN on behalf of the country.
Mpotjoane also criticised the content of the petition, particularly its call for the disputed areas, including the Free State, parts of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape, to be recognised as a separate entity – a sovereign state under an interim administration led by Lipholo himself.
“Section 4 of his petition proposes that the UN recognize the disputed land as a sovereign state under an interim administration led by him. This effectively suggests the creation of three countries: Lesotho, South Africa, and this newly proposed sovereign state. Such a move undermines Lesotho’s sovereignty and disregards the role of both the government and traditional leadership,” Mpotjoane explained.
He further noted that Lipholo’s demands contradict UN resolutions, emphasizing that the government prefers diplomatic dialogue over unilateral action.
Lipholo’s has said his petition is based on UN Resolution 1817 of 1962, which reportedly acknowledged that Britain forcibly ceded Basotho land to South Africa when drawing colonial borders. The resolution also applied to other countries, including Eswatini and Botswana, urging the UK to rectify the historical injustice.
However, Mpotjoane highlighted that previous Lesotho governments have been reluctant to act on the resolution, fearing economic and diplomatic fallout with South Africa.
“We rely on South Africa for nearly 90 percent of our imports, and any attempt to unilaterally enforce this resolution could harm our relations,” he said.
He also warned that Lipholo’s approach could destabilise regional peace, citing historical conflicts such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“This kind of confrontation with South Africa is unnecessary and could have serious consequences for Lesotho,” Mpotjoane cautioned.
Instead, the government plans to resolve the matter through peaceful negotiations, leveraging the bi-national commission established with South Africa in 2023.
Meanwhile, Lipholo’s party, the Basotho Covenant Movement, remains firm in its stance that the land rightfully belongs to the Basotho people and must be returned to them under international law.
Development Journalist specialising in the reporting of social, economic, and environmental issues. He analyses the impact of policies and programs on communities, along with other factors that influence community well-being. In addition to his journalism endeavors, he is an accomplished photojournalist, capturing compelling images that complement his narratives. Masoabi is also an audio storytelling podcaster, having earned certification from the Knight Centre for Journalism, affiliated with the University of Texas, United States.
