Rights
1993 Constitution, a constitutional monarchy, and a Court of Appeal apex
The 1993 Constitution restored civilian rule and establishes the King as a constitutional monarch who reigns but does not govern. Chapter II contains fundamental human rights; Chapter III sets non-justiciable principles of state policy. The Court of Appeal is the apex, above the High Court which hears constitutional matters at first instance.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The High Court hears constitutional matters at first instance; the Court of Appeal is final.
Governing law
- Constitution of Lesotho 1993 — Chapter II human rights; Chapter III principles of state policy
- Court of Appeal Act 10 of 1978
- Tenth Amendment to the Constitution Act 2011 — mixed-member electoral model
In practice
Lesotho's constitutional history since 1993 has been marked by repeated coalition instability and a long-running reform process addressing the security services and the judiciary. The distinction between the justiciable Chapter II rights and the declaratory Chapter III principles is the practical starting point for any rights claim.