People In Lesotho Research Articles

The Philosophical and Sociological exposition of Suicide in Lesotho

One of the philosophical problem is the phenomenon of suicide. In the Kingdom of Lesotho as many nations the nature of suicide can be understood from the philosophical and sociological lenses. Among the countries in the world with the highest suicide rate is Lesotho. How come? This research article delves into the complex relationship between individual agency and social factors in context of the existence of suicide in Lesotho, drawing upon philosophical and sociological approaches. The main philosophical and sociological positions of suicide in this paper are presented. A qualitative method has been applied in this paper, secondary data has been subscribed from electronic database from various reliable sources such as World Health Organization (WHO) reports, government and private documents related to suicide and mental affairs reports. A comparative analysis of philosophical and sociological perspectives, the article seeks to deepen our understanding of the factors contributing to suicidal behaviours and their implications for prevention and intervention strategies. This paper also discusses the richness of Durkheim’s insight on suicide and four etiological types of suicide. This paper concludes by putting forward that young people in Lesotho who have serious mental illnesses at an early age have a higher risk of suicide.

Subnational mapping of HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15–49 years in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–18: a modelling study

SummaryBackgroundHigh-resolution estimates of HIV burden across space and time provide an important tool for tracking and monitoring the progress of prevention and control efforts and assist with improving the precision and efficiency of targeting efforts. We aimed to assess HIV incidence and HIV mortality for all second-level administrative units across sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsIn this modelling study, we developed a framework that used the geographically specific HIV prevalence data collected in seroprevalence surveys and antenatal care clinics to train a model that estimates HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15–49 years. We used a model-based geostatistical framework to estimate HIV prevalence at the second administrative level in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for 2000–18 and sought data on the number of individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by second-level administrative unit. We then modified the Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) to use these HIV prevalence and treatment estimates to estimate HIV incidence and mortality by second-level administrative unit.FindingsThe estimates suggest substantial variation in HIV incidence and mortality rates both between and within countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 15 countries having a ten-times or greater difference in estimated HIV incidence between the second-level administrative units with the lowest and highest estimated incidence levels. Across all 44 countries in 2018, HIV incidence ranged from 2·8 (95% uncertainty interval 2·1–3·8) in Mauritania to 1585·9 (1369·4–1824·8) cases per 100 000 people in Lesotho and HIV mortality ranged from 0·8 (0·7–0·9) in Mauritania to 676·5 (513·6–888·0) deaths per 100 000 people in Lesotho. Variation in both incidence and mortality was substantially greater at the subnational level than at the national level and the highest estimated rates were accordingly higher. Among second-level administrative units, Guijá District, Gaza Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV incidence (4661·7 [2544·8–8120·3]) cases per 100 000 people in 2018 and Inhassunge District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV mortality rate (1163·0 [679·0–1866·8]) deaths per 100 000 people. Further, the rate of reduction in HIV incidence and mortality from 2000 to 2018, as well as the ratio of new infections to the number of people living with HIV was highly variable. Although most second-level administrative units had declines in the number of new cases (3316 [81·1%] of 4087 units) and number of deaths (3325 [81·4%]), nearly all appeared well short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths between 2010 and 2020.InterpretationOur estimates suggest that most second-level administrative units in sub-Saharan Africa are falling short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths by 2020, which is further compounded by substantial within-country variability. These estimates will help decision makers and programme implementers expand access to ART and better target health resources to higher burden subnational areas.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Chief Mohlomi: A Mosotho model of Ethics and Morality in Public Administration and Governance

Ethics or morals are learned as they are observed from people's life histories – present or past. They are best remembered in relationships with life histories of impeccable models of ethics or morals in their respective societies. People of Lesotho, known as Basotho, often refer to the high ethical standards or principles of Chief Mohlomi in public administration and governance and talk of him as one of history's great ethical or moral leaders of all time in southern Africa. But do such claims about Chief Mohlomi have substance, and do they withstand scrutiny in public administration and governance? If so, how? Drawing lessons primarily from the pre-colonial 18th-century history of the Basotho, the article explores such claims. It also sheds some light on the relevance of the legendary Chief Mohlomi in public administration and governance not often discussed in academia.

The Contribution of Lesotho Dairy Products to the Livelihoods of Dairy Farm Households in Maseru and Berea Districts in Lesotho

Agriculture forms a major source of livelihood for many people in Lesotho. The major agricultural activities include crop production and animal husbandry. Many farmers produce agricultural goods, mainly crops for subsistence purposes. There are also some subsistence farmers who participate in animal husbandry. Subsistence farmers keep livestock mainly for social and economic purposes. For instance, some farmers rear animals for prestige, ploughing, paying bride prices as well as producing milk for household use. The traditional breeds of cattle in many parts of Lesotho are kept mainly for domestic use. Despite a large number of Basotho farmers keeping livestock for subsistence purposes, there are some farmers who rear cattle for producing milk. These cattle are purchased from the neighbouring South Africa, while some are crossbred in the country. Some dairy farmers are members of associations, while others are not. Both association members and non-members market the milk in the local dairy industry, Lesotho Dairy Products (LDP). The supply of milk to the local dairy industry is not sustainable due to the small number of farmers participating in dairy farming. This has thwarted the capacity of the dairy industry to produce a variety of dairy products for the domestic market. As a result, the local market is flooded with milk products imported from South Africa. This shows that the forward linkage between LDP and farmers is too weak. This has in turn affected the output (backward linkage) of the dairy industry negatively. The industry specialises in the production of a few dairy products. Besides creating employment opportunities for dairy farmers, farm workers, as well as people working in the industry, the dairy industry has limited backward linkage within the local economy. It does not produce essential agricultural inputs for farmers such as pesticides and dairy cattle. In the light of these, this research study investigates the contribution of the dairy industry in improving the lives of dairy farm households and the economy of Lesotho. This is achieved by looking at production linkages (forward and backward) between dairy farmers and LDP.

Fragment of an Oral History of Opposition to the 1986 Paramilitary Overthrow of Chief Leabua Jonathan's Government

In January 1986, the Lesotho Paramilitary Force (LPF) overthrew the Basotho National Party (BNP) government of Chief Leabua Jonathan. In the aftermath of the coup d’état, Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya led a military government with a civilian cabinet made up of individuals, some of whom, like Major General Lekhanya himself, were members of the BNP. The coup followed years of (a) general fear in the country as a result of acts of political violence and brutality perpetrated by the BNP Youth League against individuals and groups considered as anti - BNP government; and (b) the BNP government’s vociferous support of the struggle against apartheid in regional and international forums. Against that background, the overthrow of Chief Jonathan’s government was welcomed on the one hand by the people of Lesotho — happy to be rid of the BNP Youth League terror — and on the other hand by the South African government — happy to be rid of a fierce critic, Chief Jonathan, whose small country greatly depended on the South African economy. Indeed, the South African government was known to have encouraged the overthrow of Chief Jonathan’s government. This article presents oral testimonies about the events around, and opposition to, the coup. In this way, it seeks to draw attention to the experiences of those who could be said to have failed, as opposed to the stories of the victors, which tended to dominate writings on the 1986 coup.

Challenges Faced by Unemployed People in Lesotho: A Case of Manonyane Rural Community

ABSTRACTUnemployment continues to be a social problem confronting numerous countries worldwide. In Lesotho, poverty and unemployment are rife in rural areas. This study sought to establish the profile of unemployed people, their challenges and how they cope with unemployment. This was a quantitative study with a sample size of 120 unemployed people drawn from Manonyane rural area in the Maseru district of Lesotho. Data were gleaned utilizing questionnaires and the data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel. This study was anchored on Amartya Sen's Capability Approach, which is suitable for the assessment of individual well-being and social arrangements. The study unearthed that most of the unemployed were young adults averaging 33 years of age and they faced numerous challenges which revolved around lack of money, limited capabilities and few functionings. Since 2010, none of the respondents reported that their level of poverty had decreased and again none reported that the level of poverty in their village had decreased. The majority of the respondents (52, 42.5%) rated themselves as poor while 42 (35%) saw themselves as very poor. This study holds that without the concerted efforts of various stakeholders, the challenges confronting the unemployed will get worse. It is envisaged that the findings will be a stepping stone for policy makers, government ministries, non-governmental organizations and philanthropists in their quest to address the needs of the unemployed people in this community. The study also proffers suggestions to Lesotho policy makers.

Exploring the Potential of Participatory Theatre to Reduce Stigma and Promote Health Equity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People in Swaziland and Lesotho.

Stigma and discrimination affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people compromise health and human rights and exacerbate the HIV epidemic. Scant research has explored effective LGBT stigma reduction strategies in low- and middle-income countries. We developed and pilot-tested a participatory theatre intervention (PTI) to reduce LGBT stigma in Swaziland and Lesotho, countries with the world's highest HIV prevalence. We collected preliminary data from in-depth interviews with LGBT people in Lesotho and Swaziland to enhance understanding of LGBT stigma. Local LGBT and theatre groups worked with these data to create a 2-hour PTI composed of three skits on LGBT stigma in health care, family, and community settings in Swaziland (Manzini) and Lesotho (Maseru, Mapoteng). Participants ( n = 106; nursing students, health care providers, educators, community members) completed 12 focus groups following the PTI. We conducted thematic analysis to understand reactions to the PTI. Focus groups revealed the PTI increased understanding of LGBT persons and issues, increased empathy, and fostered self-reflection of personal biases. Increased understanding included enhanced awareness of the negative impacts of LGBT stigma, and of LGBT people's lived experiences and issues. Participants discussed changes in attitude and perspective through self-reflection and learning. The format of the theatre performance was described as conducive to learning and preferred over more conventional educational methods. Findings indicate changed attitudes and awareness toward LGBT persons and issues following a PTI in Swaziland and Lesotho. Stigma reduction interventions may help mitigate barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care in these settings with a high burden of HIV.

Fears for the future: the incommensurability of securitisation and in/securities among southern African youth

Over the past two decades, southern Africa has experienced both exceptionally high AIDS prevalence and recurrent food shortages. International institutions have responded to these challenges by framing them as security concerns that demand urgent intervention. Young people are implicated in both crises and drawn into the securitisation discourse as agents (of risk and protection) and as (potential) victims. However, the concepts of security deployed by global institutions and translated into national policy do not reflect the ways in/security is experienced ‘on the ground’ as a subjective and embodied orientation to the future. This paper brings work on youth temporalities to bear on social and cultural geographies of in/security and securitisation. It reports on research that explored insecurities among young people in Lesotho and Malawi. It concludes that, by focusing on ‘threats’ in isolation, and seeking to protect ‘society’ as an abstract aggregate of people, global securitisation discourses fail either to engage with the complex contextualised ways in which marginalised people experience insecurity or to proffer the political responses that are needed if those felt insecurities are to be addressed. However, while securitisation is problematic, in/security is nonetheless an important element in young people’s orientation to the future.

A Panoramic View of the Social Security and Social Protection Provisioning in Lesotho

Social security is one of the most important areas of social policy.As part of its social policy, the government of Lesotho has promulgated various pieces of legislation and introduced an assortment of public assistance programmes for the benefit of the people of the country. There are also various informal social security measures which are the result of coordinated activities by individuals and groupings in Lesotho. These initiatives together provide a broad spectrum of social security provisioning for the people of Lesotho. This article sets out to discuss the said social security provisioning measures and appraises the efficacy of their interventions.Lesotho is a constitutional state.The Constitution of Lesotho came into force on 2April 1993. It provides for a Bill of Rights as well as principles of state policy. There is, however, no express provision in the Constitution for a right to social security. This is regrettable. Thus, the intersection between constitutional law and social security within the context of Lesotho can be achieved only through the interpretation of the fundamental rights as well as the principles of state policy provided in the Constitution. While the provisions relating to fundamental rights help to establish entitlements to social security, the principles of state policy play an important role in giving direction to service delivery.Understanding the link between the various governmental and social initiatives is crucial if interventions are to be designed which will enhance the provision of social security for the benefit of the people of Lesotho.

MEDICINAL HERBS USED BY HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE IN LESOTHO.

Background:The use of medicinal herbs whose efficacy and toxicities are not known by HIV-positive people in Lesotho is a threat to the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment. This study explored some medicinal herbs used by HIV-positive people in Lesotho and the reasons for their use.Methods:This was a cross sectional study based on a questionnaire distributed to purposively-sampled HIV-positive people in Leribe and Maseru districts of Lesotho. The participants’ socio-demographic and clinical variables were summarized using frequency tables in Stata version 13 statistical software. Data variables for medicinal herbs used, frequency of use, uses by the participants and in the literature, parts of plants used and the method of preparation were also explored.Results:Out of 400 questionnaires distributed to the participants, 389 were returned with data acceptable for analysis. Ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 75 years (Mean=43 + 11.6). Out of the 272 (69.9%) participants who conceded that they had used medicinal herbs at least once, 30 (7.7%) participants used medicinal herbs frequently while 242 (62.2 %) rarely used the herbs. At least 20 plant species belonging to 16 families were reportedly used by the participants. Asteraceae was the most common plant family reportedly used by the participants. Allium sativum and Dicoma anomala, reportedly used by 21.0% and 14.3% respectively, were the most commonly used medicinal herbs in this population. In addition, boosting the immune system and treating gastrointestinal ailments, apparently cited by 32% and 28% participants respectively, were the most commonly reported reasons for using medicinal herbs.Conclusion:A considerable proportion (69.9%) of HIV-positive people use medicinal herbs in this population, and 7.7% use them frequently. At least 20 plant species belonging to 16 families were reportedly used by the participants. HIV counselling protocols in Lesotho should emphasize the dangers of using medicinal herbs whose safety and compatibility with antiretroviral drugs is not known. The efficacy and toxicity profiles of the medicinal plants identified in this study need to be investigated. Furthermore, the effects of these plants on antiretroviral treatment outcomes including herb-drug interactions need to be explored.

Country Context Report: LGBT People in Lesotho

Country Context Report: LGBT People in Lesotho

The attitude and vulnerability of people as determinants of poverty: The case of Lesotho

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world. After reviewing the growth and poverty debate, which suggests that policy reforms and economic growth have largely failed to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in Lesotho, the paper explores the core constraints to poverty reduction. It is argued that the attitudes of the people in Lesotho and the extent to which they are vulnerable to exogenous shocks are important variables towards removing structural and fundamental constraints that impede poverty alleviation. To quantify the values of attitude and vulnerability, an econometric model is constructed that uses an HSRC public perceptions survey in Lesotho. The economic significance of this alternative measure provides a new dynamic on how to approach the issue of poverty alleviation in Lesotho.

Food Insecurity in Mountain Communities of Lesotho

Research was carried out to assess food insecurity in the 3 agro-ecological zones of Lesotho. Questionnaires were distributed to at least 40 households randomly selected from each region. Enquiries were made on the range of economic activities to get a general understanding of how the regions are being affected by climate change. The study found that agricultural produce was not sufficient to cover the household requirements; hence the dependency on gathering, state grants, and gifts from relatives. The majority of people in Lesotho who were poor and unemployed had limited access to food. In all 3 regions there was evidence of climate change and food insecurity.

Language policy and literacy among deaf people in Lesotho

The acquisition and development of literacy has been widely studied. However, little attention has been given to deaf people. This has resulted in the high levels of illiteracy and low academic achievements that are persisting among this group of people in most parts of the world. The present article reviews the current language-in-education policy in Lesotho in relation to literacy acquisition and development. It posits that despite the fact that the policy supports mother-tongue education as a positive means towards improving the learners' school achievements, it has, as yet, failed to change the trend whereby deaf learners remain the most discriminated against. The article further argues that denying deaf learners an opportunity to acquire literacy through the Lesotho Sign Language, which is their primary language, contributes to the unsatisfactory state of deaf education in Lesotho.

Uncovering the Spiritual Dimension of the Basotho Objection to Resettlement

Experience shows that Africans are often, if not always, opposed to landrelated projects which include resettlement as one of their concomitanteffects. One project that has recently met this kind of opposition from someof the local people in Lesotho is the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Thisis the project aimed at harnessing the water resources of the Highlandsof Lesotho to the mutual benefit of both Lesotho and South Africa. Thispaper attempts to look at what spiritually may be taken as what underliessuch opposition. The paper argues that underlying the Basotho’s refusal tobe resettled is the fact that for Africans there is more to land than appearson the surface. It attempts to explain this in terms of African holisticcosmology. The paper argues specifically that Basotho’s veneration of theirancestors’ graveyards, the dependence of the living upon their ancestorsfor their material welfare, and the Basotho’s traditional healers’ mysticalidentification with some aspects of nature, all of which give the spiritualvalue to the land, are the source of the problem.

Producing interventions for AIDS-affected young people in Lesotho’s schools: Scalar relations and power differentials

Children and youth are a key target group for interventions to address southern Africa’s AIDS pandemic. Such interventions are frequently implemented through schools, and are often complex products of negotiation between a range of institutional actors including international agencies, NGOs, government departments and individual schools. These institutions not only stand in different (horizontally scaled) spatial relationships to students in schools; they also appear to operate at different hierarchical levels. Empirical research with policy makers and practitioners in Lesotho, however, reveals how interventions are produced through flows of knowledge, funding and personnel within and between institutions that make it difficult to assert that any intervention is manifestly more international or more local than any other. Scale theory offers the metaphor of a network or web which usefully serves to move attention away from discrete organisations, sectors and scalar positionings and onto the relationships and flows between them. Nevertheless, organisations and development interventions are often partly structured in scalar hierarchical ways that express substantive power differentials and shape the forms of interaction that take place, albeit not binding them to strict binaries or nested hierarchies. A modified network metaphor is useful in aiding understanding of how particular interventions are produced through intermeshing scales and diverse fluid interactions, and why they take the form they do.

Performance of exotic tree species planted for poverty alleviation in Lesotho

The people of Lesotho are among the poorest in the southern African region. The country is located in the Drakensberg mountains where winters are bitterly cold. Rural communities depend on woodfuels and cow dung for heating and cooking. Since the indigenous forest resources are insufficient, the people have engaged in planting fast-growing exotic species of trees for over 100 years. This study presents results from 86 permanent sampling plots established in woodlots in 1984. Overall, the survival of Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. radiata, Eucalyptus macarthurii and E. rubida exceeded 80%. The greatest roundwood volume of 183 m3 ha–1 was produced in a 14-year-old P. radiata stand. Wood of branches and stumps would add to the total volume if trees are grown for woodfuels. Even higher volume production can be expected by better protecting woodlots from wild fires, animal grazing and timber theft.

Young caregivers in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractAgainst a background of rising adult mortality and morbidity in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub‐Saharan Africa, this paper provides both quantitative and qualitative evidence for the existence of a largely neglected group of young people with increased responsibility for caregiving. Using questionnaire surveys, focus groups, storyboards and in‐depth interviews in three studies across Southern and Eastern Africa some young people in Lesotho, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are found to devote considerable time and energy to caring for sick members of their households. Examination of the tasks carried out by these youngsters finds them to be burdened beyond usual familial and societal expectations of children's ‘normal’ contributions to the reproduction of households via domestic chores and suchlike. It is concluded that these young people can be described as ‘young carers’. The three studies are presented to illuminate different socio‐spatial aspects of caregiving by young people. First, using qualitative data from Lesotho the range of caring tasks young caregivers perform for care recipients – usually a grandmother, parent, or sibling – is identified. Second, the impact caregiving responsibilities have on children's primary school attendance is examined using survey data from Tanzania. Third, the wider negative and positive impacts of caregiving including loss of friends and gaining of emotional maturity for young carers and their households is explored with in‐depth individual interviews from Zimbabwe. Finally, suggestions are made for further research to deepen understanding of the geographies of caring within the context of the population geographies of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Union Boys in Caps Leading Factory Girls Astray?’ The Politics of Labour Reform in Lesotho's ‘Feminised’ Garment Industry*

Following accession to the US bilateral trade treaty, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, Lesotho has become the leading African garment exporter to the USA. One key issue in debates surrounding globalisation has concerned the work conditions experienced by labour forces in the textiles industry. Many have argued that ‘feminised workforces’ are exploited by a patriarchal alliance of international industrialists and local state elites. This article follows the rise and fall of the Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers Union (LECAWU), suggesting that these arguments do not fully explain the course of labour politics. From 1998 to 2003, LECAWU was the largest workers' organisation in the garment sector, which employs some 50,000 people in Lesotho, the majority of whom are women. The union's militant leadership took advantage of the confused, explosive labour relations in the garment sector, their presence weakening repressive government officials and manufacturers. This allowed the more moderate Lesotho Labour Commission to drive through a patrician series of reforms. Moves towards industrial peace were given further impetus because the industry is reliant upon exports to American markets and so had to respond to labour standards concerns articulated by the US government, trade unions and retailers. Nevertheless, neither international interventions nor incremental domestic reforms consolidated the union's position or removed the nettle that causes labour unrest. Thus, at the time of writing, industrial relations remain turbulent and a divisive split within LECAWU threatens the prospects of reform.

Perceptions of sex education for young people in Lesotho

This study aimed to identify the views of young people, parents and teachers concerning sex education in Lesotho. It was conducted at a time when the national government was considering the introduction of Population and Family Life Education, which includes sex education, into the national school curriculum. Forty‐six focus group discussions were held with young people (10), parents (30) and teachers (6) to identify current sources of sex education and views of the proposed introduction of school‐based sex education in Lesotho. Findings show the limited and problematic sources of sex education for adolescents in Lesotho. They also highlight broad support for the introduction of sex education in the national school curriculum among young people, parents and teachers. Of key importance for the development of a sex education curriculum is the balance between providing young people with information and developing their skills in sexual empowerment and negotiating sexual pressure. The use of pupil‐centred interactive pedagogies was seen as essential. Teachers, however, highlighted the need for training in the delivery of sex education, which includes instruction on course materials, teaching methodologies and developing sensitivity to teaching sexual issues to young people.