In a deeply concerning turn of events, youth in Lesotho were recently denied their constitutional right to peaceful assembly after authorities refused to issue a permit for a planned march aimed at addressing the escalating unemployment crisis in the country. The peaceful protest, which was to culminate in the delivery of a letter of demands to the Office of the Prime Minister, was organized by a coalition of young people who say they have lost hope in government efforts to address joblessness.
Adding to the distress, one of the lead youth activists was apprehended and held in police custody for two days without formal charges, his only “crime” being that he dared to speak publicly about the challenges young people face in trying to make a living in Lesotho. His arrest has sparked outrage among youth and civil society organizations, who view it as a blatant attack on freedom of expression and civic engagement.
Lesotho’s youth unemployment rate remains alarmingly high. Thousands of young people graduate from tertiary institutions every year only to find themselves with no job prospects and no structured government programs to absorb their energy, talent, and potential. Many are left to rely on informal work, street vending, or, in more dire circumstances, migrate to South Africa in search of economic opportunities.
“This is not just about unemployment; it’s about being denied dignity,” said one young protest organizer who asked to remain anonymous. “We were simply going to walk to the Prime Minister’s office and hand over a letter. We weren’t asking for violence. We wanted to be heard.”
The heavy-handed response from the police has raised questions about the government’s commitment to addressing the grievances of its young citizens. Civil society organizations and human rights defenders have condemned the intimidation tactics and are calling for the immediate release of any charges against the detained activist, as well as a national dialogue on youth empowerment.
While the government appears to be stifling youth voices, a parallel story of resilience and grassroots action is emerging in the rural corners of the country—led largely by women.
In Butha-Buthe district, the Rural Women Assembly (RWA) has partnered with the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation in a powerful campaign to tackle gender-based violence (GBV). The partnership is conducting community outreach with women’s groups, youth, and traditional leadership, including heads of chiefs, to promote gender justice and transform harmful social norms.
This initiative recognizes that in rural areas, GBV is often underreported and normalized due to patriarchal traditions and limited access to legal support. By involving chiefs and youth, the campaign takes a holistic approach, raising awareness, encouraging reporting, and advocating for community-led responses to violence.
“Women cannot thrive where there is fear. We are telling our stories, learning our rights, and speaking to our leaders directly,” said ‘M’e Mapitso, a rural activist and RWA member in Butha-Buthe. “This work is opening people’s eyes. We are saying enough is enough.”
At the same time, women in other parts of the country are rising to meet the challenge of climate change with local, eco-friendly solutions. In Berea and Maseru, groups of women have started planting trees in their communities to combat deforestation and rising temperatures. The tree planting efforts go beyond greening the environment, they are building community nurseries to grow trees that will also support bee-keeping initiatives.
“We want to protect our environment and also create income for women,” said ‘M’e Maletsie, a participant in the Maseru tree nursery project. “Bee-keeping will give us honey, which we can sell or use at home. The trees will give us shade, fruits, and a better future.”
These local efforts demonstrate the power of community-led change, especially when national leadership fails to listen. Women in rural and peri-urban areas are organizing themselves, taking charge of their resources, and refusing to wait for policies that rarely reach their villages.
What ties all these developments together is a country at a crossroads: on one hand, a government that is yet to fully commit to inclusive, transparent, and responsive leadership; and on the other hand, a citizenry, especially women and youth, who are taking bold steps to shape the future they want.
Lesotho’s potential lies in the hands of its people. The current youth crisis calls for urgent political will and open dialogue, not silence and suppression. Simultaneously, the grassroots actions by rural women show us what is possible when communities are empowered to act.
If Lesotho is to thrive, both the voices of its youth and the actions of its rural women must be respected, supported, and scaled. They are not enemies of the state but they are the state’s greatest asset.
