LESOTHO’S monarch, King Letsie III, expressed his grief for the past years which he says have been difficult for the nation as they were stained by instability, breaking moral pillars and causing economic decline.

King Letsie III made these remarks in Maseru during his public speech marking the country’s 54th National Independence Day on Sunday, October 4.

He urged Basotho nation to engage in introspection so as to map the country’s way forward towards creation of the prosperous Lesotho they want for all.

Lesotho, a kingdom completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, although never colonised, was a voluntary protectorate of the United Kingdom from which it gained full independence on 4 October 1966.

Despite being independent for 54 years, the country depends on South Africa for most of its economic affairs and its foreign policy is often aligned to that of South Africa.

The then Basutuland, Lesotho’s name before independence, was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1871, but became separate again as a Crown Colony in 1884. When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, there were attempts by the United Kingdom to include Lesotho but Lesotho declined.

King Letsie said it was not all doom though, as the country have some milestones such as new roads, water, electricity, schools, churches as well as internet connection that have uplifted the peoples’ standard of living. “However, there is still a long way to go until basic services are brought to all Basotho,” he added.