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Mining industry of Lesotho
The mining industry of Lesotho is mostly concentrated on diamond mining and as such the mining sector in the country has not played any significant role in furthering its economy. Apart from diamonds, the country's main mineral resources have been identified as base metals, clays, dimension stone, sand and gravel, and uranium. The lack of initiative to extract other minerals commercially is mainly attributed to the inadequacy of infrastructure and finances, and the high rate of HIV/AIDS infected people. Between 2000 and 2011, the percentage of GDP contributed by diamond mining to Lesotho's economy rose from "virtually zero" to about 4%.
History
The mining of diamonds started in the country only in the later part of the 1950s. Mining licenses for diamonds from Kao and Liqhobong pipes were operated for a short period from 1959 till Lesotho’s independence. Following the independence of the country, the mines were closed due to poor production. In Lesotho's mining history, skilled artisans (known as Basotho diggers) have been extracting diamonds to a large extent under licenses issued in 1961 for the Letseng diamond mine, as well as Kolo, Nqechane and Hololo areas, with a positive impact to the economy of the country. Extraction from the Letšeng diamond pipe, which started in 1968, was not productive and closed in the 1970s. However, these mines were restarted in 2000 and have proved to be productive.
Lesotho
Coordinates: 29°36′S 28°18′E / 29.6°S 28.3°E / -29.6; 28.3
Lesotho (
i/lᵻˈsuːtuː/; li-SOO-too), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho), is an enclaved, landlocked country in southern Africa completely surrounded by South Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population slightly over two million. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sesotho. About 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day.
History
The present Lesotho, then called Basutoland, emerged as a single polity under King Moshoeshoe I in 1822. Moshoeshoe, a son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bakoteli lineage, formed his own clan and became a chief around 1804. Between 1821 and 1823, he and his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain, joining with former adversaries in resistance against the Lifaqane associated with the reign of Shaka Zulu from 1818 to 1828.
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