The "Roof of Africa" people like to call it: the kingdom Lesotho, a small mountainous enclave in the middle of the Republic of South Africa. The main water shed in Southern Africa lies in Lesotho. The rivers Vaal, Tugela and Oranje have their source in the Drakens-mountains which have an altitude of more than 3000 metres.
Founder of the Basotho nation was the legendary King Moshoeshoe I. He united the various Sotho groups against the Zulu ruler Shaka at the beginning of the 19th century. During the following decades Moshoeshoe had to hold on to his reign in the conflict between the Boers and the British. He looked to the British for protection and in 1868 Lesotho became British High Commission Territory. The country became independent in 1966.
Today, a majority of the population lives in the western lowlands, where the capitol Maseru is situated. Up to half of the working force works in South Africa, mostly as migrant workers in the mines. In the country, people live mostly off livestock farming, its requirements define daily life. That is why there are more girls going to school because the boys have to keep watch over goats and sheep from an early age on. The hair of the angora goat is - as mohair - an important export product of the country.
After the end of Apartheid in South Africa, Lesotho is in the process of redefining its role in a changed region. The economy is completely aimed towards the neighbour country. Water could become the most important export article once the Highlands Water Project will be completed. But the biggest infrastructure project in Africa also causes protest: Many highlanders have lost their pastures and programmes for re-settling are not effective. A study on the environmental impact of the project remains to be done.