aer@alice.UucP (A. E. Rosenberg) (10/21/85)
Does anyone have any current information on Lesotho, the relatively small country inside South Africa? Does it still exist? Who lives there? What language(s) do they speak? _Anything_ you could tell me would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, D. Rosenberg ..!ihnp4!alice!aer -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Rosenberg on Murray Hill /-\|/-\|//\|/-\ ATT/BTL ..ihnp4!alice!aer -- "These are My Opinions." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
gdvsmit@watrose.UUCP (Riel Smit) (10/21/85)
NOTE: some of the data given below is a bit old (1977-1980), but it still
gives some idea of the country.
Surface area: 30 000 sq. kilometers (of which 10% is arable, the
rest is mostly mountains)
Capital: Maseru
Population (1980): 1 300 000 (of which 5% are urban)
density: 42 per sq. km.
annual growth rate: 2.2% (for period 1970-1975)
Official language: Sesotho and English
Independence: Oct 4, 1966 (Used to be the British protectorate of
Basutoland)
Leaders: King Moshweshwe II (born 1938), 1960-
Prime Minister (Chief) Leabua Jonathan (born 1914)
1965-
Politics: Ruling party: National Party. Lesotho is supposed to
be a multiparty state (one of the at most 15 out of
about 55 states of Africa). However, after the 1970
elections, (when it appeared that the National Party
was losing), the government suspended the
constitution. Since 1973 members of the National
Assembly have been nominated by the government.
These include leaders of the opposition parties (!)
such as messrs Gerard Ramoreboli (internal faction of
the Basotho Congress Party), Edwin Leanya (Marema
Tlou Freedom Party) and Charles Mofeli (United
Democratic Party).
(The political state is still the same today)
Currency: Maloti (in 1977, Loti 1 = $1.20)
Principle exports: Wool (21%), mohair (16%) diamonds (10%)
GNP (1978) total: $360 million (46th in Africa)
per capita: $280 million
ann. growth rate: 5.9%
distribution: 36% agriculture 51% industry 49% services
Imports (1977): 199 million (Maloti)
Exports (1977): 12 million (Maloti)
Economical active population (15-64 years old): 55%
87% agriculture 4% industry 9% services
In 1977 Lesotho had 2 km. of railways, 200 000 km of paved roads, and 19
radio receivers per 1000 people.
Hospital beds(1977): 2 198 life expectancy at birth (1978): 50 yrs.
pop. per bed: 532 child death rate (1978): 21 per 1000
pop. per physician: 18 640
pop. per nurse: 4 340
Education (1977): 228 000 primary pupils (52 per teacher)
19 000 secondary pupils
5 000 teachers (primary + secondary)
1 075 primary schools
59% of the population 25 yrs and older have completed
more than 1 year of school.
65% of the population 15 years and older can read and
write.
[ Source: Africa Insight, Vol 11, No.3 (1981) ]
--
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