By: Kamohelo Ntsebeng
Maseru
On March 6th 2024, King Letsie III gave a speech to the youth of Basotho who are students from different institutes of higher level education. This gathering was held at the old parliament in Maseru.
The primary aim for this gathering was to teach the youth about the history of the late Moshoeshoe II and Basotho as a whole; also giving them a platform to ask whatever they wish to know about our nation as Basotho.
The Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, Motlatsi Maqelepo mentioned this to be the first time this type of gathering happens therefore it is said to be a very special occasion since this year and month mark the celebration of 200 years since Basotho became a nation.
He says, “This day is very special to Basotho and therefore each and every youth who got this opportunity to be able to have such a session with King Letsie III should be grateful for such an opportunity because it is said to be once in a lifetime opportunity.”
As the King delivered his speech, he stated that he was honoured to stand before the youth of Basotho as he once had a gathering like that but in that case it was different because it was not with the youth of Basotho rather that one of Oxford University students of the 2022 class. King Letsie III reminds the nation that it is through the late Moshoeshoe I that the people of Basotho now claim the privilege of having a country they call their own, having fought together with his soldiers.
The narration goes on as he then took the youth on the journey of how the great Moshoeshoe I led the Basotho nation, moving from Menkhoaneng to Butha-Buthe to start his nation in the year 1820 but sadly had to flee the area because of the attack of the Batlokoa in the year 1824. King Moshoeshoe I’s nation and was then helped by the Ndebeles to escape. That was the move to Thaba Bosiu.
The Basotho kingdom was then colonized as it partook in the Second World War, to later claim freedom in the year 1966. Basotho’s independence gave more insight into responsibilities that come with independence, like the need for employment, the means through which different communities maintain their standard of living, differences in traditions practiced by different groups within the nation and such.
When asked what and how Basotho can inherit from their great grandfathers in an effort to lead better and more peaceful experiences for the Basotho nation, the King answers thus,
“I think as Basotho we know what our great grandfathers did that what made them remarkable and that is what we should study, not forgetting that they respected each other, loved and worked together as one.”
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) Malefetsane Masopha asked what successes the country claims, as it now celebrates 200years. Without hesitation, His Majesty says he should not look afar,
“The greatest success of them all is celebrating this milestone. The fact that Basotho are still a nation and are not divided is what made this 200years hence worth being celebrated.”
Moshoeshoe’s day marks the day Moshoeshoe I died. It is rather considered to be important because it reminds the people that once upon a time there was a legend who fought and made sure that to this day there is a country that is called Lesotho whilst other people failed to start their own nation he succeeded. It remind Basotho of the important roles His Majesty serves to maintain its foundation against other nations.
In conclusion, one Lesotho College of Education student Teboho Ramakhula, out of curiosity inquires why history isn’t considered a peripheral of the Lesotho educational curriculum, the question was addressed by Minister of Education, Hon. Ntoi Rapapa saying he is well aware of that, as it stands only 20% of schools in Lesotho impart history, however declaring his commitment to the resolution of the said concern.