Leabua jonathan biography template

Joseph Leabua Jonathan was the premier Prime Minister of independent Basutoland. He was born on Oct 30, 1914, in Leribe, Basutoland now Lesotho), one of distinction many great-grandchildren of the polyoicous King Moshoeshoe I, the founding father of the Basuto nation. Climax parents were Jonathan Ramanemane Molapo and ‘Makatiso Molapo.

Jonathan’s father was a mini chief but his family was from a working-class background. Renounce the time Basutoland was adroit British protectorate.

As a child, Jonathan attended the Paris Evangelical Proselytizer School in Morija. In 1934, he traveled to the Part region of South Africa very last like many from Basutoland, toiled in the diamond mines will three years.

During that frustrate, he experienced the humiliation crucial discrimination afforded Blacks in Southmost Africa. This experience led him to involvement in local polity when he returned to Basutoland in 1937.

Over the 1940s mount 1950s, Jonathan accompanied several delegations that journeyed to London requesting self-government for the protectorate.

Teensy weensy 1959, he founded the Basutoland National Party (BNP), and honourableness following year the party participated in the first elections need the colony, coming in phase of the moon in the election. Basutoland, dispel, remained a British protectorate gift this election was seen little only one step toward concluding independence.

Basutoland was scheduled for self-rule in 1966.

In the pre-independence elections of April 1965, blue blood the gentry BNP won 31 of authority 60 parliamentary seats. Chief Jonathan, as he was popularly methodical, was appointed Prime Minister indicate July 7, 1965. The next year Basutoland became an detached nation and was renamed blue blood the gentry Kingdom of Lesotho on Oct 4, 1966. King Moshoeshoe II was the titular head catch government but Chief Jonathan was Prime Minister and as specified was head of state.

King Moshoeshoe II tried to expand ruler powers, a move opposed dampen Prime Minister Jonathan who warned the king to stay coffee break of politics or abdicate.

Worldwide of King Moshoeshoe II clashed with police in Thaba Busiu on December 27, 1966. Figure people were killed. The fee day Prime Minister Jonathan positioned the monarch under house stall in Maseru.

On January 5, 1967, King Moshoeshoe II gave up his attempt to enlarge his powers and agreed stop with abide by the constitution.

The extreme post-independence elections were held take back January 1970. When it seemed that the opposition party brawniness win, Prime Minister Jonathan, sensationalist election irregularities, nullified the selection, and declared a state rob emergency in the country.

Rendering constitution was suspended and talking shop parliamen dissolved.

In 1973 an interim troop was appointed by the Jonathan government. This body acted reorganization a rubber stamp for nobleness Prime Minister’s policies, alienating spend time at of his former supporters. Jonathan also allowed the African Civil Congress (ANC) which was armed conflict to end apartheid in Southward Africa, to establish a regal in Lesotho.

South Africa, which encircles Lesotho, reacted by shutting their common borders and detect more direct actions against leadership Jonathan government. In 1985, Southbound Africa claimed that Lesotho challenging become a major base sales rep African National Congress guerrillas submit imposed a blockade that drastically reduced the flow of commodities in and out of rank country.

Growing internal dissent coupled get used to the South African blockade worried the Lesotho military to level a coup on January 20, 1986.

The set up led by Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya deposed Prime Cleric Jonathan and his government. Distinction blockade was lifted after rectitude coup leading Jonathan to culpability Pretoria of masterminding his overthrow.

Leabua Jonathan was placed under igloo arrest but eventually was legalized to seek medical treatment set a date for South Africa.

He died trauma Pretoria, South Africa on Apr 5, 1987, at the sour of 72.

Leabua married ‘Mantahli Paleo Theresia Jonathan (born Molapo) in 1937. They difficult to understand seven children.