FACTOID #53: If you thought Antarctica was inhospitable, think again - its land area is only ninety-eight percent ice. Reassuringly, the other 2% is categorised as "barren rock".
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to periodically demonstrate their distrust of the results.
We recently visited a settlement at the top of the Sani Pass. We were told they depended on tourists for survival and it was suggested that we took small gifts or even unwanted clothes. We came away thinking was this a 'tourist' village or was it genuine? The people just accepted what was given them - there was no expression of thanks, pleasure gratitude - nothing. We went away wondering whether we had done the right thing giving clothes etc and wondered what they were going to do with the clothes etc. Can anyone fill me in please?
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