Lesotho Country Report

Image: Flickr, OER Africa
Image: Flickr, OER Africa

This report presents the results of research conducted by the author in Maseru in 2004, the instruments and methods of which appear in the first section.

The background, size, composition and features of Lesotho’s parliament are presented, as well as the country’s elections and parliamentary system. The report also discusses structures of parliament and channels of contact with the electorate. Respondents’ perspectives of the Lesotho parliament are also presented. The role, strengths and weaknesses of ‘the opposition’ are analysed. Finally, Professor Makoa gives tentative recommendations.

About the contributor:
Professor Francis K Makoa is a lecturer in Political Science and Public Administration and Head of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the National University of Lesotho, Roma. He obtained a PhD degree in Political Science in 1994 from the University of Liverpool. He has published extensively on privatisation, the military, rural development, the civil service, gender and politics as well as anti-HIV/AIDS strategies, lately focusing more on conflict, democratisation and elections.

Series Editor: Tim Hughes
SAIIA: 2004
ISBN: 1-919969-04-7
Published by SAIIA & funded by the Royal Danish Embassy, Pretoria.

The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).