Lesotho 2000:

Public perceptions and perspectives

Lesotho 2000: Public perceptions and perspectives forms part of a survey of public perceptions and perspectives in three southern African countries undertaken in 2000 by the HSRC. Lesotho 2000 represents the first of these regional studies to be published. Conducted jointly by the National University of Lesothos Institute of Southern African Studies and the HSRC, the project sought to gauge the sentiments of a representative sample of adult residents of Lesotho in respect of a range of socio-political, economic and other issues. These were governance and corruption, national priorities, service delivery, economic issues, economic policy options, community participation and sport, democracy and civic knowledge, politics and voting, trust in national institutions, crime, geographical preferences, migration in South Africa and access to capital goods. The books 15 chapters are organised around one or more of these themes.

The findings reflected in this study of the political economy of Lesotho will be of interest to students and scholars, as well as policy-makers in government departments and non-governmental organisations in Lesotho, as well as in the broader southern African Development Community (SADC). This book will provide important insights into the enormous challenges facing Southern Africas smallest and poverty-stricken country and one beset by endemic political instability and conflict.