A Lesotho Member of Parliament is in legal hot water following accusations of defaming the royal family and claiming the territorial rights to parts of South Africa, leading to his court appearance and ongoing debate about national sovereignty.
Controversial Accusations: Lesotho MP Faces Charges for Claims Against Monarch
Controversial Accusations: Lesotho MP Faces Charges for Claims Against Monarch
Dr. Tshepo Lipholo confronts legal troubles after alleging that Lesotho's king has surrendered control to South Africa.
In Lesotho, a Member of Parliament, Dr. Tshepo Lipholo, finds himself facing serious criminal charges after publicly accusing the country's monarch, King Letsie III, of effectively transferring control of Lesotho to South Africa. Such allegations have raised significant controversy and concern, claiming they undermine the integrity of the royal family. Dr. Lipholo, who is also the leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM), has previously made assertions advocating for the inclusion of certain regions from South Africa into Lesotho's jurisdiction.
On Monday, he attempted to secure bail but was met with a delay that has left him still in custody. His statements, which reportedly included the bold declaration of himself as the paramount chief of Basutoland, have been labeled by the state as "seditious" and promoting public unrest. The charges stem from remarks made between April and June 2025 across various media, where he claimed that the Lesotho king had signed the country over to South Africa as its tenth province.
Dr. Lipholo has cited a historical context for his claims, referencing a United Nations resolution from 1962 that recognized the self-determination rights of the people of Basutoland. He has called for the return of territories within the Free State and other provinces, places historically inhabited by the Basotho people before Afrikaners claimed them in the 19th Century.
However, South African officials have dismissed Dr. Lipholo's initiative as lacking the support of the Lesotho populace and warned that movements to amend colonial borders face significant difficulties due to international agreements aimed at maintaining territorial integrity across African nations. The 1964 Cairo Declaration, signed by continental leaders, firmly supports existing borders despite their colonial origins in a bid to prevent conflict.
Dr. Lipholo's aspirations also include bringing the discussion to the British Parliament to spotlight issues of historical injustice related to Lesotho's independence in 1966. For now, legal proceedings will determine his fate, while his claims continue to stir tension in the region.
