Tag: Lesotho King

Foreign Access to Property Prohibited in Lesotho in 1859

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
King Moshoeshoe I of Basutoland

As I see the sale of African lands to multinationals for pennies, or in some cases loans for 20-30-50 years and even 100 years, or like in Kenya (and certainly many other places) for 999 years (Did You Know about the 999-year Lease granted to Europeans in Kenya ?), I cannot help but think of King Moshoeshoe I of Lesotho who, in 1859, prohibited the sale of Sotho land to foreigners. This was a big NO. No ancestral lands could be sold to foreigners. Our current African leaders should learn from our forefathers; they, like Moshoeshoe I of Lesotho, or Gungunyane: the Lion of Gaza or the Last African King of Mozambique, or Mirambo: the Black Napoleon of Tanzania, understood the importance of our lands!  The law below also gives a glimpse on the justice system as implemented in the Sotho kingdom under its first king. This is a historical document set in its time to be read with the protection of the integrity and protection of Sotho land in mind.

Below is the access to property law signed by King Moshoeshoe I in 1859 on his homeland of Lesotho. The original can be found in Les Africains, Tome 8, p. 254, ed. Jaguar. Translated to English by Dr. Y., Afrolegends.com

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Map of Lesotho

Access to property: prohibited for traders, “White or colored”, 1859 law

I, Moshoeshoe, for any trader, whoever he may be, already present in my country, and for anyone who might come to trade with the Basutos ; my word is this :

Trading with me and my tribe is a good thing, and I hope it will grow.

Any merchant who wants to open a shop must first obtain my permission. If he builds a house, I do not give him the right to sell it.

Moreover, I do not give him the freedom to plow fields, but only to cultivate a small vegetable garden.

The merchant who imagines that the place where he stays belongs to him, must abandon this idea, otherwise he will leave; for there is no place on my soil that belongs to the Whites, and I have never given a place to a White, whether verbally or in writing.

Furthermore, any merchant who comes here with a debt, or who contracts one while he is on my soil, whatever his debt may be, if he is brought to me, I will make an inquiry into him in our court of justice in order to be able to settle the matter ; and the debt will be repaid in the way the Basutos repay their debts. But the plaintiff must appear before me, and the debtor as well, so that justice may be done. […]

Ban on the Sale of Foreign Alcohol in Lesotho in 1854

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
King Moshoeshoe I of Basutoland

As we have seen before, many African kings prohibited the sale of foreign alcohol on their soil. They could sense the harmful effect of alcohol on their men and on the society as a whole. They could also foresee the destruction of the soul of their societies via this foreign alcohol like Native Americans saw their destruction on another continent. Gungunyane: the Lion of Gaza or the Last African King of Mozambique, or Mirambo: the Black Napoleon, king of the Nyamwezi people in Tanzania, are just a few. Moshoeshoe I, the first king of Lesotho also prohibited the sale of foreign liquor on his soil. History Repeats Itself: the destabilization of Africa during slavery times via the use of alcohol as a tool, is continuing today, particularly in countries rich in resources. Current African leaders would do well to follow the example of their forefathers, as alcohol is destroying our societies and most of the beer companies are owned by Western multinationals; the alcohol level in beers and liquors in many African countries are significantly higher than in European countries, and the people are slowly being turned into drunkards while their resources are siphoned out. 

Below is the ban on alcohol imposed by King Moshoeshoe I on his homeland of Lesotho. The original can be found in Les Africains, Tome 8, p. 254, ed. Jaguar. Translated to English by Dr. Y., Afrolegends.com

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Ban on the sale of Foreign Alcohol

8 Novembre 1854

Whereas the alcohols of the Whites were unknown to previous generations of our tribe, that Matie (Matsie, that is Nkopane, father of Mohlomi) et Motlomi (Mohlomi) to the Bomonageng (BaMonaheng), and our father Mokhachane, now advanced in age, never consumed any other drinks than water and milk ; and whereas we believe that a good leader and judge cannot claim to be capable of performing his duties if he uses any stimulant whatsoever ; and whereas that alcohol causes quarrels and troubles, and paves the way to the destruction of society (it is evident that the white people’s alcohol is nothing but fire).

It is therefore made known to all that the introduction and sale of said alcohols in Basutoland is henceforth prohibited, and it is stipulated that for any person, whether white or colored, anyone who contravenes this decision will have their alcohol seized and spilled to the ground, without excuse or compensation.

This decision will be printed in the Basuto [Sotho] and Dutch languages and posted in public places and in Basutos villages.

Given with the advice and agreement of the men of our Tribe, by us the King of the Basutos, in Thaba Bosigo, on November 8th 1854.

King Moshoeshoe