By Oyintari Ben
Lesotho’s parliament is contemplating a motion to reclaim vast swaths of land from its giant neighbour South Africa.
Tsepo Lipholo, an opposition member of parliament, urged his colleagues, “It’s time for what is ours to be returned to us.”
Even though this problem had been around for a long time, he insisted that it still needed to be addressed.
His proposal is based on a UN resolution from 1962 that supported the Basutoland people’s right to independence and self-determination before Lesotho gained its independence in 1966.
The Basotho historically inhabited sections of the Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal regions of South Africa.
However, many were compelled to relocate due to warfare in the 19th century to the resource-poor Lesotho of today.
The landlocked nation’s lowlands are mostly mountainous and have little room for agriculture.
The country that surrounds the former British colony, South Africa, has been extremely important.
Numerous employees have been forced to work in South African mines over the years due to a shortage of employment opportunities.
Land reclaimed from South Africa, according to Mr Lipholo, would aid in the prosperity of the Basotho people.
The Lesotho administration has not yet responded to the issue.
