Lesotho
Lesotho
The Kingdom of Lesotho is located in southeastern Africa, covering
an area of 30,340 square kilometers. It has a population of 2.1
million, most of whom are black Bantus of the Basuto or Zulu tribe.
Residents are predominantly Protestant or Catholic, with English and
Lesotho being the most common languages. The currency is the Loti
and the capital is Maseru.
National Flag
Lesotho’s national flag is white, blue, and green with a brown
emblem on the left. The white symbolizes peace and purity, the green
represents pastures and crops, and the blue stands for the rivers
and the sky.
History
Now independent, Lesotho was formerly known as Basutoland. In the
19th century the Basuto clan chief Moshoeshoe I unified the country
and established the kingdom. In 1868, the British declared
Basutoland as part of protectorate, and in 1871 incorporated it in
to the British Cape Colony in South Africa. On October 4, 1966, the
country declared independence, and is now known as the Kingdom of
Lesotho, a constitutional monarchy.
Economy and Cultural Customs
Lesotho is a agricultural country, with few natural resources, and a
poor economy. As such, it is one of the world's least developed
countries, with farming as the mainstay of its economy. Vast
grasslands account for 66% of land area, and the national income
mainly comes from remittances, tariff revenue, and the construction
and garment processing industry.
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