To the keen and observant observer,
Today, I write as we all witness the trending uproar over former U.S. President Donald Trump stating that he has never heard of Lesotho. While many Basotho seem to take offense, I find the situation rather amusing.
Vele, what is our country known for? What unique value do we bring to the world? What is our competitive advantage? If anything, this should serve as a moment of deep reflection rather than blind outrage. Instead of reacting emotionally, perhaps we should ask: Why doesn’t the world, let alone a global leader, recognize Lesotho?
This situation reveals uncomfortable truths about our nation. What do we have to showcase on the global stage besides being a landlocked kingdom dependent on external aid? Is it our textile industry, which barely competes with global markets? Is it our diamonds, whose value benefits only a handful? Is it our tourism, which remains untapped despite breathtaking landscapes? The reality is, we have work to do.
But my interest is this: What happened to the bold statements that “Lesotho can never conform to LGBTQI+ ideals as a Christian country”? We sit in judgment of our neighboring nations, yet the same Western forces we praise for donations are the ones funding LGBTQI+ programs within our borders. We cannot have it both ways.
Just last week, a local newspaper reported that a Lesotho MP was allegedly offered USD 1,300 to vote in favor of a transgender rights law. Such headlines barely cause a ripple in our collective consciousness anymore. Transparency and accountability? Those are concepts we will only see in heaven! Even our so-called cultural “norms” are applied selectively—moralizing in public while engaging in the very acts we condemn behind closed doors.
Let’s also consider the American taxpayer, whose hard-earned money funds small, struggling economies like ours. How fair is it that we remain dependent on foreign aid, year after year, without a concrete plan for self-sufficiency? At what point does Lesotho wean itself off international handouts and stand on its own?
Now that the spotlight is briefly on us, what do we have to offer? Instead of lamenting Trump’s ignorance, perhaps we should capitalize on the unexpected free marketing from such a globally influential figure. This is our chance to tell our story, showcase our strengths, and redefine our identity beyond just being another struggling African nation.
Rather than outrage, let us use this moment as motivation. If we truly want Lesotho to be known, we must work toward making it worth knowing.
Nts’oekhe
