Lesotho's Non-governmental Organisations: Competent Watch-dogs for Democracy?

Abstract

The paper evaluates the impact of the role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Lesotho on the constitutional crisis of 1994. It argues that Lesothos NGOs have come-of-age in many ways, and this was shown by the active role they played in mediating in a national crisis. This role has put them forth as possible watch-dogs for democracy. However, it also argues that some of the strength that was shown by NGOs during the crisis can be partly attributed to the quality of the leadership of the movement, as well as the nature of the crisis itself i.e. the issue that was disputed. It therefore concludes by predicting that the future of NGOs as watch-dogs for democracy will be determined by the extent of the involvement of international forces, such as SADC in regional conflicts as well as the capacity of NGOs to sustain themselves structurally.



Review of Southern African Studies Volume 3 No. 2 December 1999, pp. 1-18