A detailed study of
Lesotho Government and Politics provides information regarding the political set up of the country. Lesotho, also known as Kingdom of Lesotho, has parliamentary constitutional monarchy as government type. Lesotho attained freedom in 1966 on 4th October from United Kingdom. The capital of the country is Maseru. The Prime Minister is the head of the government of Lesotho. Currently, Lesotho's Prime Minister is Pakalitha Mosisil. He is also the chief of the state and is vested with the managerial authorities.
In the bicameral Parliament of the country there is a Senate having 33 members out of which 22 members are principal chiefs and the remaining 11 are chosen by the ruling party. There is an Assembly that has a total of 80 seats. The members of the Assembly are elected by the method of popular voting for a term of 5 years. Reform of parliament is an important step towards the progress and integration of democracy in Lesotho.
The Constitution of the country offers self-determining judicial structure. The 10 districts in which the country has been divided for the purpose of administration are:
- Mokhotlong
- Butha-Buthe
- Thaba-Tseka
- Mafeteng
- Berea
- Mohale's Hoek
- Maseru
- Quthing
- Leribe
- Qacha's Nek
The District administrator is the chief of each of the districts of Lesotho. The judiciary of the country consists of High Court, Court of Appeal, traditional courts existing preponderantly in the rural areas and Magistrate's Court. The Constitution of Lesotho was formed in the year 1993 on 2nd April.
Lesotho Congress for Democracy is the ruling party for Lesotho. The major office holders of the country are the King and the Prime Minister. The major political party of Lesotho is Lesotho Congress for Democracy which won the majority in Lesotho parliament in the general elections held in the year 1998 on 23rd May. Lesotho maintains a harmonious relationship with the foreign countries and it is a member of various economic bodies. The legal system of Lesotho is based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law.
Some of the political parties of Lesotho are:
- All Basotho Convention
- National Independent Party
- Lesotho Worker's Party
- All Basotho Convention
- Marematlou Freedom Party
- Popular Front for Democracy
- Basotho Batho Democratic Party
There are 20 ministries of government in Lesotho. The chief justice of the country is appointed by the monarch of Lesotho. The country has ambassadors in US and Dr. Eunice M. Bulane is the chief of the ambassador to US. All necessary steps are being taken by Lesotho government to make the country prosperous and the administrative system more accurate. All the political parties of the country contribute towards the welfare and development of Lesotho.
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