|
Resumption of
Direct Rule
In this way, as a direct consequence of the Gun War, the
Basotho won the right to have their country administered
separate- ly from other parts of southern Africa. British
rule was resumed in 1884, a major step in the sequence of
events which led ultimately to the granting of independ-
ence by Britain in 11966.
Under the British Resident Cornmissioner, Sir Marshall
Clarke (1884-1894) and Sir Godfrey Lagden (1894-1902)
together with the Paramount Chiefs Letsie (1870-91), and his
son Lerotholi (1891-1905), a system of dual government
evolved. The British administration were mainly concerned
with Lesotho's external relations, with tax collecting, the
punishment of serious crime and the settling of boundary
disputes between rival chiefs. Only in the eight (later
nine) small government reserves or camps that became the
nuclei from which Lesotho's towns developed, did the
assistant commissioners have limited powers of local
government.
Early political player: King Moshoeshoe II, and the leader
of the then Basotholand Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu Mokhehle
Elsewhere the traditional but nevertheless largely
democratic system of chiefs and headmen continued, a
situation which remained largely unchanged for half a
century. The 'pitso' or open-air assembly remained the main
method by which the principal chiefs consulted the people,
and the 'lekhotla' or court of village elders the venue for
settling minor disputes.
It soon became impossible to hold the annual national 'pitso'
because the population of Lesotho was growing too large and
also because the major chiefs tended to oppose one another
and undermine the possibility of creating national consensus
on major issues. The British Resident Commissioner proposed
as an alternative to the national 'pitso' the formation of a
National Council which would be composed almost entirely of
chiefs, and which would advise him and the Paramount Chief
on policy matters. The Council was finally accepted and
implemented by Paramount Chief Lerotholi (1891-1905) in
1903.
This development did not satisfy some sections of the
nation, particularly the intelligensia who formed the
Progressive Association in 1907, calling for representa-
tive structures and the movement towards a parliamentary
system. Later the more radical Commoners' League was founded
by those who wanted a return to the older order through a
revitalised and more responsible chieftainship.
The death of Lerotholi (1891-1905) marked the end of a
Paramountcy which was strong and widely respected. His son
Letsie 11 (1905-1913), allowed the Para- mountcy to drift,
and took little interest in government.
The reign of Letsie II's successor, Paramount Chief Griffith
Lerotholi (1913- 1939), was characterised by a struggle
between the Paramountcy and various groups to define the
future of Lesotho. Griffith sought to revitalise the Paramo-
untcy by re-establishing control over the hundreds of minor
chiefs and pressurising them to join the Catholic Church,
which to him provided the correct path for the evolution of
Sotho society. Griffith also opposed all efforts at
reforming the system of chieftainship initiated by the
Basotuland Progressive Association (BPA) and the Commoners'
League(CL).
Leader of the then Basutoland National Party, Chief Leabua
Jonathan (left) and the leader of the Marematlou Party (MTP),
Mr Khaketla.
When Griffith died in 1939 he was succeeded by his son,
Seeiso, who ruled for only one year. He died under mys-
terious circumstances and was replaced by his first wife,
the Regent 'Mantsebo (1941-1960), who oversaw a turbulent
period of change.
It was at this time that a new and more coherent nationalist
movement emerged led by the commoner Ntsu Mokhehle, a highly
educated and articulate spokesman for a party that initially
embraced a wide cross-section of Basotho. His movement, the
Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), called for self
determination and the end of all racist practices in
Lesotho.
The BCP set the political agenda for much of the 1950s and
the chieftainship lost the initiative in public life. The
British reluctantly agreed to the increasing pressure for
constitutional change and self determination. By 1960 the
National Council was composed equally of both chiefs, who
were appointed, and members indirectly chosen from the nine
District Councils. District Councils had been functioning
since 1950 and incorporated chiefs and electedf Commoners.
They were intended to bring government closer to the people.
Even more important was the acceptance by the Regent 'Mantsebo
that the monarchy would in future be greatly limited in
power.
|
