|
OFFICIAL NAME |
Kingdom of Lesotho |
|
SHORT FORM |
Lesotho (formerly known as Basutoland) |
|
CAPITAL |
Maseru |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS |
Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale’sHoek,
Mokhotlong, Qacha’s Nek, Quthing, Thaba Tseka |
|
NATIONAL MOTTO |
Khotso, Pula, Nala (Peace, Rain and Prosperity) |
|
AREA |
30,355 sq.km (11,718 sq.mi.) about the size of Belgium |
|
LOCATION |
Situated between latitudes 28º and 31º South and Longitudes
27º and 30º East |
|
TOPOGRAPHY |
Highveld, plateau and mountains |
|
ALTITUDE |
Ranges from 1388 to 3 400 metres above sea level |
|
TIME ZONE |
Central African Time = GMT+2 |
|
CLIMATE |
Temperate; hot summers (about 32 Cº/ Fº 90) and cool to cold
winter-snowfall in the highlands (about –7 Cº/ Fº20) |
|
POPULATION |
2.2million (2004 estimates) |
|
NATIONALITY |
Mosotho (singular) Basotho (plural) |
|
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES |
English and Sesotho |
|
RELIGIONS |
Predominantly Christian comprised of Roman Catholic,
Anglican, Evangelical, and other denominations. Indigenous
believes are still widely practiced. |
|
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT |
Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy |
|
HEAD OF STATE |
His Majesty King Letsie III |
|
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT |
The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha B.
Mosisili |
|
LEGISLATIVE |
Bicameral parliament, Senate (33 members) National Assembly
(120 members) |
|
ELECTION MODEL |
Mixed Member Proportional |
|
JUDICIAL |
Customary Courts, Magistrate’s Court, High Court, and Court
of Appeal |
|
SUFFRAGE |
18
years |
|
MAIN EXPORTS |
Labour and water to the Republic of South Africa, textiles,
footwear, to the United States, European Union and Canada,
wool and mohair products |
|
MAIN IMPORTS |
Automobiles, Machinery, Building Material, Fuel, Medicine,
corn and other foodstuffs |
|
AGRICULTURE |
Mostly subsistence farming; corn, wheat, sorghum, barley,
beans, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, vegetables, fruit trees,
|
|
LIVESTOCK |
Cattle, sheep, goats, (wool and mohair) horses and donkeys |
|
CURRENCY |
Loti (singular), Maloti (Plural) the currency is pegged at
par with the South African Rand (ZAR). |
|
MEASUREMENT |
Metric System |
|
VOLTAGE |
220 – 240 volts |
|
DIALLING CODE |
International access code +266 |
