Who runs local government in Lesotho?
Lesotho has elected district, community, urban and municipal councils, but chiefs are built into both local and national government. The 22 Principal Chiefs sit in the Senate by right, and up to two or three chiefs sit on local councils. Chiefs also hold public gatherings (pitsos) and play a part in allocating land and keeping local order.
Kingdom of Lesotho · Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy · Southern Africa
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| District councils (10) | Made up of representatives sent from the community councils plus two chiefs; chairperson elected indirectly | District planning and coordination of community councils. |
| Maseru Municipal Council (1) | Councillors elected in single-member divisions, plus women's reserved seats and up to three appointed chiefs | Services in the capital city. |
| Urban councils (11, as of 2017–18) | Elected members, chiefs and women's reserved seats | Services in smaller towns. |
| Community councils (64, as of 2017–18) | Elected by single-member electoral divisions, plus women's reserved seats and two chiefs | Rural services, land allocation with chiefs, local development. |
Three questions about local power in Lesotho
Are local leaders elected?
Local councillors are elected in single-member divisions with seats reserved for women. Chiefs are hereditary, and the Principal Chiefs in the Senate are not elected.
Which laws set up local government?
Councils, chiefs and the Senate seats of Principal Chiefs are all set in the Constitution or statute (Local Government Act 1997, Chieftainship Act 1968). The pitso is customary but recognised in the Chieftainship Act.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Councillors face voters every five years. Chiefs answer to the ministry and the King, and their conduct is regulated by the Chieftainship Act; the Senate can delay but not stop most laws passed by the National Assembly.
Traditional and customary authority
The Constitution protects the chieftainship. The Senate is made up of the 22 Principal Chiefs, who sit by inheritance (they may send a substitute), and 11 senators nominated by the King on the advice of the Council of State. Under the Chieftainship Act 1968, chiefs hold pitsos (public gatherings), support community projects and help keep order. Chiefs are limited to two seats on district and community councils and three on the Maseru council. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs oversees both councils and chiefs.
Community and neighbourhood power
The pitso, an open public gathering called by the chief, is the oldest form of community participation and is still used to share information and discuss local matters. Elected councillors are expected to support these gatherings.
Points to know
- Lesotho is one of the few countries where hereditary chiefs make up most of a house of Parliament.
- Chiefs can stand for election as ordinary councillors as well as holding appointed seats.
- Around half of councillors elected in 2011 were women, helped by reserved seats.
Local terms
- Pitso
- A public gathering called by a chief to inform and consult the community.
- Principal Chief
- One of 22 senior hereditary chiefs who sit in the Senate.
Sources
- Constitution of Lesotho 1993 (rev. 2018), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- The local government system in Lesotho: country profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- CLGF Southern Africa: Lesotho, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- Elections news (Government of Lesotho), Government of Lesotho, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Lesotho's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.