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Lesotho Society Lesotho's royal house - a world apart
But although 37-years-old Prince Seeiso and his 4.2 kg newborn son are next in line to the Basotho throne, there is nothing pompous about the prince. In fact, he comes without any security guards, driving his car on his own and is licking his wounds after having been beaten heavily by fellow villagers. Beneath the Western outfit, it's all tradition. Prince Seeiso was beaten with sticks according to tradition - it is a message of having become father to a son. "Some took advantage and were beating very hard," he says. "I have noted who they are and will have them flogged," he adds, roaming with a laughter that assures the latter part is only a joke. Also the lack of security is explained by tradition. "So you expected a line of bodyguards, did you," he laughs again. "A chief is a chief because of his people," he explains. According to traditional leadership, a chief like himself "has to be in the same camp as his people," visible and accessible, and he cannot be blocked away from people through security guards. To illustrate, Prince Seeiso quotes a Basotho saying: "The chief is a bucket of shit!" Observing the astonished face of the interviewer, who thinks he's understood things wrongly, the Prince laughs again. He sees the need to explain. You go to chief and empty all your shit on him. The chief has to take it. As any other toilet, the "bucket of shit" will not protest, and it will be ready the next time you need it. Very exemplary. In the otherwise hygienic conditions of the stylish terrace of Lancer's Inn, in the middle of Lesotho's capital, Maseru, we finally get our coffees served. If not before, we finally understand it wasn't at all necessary to invite the Prince to such an ambitious place. One of those livelier, more or less legal beer shanties - sharing scarce square metres with vendors of herbs, tomatoes, cellphones and other necessaries- just some blocks off the main street, Kingsway, would probably have done. But we are well seated at Lancer's Inn, and we sure won't complain on the prices. Prince Seeiso continues the conversation by emphasising that access to the traditional leader is a very serious matter for Lesotho's royal house. The jokes about his lack of security guards turn into matters of profound political impact when elaborated on. - I can go anywhere and talk to the people, he explains, this including the shanties just outside this resort. "The King however can't do that. He has to go through the Prime Minister and cabinet to get an approval on whether this is appropriate." And this is not only for security reasons, one learns. Prince Seeiso leaves no doubt we now are touching a key conflict line in Basotho politics. "We are still going through the teething phase of democracy, and we still don't know who should do what," he explains. Therefore, the King's security guards rather are a symbol of government controlling the King than the King's security needs. - There is a competition between the cabinet and the King, and it should not have to be like that, he complains. Prince Seeiso explains how the King even is barred from representing Lesotho at most occasions abroad due to jealousy. "If a promotion tour of the King would be successful, some evil
Asked whether King Letsie in fact can be considered "a prisoner" of the Basotho government, Prince Seeiso says he would not use that word. Playing it down, he says the problem is that "the royal house and politicians are not confident with each other," but that with present Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, personal relations are "thawing". On the other hand, it is understandable that the elected leaders of Lesotho are sceptical towards the role of monarchy in this small mountainous country of two million inhabitants, surrounded by South Africa. Basotho kings have played vital roles in this unique country. Thanks to Lesotho's founding father, King Moshoeshoe, the kingdom can look back on almost 200 years of being a nation. Unlike most African countries, the nationbuilding process was achieved a long time ago as the southern Basotho people and other rallied the kings for protection from Boer and Zulu aggressions from the surrounding lowlands. Moshoeshoe and his successors maintained independence from white-ruled South Africa through military power and diplomatic wisdom, forming a protectorate under direct protection from London. Until independence in 1965, the King - or the paramount chief as he was called during British rule - was pretty much the uniting symbol of Lesotho. With the 1966 constitution, that made the paramount chief a king, power was given to elected politicians and Lesotho was made a constitutional monarchy. According to Prince Seeiso, however, the people was cheated. "They tricked the people by saying the paramount chief would become King, like the Queen of England, which was over-glorified. They didn't say he would be cut off from the people." After independence came also political turbulence, with military rule in the 1970s and 80s. In the mid-1980s, the military even installed King Moshoeshoe III, King Letsie's father, as the head of the executive in a popular move. Popularity did not last long, however, and calls for democracy led to another coup in 1990, deposing the King. Since then, the Basotho royal house has kept out of policy, the Prince confirms. Even in the troubled year of 1998, when political chaos resulted in a destructive invasion led by South African forces, King Letsie remained silent. A popular demand for the King to mediate in the crisis was not met. Letsie referred to the constitution, saying he was not in a position to help. - Some found it difficult to understand that in a state of crisis, the King cannot mediate, Prince Seeiso says, apparently agreeing to the argument. "He is the Head of State. But other leaders of other states came in to mediate instead of him." Prince Seeiso indicates he would have acted in another way if he were King in such a situation. - The constitution should be looked at, Prince Seeiso says. "We should not have a Head of State who is unable to interact with his people when there is a crisis. In fact, it seems there is no reason for having a Head of State at all." It again comes down to the lack of confidence between traditional and political leadership. The Basotho King however is trusted with some representative roles in the country, even though "his functions are very limited," the Prince says. In some apolitical, crosscutting themes, like AIDS, orphans, poverty and children's rights, the King's voice is likely to be heard. "Implementing
The Prince cannot emphasise enough on the difference between the Basotho royal house and their European counterparts. "It is a world apart," he says. Even contacts are minimal. Representatives from the British monarchy turned up in Lesotho at some important occasions, but not all. The latest invitation to go to a European royal occasion was the wedding of Spain's Princess Christina three years ago. Tight personal ties only exist with the nearby authoritarian royal house of Swaziland. The difference from European monarchies and the popular rooting of Lesotho's royal house is also underlined by how the country's press treats the royals. Even the yellow press has mercy on the Basotho royals, which occasionally can be found having a delightful Maluti locally brewed beer in any type of local pub. "Even the sensationalist press would not write any scandalising article about His Majesty, and even I have many times escaped," the Prince says, laughing again. - As a people, we don't really want to bury into other people's personal affairs, Prince Seeiso explains; "we just gossip a lot about it." Also editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper 'Mopheme', assisting in the interview, agrees "the level of privacy is quite high in Lesotho." Mr Lawrence, who doesn't hide he is a republican, was to mention the birth of a possible new King with only one paragraph in 'Mopheme'. Mr Lawrence and his cool attitude towards the royal house is however not representative for the Basotho. For most fellow countrymen, the news of the birth of a new prince is indeed of interest, given the male line of succession in chieftaincy and monarchy and given the historic continuity from the glorious days of Moshoeshoe that is marked with the birth. The little prince one day will become chief or even king. For ordinary people, it is quite natural that the title of King one day will have to be passed over to Prince Seeiso and later his son if King Letsie is not blessed with a son on his own. But modern times are also omnipresent in the small mountain kingdom. Thus, institutions such as monarchy and chieftaincy are under discussion, as are the inheritance laws disfavouring women. This is something the well-educated Prince is not indifferent to. "Some of us feel that the law of succession needs to be looked at [when it comes to gender]. I am personally in favour of equal opportunities for all," he says, knowing perfectly well he is undermining his current right to the throne by the argument. Given the limited freedom and powers of the King, the office may not seem too interesting to Prince Seeiso, although he does not comment on that. He however leaves it clear that he would have struggled for a more popular role of the monarch. "The people want to see the King on his horseback, they don't want to see him as somebody mystified or glorified out there," he concludes on the role a Basotho king should have. Prince Seeiso has to leave us. Instead of a horseback, he climbs into his modern four-wheel car, heading to his residence in the suburbs, some 30 kilometres outside Maseru. It is not yet sunset. Like any new father, he tells us before leaving; he is scared about the new power balance between the bedroom and the living room. Better to get off home before the madam arrives from hospital, bringing the new king of the house. By afrol News editor Rainer Chr. Hennig © afrol News 2003 |
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