COMMEMORATION OF 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF KING MOSHOESHOE 11 DEMISE
Wednesday evening, 15th January 2026 Lesotho commemorated the 30th anniversary memorial lecture of the late King Moshoeshoe 11 who passed away on the 14 January 1996 at Ha Noha in Thaba-tseka district.
Dignitaries from all walks of life met for a memorial lecture at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre and present amongst them was one of the world’s renowned leaders former President of South Africa, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, who enunciated the memorial lecture then indicated how the late King Moshoeshoe 11 contributed towards economic development of Lesotho and South Africa.
“In 1976, His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II had occasion to address a meeting of South African businesspeople in Johannesburg. Among other things, he said at this meeting:
“Lesotho labour has contributed to the amassing of wealth and technology in a Developed country whilst herself, for various reasons beyond her control, has not been the subject of development to a proportionate degree, but has become poorer by virtue of its feeder relationship to a developed area…
“However, the imbalances created by development, must be the primary, over-riding, priority concern, of those who have benefitted most, because the economic wealth amassed gives them the greater power to take remedial action. This applies, not only within the context of a single country, but also in the inter-relationships between two countries, such as South Africa and Lesotho, as well as the broader canvas of the overall relationships between the developed and the under-developed world.”
His Majesty returned to this important question many years later, in 1990. In this instance, he quoted what two well-known South African intellectuals had written. These were Francis Wilson and Mamphela Ramphele who wrote in their book, ‘Uprooting Poverty – the South African Challenge’:
“Given the way the South African economy developed over the century of its industrial revolution, do the people of Lesotho…and other parts of Southern Africa, who have contributed as much as anybody to the growth of the single economy, not also have a claim on the common wealth that is generated and paid to the Inland Revenue department in Pretoria?”
I would like to believe that many among us will recall that then President Nelson Mandela paid a State Visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho in July 1995.
When he addressed the Houses of Parliament here in Maseru on that occasion he said:
“Closer cooperation between Lesotho and South Africa is a priority for our Government of National Unity…This applies to bilateral relations in the political sphere. It applies to trade and industry, job creation, economic growth, educational and cultural exchanges, agricultural cooperation, transfer of technology and stability within the region…
“The future prosperity of our region, like that of our continent, requires of us that we adopt a co-operative and integrated approach to the things that jointly affect us. The conditions for regional cooperation and integration have never been so favourable…
“South Africa is ready to play its part, as an equal partner, within this context and within a broader perspective that places emphasis on the importance of an African framework for our endeavours.
“As partners in Southern Africa we have a need, by means of joint working committees, as well as bilateral and multilateral agreements, to establish instruments based on consensus for dealing with common problems and seizing the opportunities that now exist…”
President Mandela added to these comments by saying at the State Banquet hosted by the Head of State, His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II:
“The promotion of economic development in Southern Africa is of paramount importance to South Africa. The economies of the region are so intertwined that no one country can enter a prosperous future in isolation. We need a new form of economic interaction in Southern Africa, based on principles of mutual benefit and interdependence. We need integrated strategies for balanced growth and equitable relations of trade and investment, and a joint approach to regional infrastructure.”
When President Mandela made these remarks during his State Visit, he was indicating South Africa’s own agreement with the observations made consistently by His Majesty the King over the decades about what should inform the relations between a liberated South Africa and Lesotho.
On Thursday 15th, the 30th anniversary of the late King Moshoeshoe 11 demise ends with commemorative prayer service and wreaths- placing at his final resting place at Thaba-Bosiu Royal cemetery.
Picture: LENA
