---“
Thaba li nchebile, li mphata ka lipotso li re ke tla fihla neng sehlohlolong….” --- Bonolo
I fall under the list of Basotho
who are only guilty in saying - for desiring to travel the world before they
chose to travel in and around their own country. I do not know how many times I
have engaged in the “foreigners know our country better than we do”
conversation only to turn right around and google the cost of a flight ticket to Dubai instead of looking up
Maliba Lodge in the telephone directory to make a booking, the sad reality for
me is that as much as I love Lesotho with its beautiful scenery, gigantic mountains
and sterling greenery, I still find the thought of interacting with different
cultures and learning from them more compelling than that of going up to Molimo
Nthuse for a little serene time with mother nature.  |
| Molimo Nthuse Lodge |
I imagine the side looks that are
coming from all directions for my admitting to this, its fine as it is expected
but the upside is that I have really started to change my thinking as far as travelling
and learning about Lesotho is involved, although it always boils down to
excuses, I have vowed to start small.
So when the opportunity for an
impromptu road trip presented itself on the eve of Lesotho’s 48th
year of independence, I did not say no because I could not think up a better
way to celebrate the so called independence of Lesotho than being on the road-
not only admiring the beauty of this place but also taking the time out to
deeply reflect on what it is that went wrong, how it got to this point and why
this country is not free forty eight years after it was declared an independent
state. Quite frankly I am tired of the same discourse surrounding the progress
of Lesotho but it helped a great deal that I was in the company of someone who
takes development theories and economic planning seriously because I felt
enlightened coming out of this experience and while talking about these issues
changes nothing really, I am of the belief that it does spark a seed of courage
in those that engage in them to one day be the forces behind change in the
political and economical landscape. I
trust that the more we talk about the incidents of our country, the better
placed we are to understand the intricacies that govern the decisions made on
our behalf and when we are able to comprehend such, then we become better
equipped to make contributions that will eventually help Lesotho settle into
its own.
“Nqenehele
pele u nkhenela, mohlomong ke eona karabo” – Ts’epo Tshola
As I gazed out to the backdrop of
these mountains and was hit by the rays of the setting sun that blanketed them I
could not help but feel sorry for this country that has raised me. I felt sad
for having been so harsh with it for not achieving full
independence, specks of guilt presented themselves as I thought back to an entry I posted on here this time last year. These mountains that
I craved to confront on Lesotho’s state of affairs pleaded with me, they asked
that I empathize with this country that finds itself in the clutches of leaders
who do not have its best interests at heart.
In that moment, ha ke shebane le
lithaba tsa Lesotho, they whispered to me the wishes of those whose sweat and
blood founded this Kingdom, lithaba tsa Lesotho urged that I do not give up on
them, on the beauty that is this nation, they asked that I keep the faith alive
for the sake of my children’s’ future. Lithaba tsa Lesotho li nchebile, li re
honna ke se lahleheloe ke ts’epo, these mountains spoke in inspired tones and
stirred a new layer of hope and expectation in me. Lithaba tsa Lesotho li re
this is not the end but rather a new beginning and while they do admit that
this state has not tasted true freedom as yet, they insist that you and me not
give up on the hope that lies between their valleys.
I have concluded that even if it
means taking a young drive out to Mafeteng or Leribe only to bond with the
tranquility of my motherland then that is what I am going to do because it is
in the silence of these mountains that the answers to advancing my Lesotho are stowed
Until next post,
Afrika Rising, Peace & Revolution....
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