abor force: 689,000 economically active; 86.2% of resident
population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active
male labor force works in South Africa

_#_Organized labor: there are two trade union federations; the
government favors formation of a single, umbrella trade union
confederation

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Lesotho

_#_Type: constitutional monarchy

_#_Capital: Maseru

_#_Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qachas Nek, Quthing,
Thaba-Tseka

_#_Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK; formerly Basutoland)

_#_Constitution: 4 October 1966, suspended January 1970

_#_Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

_#_Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Military Council,
Military Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: none--the bicameral Parliament was dissolved
following the military coup in January 1986; note--a National Constituent
Assembly convened in June 1990 to rewrite the constitution and debate
issues of national importance, but it has no legislative authority

_#_Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following
dismissal of his father, exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen.
LEKHANYA);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Col.
Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
Basotho National Party (BNP), Matete MAJARA (interim leader);
Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE;
National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI;
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), S. H. MAPHELEBA;
United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI;
Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob KENYA

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 21

_#_Elections:

National Assembly--dissolved following the military coup in
January 1986; military has pledged elections will take place in June 1992

_#_Communists: small Lesotho Communist Party

_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO