By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – As the Kingdom of Lesotho prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence on October 4, the government has reaffirmed that it remains a sovereign nation and has no official position on long-standing calls for the country to be incorporated into South Africa.
The debate over Lesotho’s future has resurfaced periodically over the years because the mountain kingdom is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three countries in the world that is entirely enclosed by another state.
Formerly the British Protectorate of Basutoland, Lesotho gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 4, 1966, becoming the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Speaking on the issue, Lesotho’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Steve Mputhi, said the government remains committed to the country’s sovereignty while promoting stronger regional integration and cooperation with South Africa.
Mputhi stressed that Lesotho supports “borderless relations” based on trade, economic growth and good neighbourliness rather than political unification.
“Although we are separated by artificial borders, we remain one people, speaking one language, sharing one history and celebrating one identity,” said Mputhi.
He said the vision of regional cooperation is aligned with the African Union’s goal of strengthening intra-African trade and reducing the continent’s dependence on markets outside Africa.
“For now, the Kingdom of Lesotho does not have an official position on whether the two countries should be combined. Our focus is on strengthening cooperation while preserving our sovereignty,” he said.
Lesotho and South Africa continue to maintain close political, economic and cultural ties, with thousands of Basotho living, working and studying across the border, while both countries remain key partners within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
