Lesotho

Lesotho is a landlocked country mainly dependent on the South African economy for most of its trade, aid and remittances through labour mobility. The majority of Basotho work in South African mining industry but there is a proliferation of South African corporate, mining, hotel, financial, retail and technological companies that dominate the economy.

In terms of the constitution, Lesotho is a multi-party democracy. A revised electoral system combining proportional representation and first-past-the-post model was used in the April 2002 elections which passed off peacefully. While a genuine multiparty democracy is needed, small, weak political parties are beginning to mushroom. Despite these moves, the over the last decade the country has been characterised by extreme political fragmentation.

Lesotho's human rights record is generally good, although this has been threatened by the late 1990s' political instability in the country. However, it is important to note that women have a low social status and continue to be disadvantaged by discriminatory laws.

In terms of civil society, the sector is generally weak, but there are encouraging signs of new forms of economic/environmental justice advocacy, particularly around mining issues as well as the Lesotho dam displacements and environmental degradation.