Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil.)--University of South Africa, 2002.

Text in English / Biodiversity is a fundamental characteristic of life on Earth and encompasses the whole range of variation in living organisms. Lesotho has been subjected to tremendous biodiversity change over the last two centuries, primarily due to socio-economic activities. A number of socio-economic factors have contributed to the loss of biodiversity. However, worldwide experience has shown that, the consequences emanating from loss of biodiversity are sometimes irreversible as some species are threatened by extinction. The study aimed at exploring the impacts of socio-economic activities that result in loss of large game animals, predators and indigenous plants species in Lesotho. To serve this objective, both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used to collect data. Quantitative research method was used in pre-post tests whilst qualitative research method was used in interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. The finding and results of the study show that, impacts of human vectors such as immigration, migration, settlement, economic and recreation activities in Lesotho have the impacts to the loss of large game animals, predators and indigenous plants. It is imperative therefore, for Lesotho to find ways to establish more parks and botanic gardens that could offer opportunities for re-introduction of species in Lesotho, thus, adding value to the existing parks. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

No description available.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / Some digitised pages may appear cut off due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study analyses poverty and deprivation in Lesotho on the basis of data from two comprehensive household surveys undertaken in 1993 and 1999. The aim of this study was to create a better understanding of poverty and deprivation in Lesotho. The analysis shows that the mountain areas of Lesotho suffer the worst levels of poverty and inequality both in terms of income/consumption and non-income measures compared to the other areas of the country. Poverty was found to be highest amongst households with older heads and higher mean numbers of members. The poor were found to suffer from lack of resources, access to education, basic services such as clean water, proper sanitation facilities and modem energy sources, and have little access to productive resources. The study uses an income-based definition of poverty for most of the analysis. In addition, it develops a broad-based index of deprivation including access to services, education, employment, income, and number of durable assets and traditional wealth. While on average the two indicators correspond fairly closely, the income poverty measure fails to capture those households that are deprived of many of the non-income measures of well-being. The broader deprivation measure provides a more comprehensive understanding of poverty. The conclusions arrived at when the two measures are used show that the concepts and indicators that one uses to measure poverty and deprivation matter a lot in identifying the poor since different conceptions of poverty/deprivation identify different groups with different characteristics as poor. The results also suggest the need for the use of different measures of poverty. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie analiseer armoede en deprivasie in Lesotho na aanleiding van twee omvattende huishoudingopnames van 1993 en 1999. Die doel hiermee was om 'n meer omvattende begrip van armoede en deprivasie in Lesotho te verkry. Die analise toon dat die bergstreke van Lesotho, vergeleke met die res van die land, die hoogste mate van armoede en ongelykheid het, soos gemeet deur beide inkomste/verbruik en nie-inkomste gebaseerde maatstawwe van armoede. Armoede blyk die grootste te wees in huishoudings met meerderjarige hoofde asook in huishoudings met gemiddeld meer lede. Daar is ook gevind dat arm huishoudings gekenmerk word deur 'n gebrek aan hulpbronne, toegang tot opvoeding en basiese dienste soos skoon water, genoegsame sanitasiefasiliteite en moderne energiebronne, asook 'n beperkte toegang tot produksiehulpbronne. Die studie maak grotendeels gebruik van 'n inkomstegebaseerde definisie van armoede. 'n Breër indeks van deprivasie word ook ontwikkel wat onder andere insluit: toegang tot dienste, opvoeding, werksgeleenthede, inkomste, hoeveelheid bestendige bates en tradisionele rykdom. Alhoewel die twee indikatore relatief goed ooreenstem, kon die inkomste-gebaseerde meting van armoede nie daarin slaag om die huishoudings te onderskep wat geklassifiseer word as gedepriveerd op verskeie nie-inkomste indikatore van welvaart nie. Die breër indeks van deprivasie verskaf 'n meer omvattende begrip van armoede. Die gevolgtrekking wat hieruit gemaak word, is dat die konsepte en indikatore wat gebruik word om armoede en deprivasie te meet, van belang is in die identifisering van behoeftiges. Die rede hiervoor is dat verskillende konsepsies van armoede/deprivasie verskillende groepe met verskillende eienskappe identifiseer as behoeftiges. Die resultate suggereer dus 'n behoefte vir die gebruik van verskillende maatstawwe van armoede.

The aim of this study was to find out the academic and social experience of Lesotho students who studied at institutions of higher in the Western Cape between 1990-1997.

The Kingdom of Lesotho undertook a number of liberalisation initiatives in broadcasting in the late 1990s. These include several attempts to formulate the media policy document as well as the opening of the airwaves for private broadcasting in 1998. However, Lesotho has not yet succeeded to remove the government control of the broadcasting sector. This thesis examines the process of liberalisation in Lesotho's broadcasting. It assesses the media policy as reflected in several policy documents. It further evaluates the introduction of independent regulation in broadcasting sector in 2001. The thesis argues that the government has not been fully committed to liberalisation of broadcasting sector and, as a result, it continues to control the sector. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

In the Kingdom of Lesotho, large dams are currently being constructed with the sole purpose of selling water to the Republic of South Africa, in order to earn royalties and to generate electricity for Lesotho. The focus of this study was to investigate the perception of the community on the socio-environmental impacts of Metolong Dam and Reservoir in Lesotho. A qualitative research methodology was adopted and grounded theory was used in collecting data from the study area. Qualitative research techniques used were document analysis, field notes and semi-structured interviews. After conducting an audit which evaluated the accuracy of the initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by comparing actual to predict impacts, it was found that the perceptions of the community on the socio-economic impacts of Metolong project were: the community had poor education due to expensive school fees and their level of education did not help with dynamics on climate for they are complex and not easily to be understood, alcoholism existed due to unemployement, cultural constraints existed dominated by the patriarchal structures on the land and decision making, compensation policy was not honoured by project developers, the project brought benefits and loss of life-support resources, people are unable to grow wheat, beans and peas for their fields are taken and the community experienced loss of building sand that is not addressed. Information obtained helped the study to close the gap which appears not to have been addressed by the Government of Lesotho Department of Water Affairs Lowlands Water Supply Unit, 2008. Results of the study revealed that local villagers in the study area were happy with the project benefits, but they were discontented with the project as they were not incoporated in the management and supervision of the project. Rather, the local villagers were engaged only as labourers. The study recommends that when large dams are constructed, local villages should not be given promises that are dressed with many enticing commitments. The reason is that, communities never asked for the project, but it is set forth authoritatively as obligatory upon them. Project authorities should increase their efforts to fulfil promises made. Not only that, they should have respect, compassion, care and dedication when dealing with affected people. It is in this regard that the Local Based Project Execution and Observation Model is proposed, which will incorporate local villagers in the management steps of all large dam developments within their communities, in order to contend with environmental impacts of large dams. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Management)

Magister Educationis - MEd / A larger number of schools in Lesotho are owned and controlled by churches whereas the government pays teachers’ salaries and provides school facilities through the national budget. It is through this partnership that the Lesotho government and the churches have a strong link that characterises the Lesotho school management system. However, there have been some major shifts taking place in the education sector of Lesotho that are affecting the way schools are organised, managed and governed. The BCP government considered to revise all the education bills which resulted in the enactment of the LEA of 1995. The LEA of 1995 vested the responsibility of the management of primary schools on democratically elected committees. The study investigated the working relationships between principals and chairpersons of school management committees (SMCs) of selected church primary schools in Lesotho. The focus of the study was to analyse the working relationships between principals and chairpersons of the SMCs towards their roles and responsibilities as set out in the LEA of 1995. The study was approached from the capability approach. The core of the capability approach is to evaluate the achievement of a society by paying attention to what its members are able to be and to do. One of the roles of the SMCs is to allocate resources in schools by recommending for the appointment of teachers. Therefore, the study utilised the capability approach in order to explore the freedoms that principals have towards choosing resources that they want for schools. The study adopted the qualitative research approach. Data was collected through three qualitative research instruments namely, semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis. The interviews were conducted for 16 participants who comprised the chairpersons of the two SMCs (RCC and LEC), principals’ representatives, teachers’ representatives and principals who were non-members of the SMCs. The purpose of the observations was to observe the physical environments, the behaviours of schools as well as the general availability of resources. Document analysis was done in order to draw on the conclusions of the contents of the SMCs’ records of minutes, schools’ financial reports and progress reports. The researcher used different methods of data collection in order to find answers to the research questions and also to achieve the aims of the study. The researcher used both constant comparative method and content analysis to analyse data. The data was analysed and interpreted against the views of the participants and literature review. The study confirmed that in both of the SMCs, most of the principals generally had satisfactory working relationships with the chairpersons. The findings of this study revealed that even though the SMCs perform their roles and responsibilities as set out in the LEA of 1995, there are some broad challenges that church schools face that emanate from the social conversion factors such as social norms, culture and practices within church schools, and environmental conversion factors like geographical locations. The findings further revealed that lack of adequate resources such as classrooms and teachers hampered the teachers’ capability to deliver instruction in a normal way because they had to teach multi-grades. These were found to be the challenges that affected the principals’ freedoms and capabilities to use and convert resources into achievement. Furthermore, the study exposed fair decision-making regarding resource allocation by the SMCs. Principal were free to use school funds as long as they submit the financial reports to the SMCs at the end of the year. However, the conclusion drawn from document analysis showed that not all the schools under study submitted financial reports. The findings reflect that there are no transparent guarantees in some of the school regarding the control and use of school funds. The findings of this study have some implications and recommendations to the Ministry of Education and training, church schools, teachers and principals who wish to work in church schools. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Training should reconsider the representation of one principal for six schools in the SMCs by establishing the school management system that calls for one school management committee per school. The Ministry of Education and Training in partnership with churches should make efforts to delineate the appropriate roles of churches in the provision of education with regard to the local hiring system whereby the SMCs select teachers to be appointed in their schools. Teachers should be transferred to the schools where multi-grade teaching is still practised in order to rationalise distribution of teachers in church schools. Principals and teachers should make informed decisions when choosing the schools that they want to work at, especially if it is a church school. They should make sure that the church schools they choose to be appointed to shall serve their beliefs, not only to focus on salaries.

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze land degradation from an economic perspective in order to assess its significance, understand its causes and design possible remedies. The physical extent and economic significance of land degradation is not well known, but it is indisputable that declining land productivity is a significant problem in many areas of the developing world. Past efforts to combat land degradation have shown a discouraging rate of failure. This work suggests that they have not gone to the root of the problem. The underlying forces of market and government failures are systematically discussed in the chapters which deal with the macroeconomic aspects of land degradation. This analytical framework is applied to a case study of the nation of Lesotho, Southern Africa. An attempt to estimate the economic significance of soil loss on crop land is made, and market and government failures relating to land use are reviewed. In the microeconomic analysis, a comparative review is made of the theory of cost-benefit analysis and its appliction in 20 empirical studies of land improvement projects. This review forms the basis for a new cost-beefit analysis of a specific project in southern Lesotho. The results have important implications for strategic choices in combating land degradation / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2000.