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Radio broadcast by Leabua Jonathan on the independence of Lesotho (4October 1966)

Caption: On 4 October 1966, the day on which the British protectorate of Basutoland becomes anindependent country under the name of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Joseph Leabua Jonathan, the Lesotho PrimeMinister, addresses the nation.

Copyright: (c) The National Archives of the United Kingdom

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URL:http://www.cvce.eu/obj/radio_broadcast_by_leabua_jonathan_on_the_independence_of_lesotho_4_october_1966-en-bee4dacc-9094-4420-8adf-3f13021684f2.html

Last updated: 01/03/2017

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•

I , , • '• Ill ~f(1rJ/flS' if /if o I' ,. Jnrkct mutt be tire .,aml' ar t'--1 ,r L h

. • :_a n, . f ne /gnt!AI 1ratJ.d

A new era is openin~ ±or every Mosotho on this, our

Independence D2.;y - and b~i J.V~osot110 I m·e3n everyone fJho h£.s

I

ffia~e Ieso~ho his j0me end o~es alle~isnce to her, irrespective

of race, creed or CGlOATo r;'\ ., •

ioa8y is a time for jubilation ~nd rejoicini - and

rit_htl;y so - but it is mucl1 more tha11 th:-... t . It is a time

for rer:1embr:,nce; rerr1embrance of the work of those wbo

have la ooure d in the r,c st to rr:ake the achieveme:1 t of our

fu.11 netionboorl possible bu.t \:ho -::re no loriger \Vi th u.s to

s11a.rs our tri .. ,1mph; :reni.ew.brc:nce of :icts of Ler.i.ero8i ty ond • ,;J •

__ 1111...t1.ie ....is ~11orvn to the BcJ t>otno over the years by many

peo plc o z~nd m.s.ny t,ove rr~G:entE; and rer;:_embrance e spe cietlly

of friendships ior~ed in tnc ·v1orld wars VJLich \rvill be

streni::. tllened.. and not ,ne-: .. :~ened by Inrle venctence • •

This is -lso - and ~ore im~ort~ntly - a day of

,Jedicationo The rcc.td ahesd will not be easy c:nd it is

1i1tin0 tl1&t we should all paube to reflect '..lpon v,here

t i1 e pat n of de di c 2.. tic n mu.st 1 e & d • In our m·: r ch I o rv: a rd

into t~e future we will .!'..!.Ot .~isdnin to look b,..-1.ck to our

past and preEerve ·shat is 0 00d in it 9 but we dare not be

shac.L_led by -che p2..st . I s ~ea.i_ to you not only 3.S Prime

lLinister bo.t as a de scend&.nt of ·t11e breat 1:oshoes~oe 9 through

the HoJ.se of LColapo 9 and I rejoice t1.at at this time when

we turns new p~ge in our constitutional advance~ent, the

n&ture of our Gov~rnment lJ still a Constitutional Kona1chy

and th&t we have &s Head of St&te a ~rest - ~randson of

I(os .. 1oesuoe througn the t~ouse of letsie a I w0~ld not willin~ly

see our ~raditioLal \JUJ of life s~ept ~way heedlessly 9 but

we ao well to rec ember t .. ~0.t Eas0tho custom ~nd tr3di tion is

not, 2!ld 1.1ever hr:is been, a fixer~ :...nd ir_._,1Ut:-;:blr COd€ o

eve ry he c:.. l thy -.n 6 1 iv in~ inst it u. ti u n ｾ＠ i t r1 Pd3 sou eh t

I,ike

c,_jnstc..1.i tly -co o Japt i tL elf to ti.Le chc...nLiDti n~] eds of tbe

times . r .... osboeb1~oe l.1.im.f,elf w_ s a rJro 6 ressive forwa.rd-looking

man wrjo never he;:,it-,t d to :-Jd:1pt our cu.sterns to the

nu.m8niz.1n[ £ or\..,e of Christi H.1.i tJ u..rid to tne dem~inds of' a

Crlftl.1.f:,illt...:- V)O.£ld . 0~r l!L"",=.,tOIL.S 311(~ prr•ctices hove Cullie dOW11. to

us like the ,.nv1:ri ttcn ccnver "Liuns of the -r.=ri tisL C0nsti ti.1tion .

1'rJe,i c.re Ou.l" C)V:n but ·.~e he Vt: • llo Cl tl .. Clli. to Oe influenced

by tbe timeb a n d hsve i n c ~r ~or~t0d im~1ovements and ch8n.Les

to s_). i t tbe n ee d s of tue t j_ rri.es .

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(N,IJ. 71, nrcrdln,r of rl,lf Jnrku mu,; be th~ 11amr as that of the J,fgM1I 1r01Md.~~--. _,.

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CorH~i. lcr-9 iur exun.1JJe, LJ.10 :i nd of lesotJ..o. 1'. is

i ｾ＠ 01..LJ"' n1 1)",- ·

1· 1· tni 10,,·t_ 11 1• t r, · · 1- t ·

• \. .., v ｾ＠ .1. u hbLo·... \,. u.r col1L"tJ u1J. ·1 un 1f ll1.eo it

qi.lite 1Jllin t:1• t Jond is tlJe propert., of tl1~; 11t.tti0n, beld

j n tr.11.st L 0r the nf~ !.;ion by tbe Par .. molllnt Chief ... ~nd the

Chieft>. It j s f 01 ... tLln&te thr.:.t we ire t.,oinL, into Inde1Jenclence

\~i t .. .1 tl10 prir.Lciple firm.l;y entrc.ncbcd, th t 11.nd is a

a..1.:;y fec.:r·s t!Jcre tnj_t..ht hnve been, thb t t~e B::i.soth0 'v.ere

in dv.rit,er of lc::.iint 0\1nersi1ii,> ~nd control of their ov;n

1 _...11d . I ... 1 t 1 e t..,dl pro tG ct i vri i .J 110 t en(., l,l t.,11. ·: e GLUG t L ti 11

face ti1e 1Jro bletL. of pre .... e rving tbc ~oil i t:..,el f so th.J. t we

c~11 ｾｾｾ｢＠ on our n~tiunal herit~~e in-t~ct ctnd ~ns~oilt to

uu.r chil 1ren c.utl their cliild1.,en ' s clJildreno Ou.r r,res911t

13~· sten .. uf 1 nd use ._.nd l:...nd aJ_J OCc:' L.ton he..ve u1c..Hy wcc,Lne .. t:.es .

I

To r\;. h .. e,\y them we n .... Ls t I.A.be tne comLined \ 1 isdom of s.11 Liections

of o.tr nction. Cbieff=.:, cori1t1 oner .... " busine._smen, schol _ rs 9 te~c~er~ _nd ~inisteru shull all co-oper8te in examinin~

t,hc prooletJ. ...... nd in f0rri.1~Llhtjrie, a solution to the L.1.uestion

of hovv vve Cori muh.e the test lt>e of o .J.r l.2nd and at the same

time pre~erve it for futl.Lre genero.tions of .3csotho . I hope

tl1 ... t the N:...:.tiu11al Plan1.1int_. Bo~rd est'..J..bliohed under the

Cunstitutiun ~ill feithf~lly interpret ~nd reprebent

national opinion on °t.L1is t:J..,.bject c:1.nd secure .:.e,reement

arJ.un~.,j all sect.tons o.f t_Je: n ..... tion on tne remedies to be

2 p pl i e 1 tu t 11 e ab Lt..:. e b '"' n J v, e akn G ,;j ..... e .:i in our pre · j en t sys t em

of land J..~e~ e.

I h:.. ve .... b J:>t.. ci r .. l li,L:i_.L._. f. or i .:-.. rn:e r::... .J.nc1 I 1.-~m p2.,rt i co.11... rl:y

concerned th t ,.11] ~:·.du.l 1 enjoy the [,re_ test po...,stbl e

uecu1itv i1.L tl1e OCCL-~i.J'll1CY rif l ........ •1

; t.[1_t the.} b'1CJ..lc1 be

r ble t, irlVSbt cOnfiG.G1Jtli in t.1e imprOVc:>Ul8l1C Of tneir

ovwn bvi l !I to n.&intLin bnd incr et.tSe its pru,1 ~cti v l t.} ; .:..nd

tJ:1 c t.1e l:...nd nhou.ld. be n1"mc 1i '. isely c1.nd w, 11 o

I V\rO...t.l c.t i::.,:L ve .fO'v.. 1,Ly as ...... Lrc 1nc.:e :i.10·,\ t h..:. t it will be t he

e ·lr1.1e o t 211 e, vu tr of' lh.l r Gove r n t .. ·c.at ~nd rr .. ;y se l f to ensure t h.:.. t

e...._c}1 ,~lH.l CV~ry [~:?fiber Of O LT i12 viOl1 :, WbatcV1.. T' l1 i S S t r .. t ion

i J.1 t bc l ifL of ou .. r c o .i1L r s , d il l r ~cc.i.ve e< ... uil i t y of

tr e·, t 1.1.ent IAil..:.e :r t 1.l1:.r 1 .t"H · 1.n L~ i n O.l.l-v r ct··uce hi t 1.-1 t he \.J i ..,bes

of t J.0 B~t.,otb 1..) p e oi·le c f.J q \<1.llOl t. . It f oJ.JO\,S tha t t he tr~s t

i m_po so '1 vt J:-1 011 ,d., all i L tt bit. one o C ov TLimc n t c c.1.n 1.1. 0 t b e E,in

to 11 rotuot t:; e c.:ou.orY..ic de vclo 1·ml11t. r.Ld nationc~l procpc r i ty ,

GovPrnmcnt citnt1ot t::.vcn t.. ovt n,, .. L11l :f.JL _it i b ·1ble t o ｾ＠ ......... ,llrc

the pet.J..,l( W~JO t.l ,<...GL1 l it~ tl1 "L 1 n ｾ＠ \,1.lJ. ue t t e ,l in

r: '-,;. JT'i lll!C ,~itll t Cil \\'1....ihe .... a

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,, e C:1u....,; t 110 t .f 0 r t.,C t tl1E: liYO oleni of 11·uvi ii1...L, 1. nt

Lu r in J 1s t r,y o I believ0 -rl. .. t . .... ' l r ·,c,. · 11T

- I;.;' t • ｾ＠• 1

~.., l . C I L ... L,y

je:..lc.i1J.si'-f., .. nd 1.reJJ.clic:e.,

L; ｾ＠ - e i u. l l s . ..n d i ~1 t e 11 i ~en -l; 1 ｾ＠ , i t v:.i i 1 1 b ':J _. o ... ..., i r 1 c tu i ind

u. Svl . .l ti OD t:i .. t will llO l, Uil,:e YLui:ne GUr t.1 • r~i C .:.rincl 1:-11 e 7

tc.: .. t tnE.: l,:nd belunco tc ttc n tiL,;n, but i.\ill b0 the s .... rrie

time en:;bl~ us to ciVE: su.f1.icJ..ent .... ecu.ri ty n: inl.,L~eti.er.1t

to \\luJl\..1- ue inJ~sLri~list,.J .

Li?.:' r-c .fro u tl1e wi :::i0 ~nd ~e ti10 c:r\ tic UE e ol' our 1 .1.1c1,

t ... ,.,_e re 1· CJ ar10 -:--:11e ,., u-• l 1ie1·-- .......... ,, 0 V ..L t:_, .L J. .1,l- e J

I

e \.., •.A..Cr..1.~ion .. I f J.e1-.ocr- c~ is t \v·orh. in Lesot~10 ｾ＠ if Goverr:rr:ent

i~ tu work ef1i~ientl~, if, el re to be true to the idesls

eruboc.lied in OlJ.r :Jill of H·J.rr:: n E.i_:_,bts ~~11d 1·rf:~ dum? 1 the

l1e..A\;y uu.r e11 \;ill lie on every indivirlJ.sl 1 on every J.J&rent ,

every scl'h.:ol te&cheI Ct.t1d r~rticA.lc. 1-1;:y un oux' -.ni ve r :::.ii ty.

Gt.1r nee do are 0 re c:... t. J\:c ny o 1 the 11.L re~ ..,1i re r one y tc s .~ti sfy ,

.. - t . l .r t b . !-" . t 1 - - 1 o .. lt, e1..-L~tc2:. ion c~,.n~ wit 1. e.1ior , e \11-c; ... 11n de rec.; en or aJ. __ •

Self-edu.c1::1tion :..nd sel::f -.L\.nov)lecl~12 \:ill be t~ue best busrE,.nt2e

of a sane ~nd he&lthy lebOthGo Yo·;._r Gove rnm.e11·1.i vYill ~Jond

every effort to ens..,tre th· t t:1e J_Jeo 1 ... lc: h:1.ve L•,ccesL to

1 e c:., rn int::: ｾ＠ n d. t b ... t as f <--r -, s 1 o ｾ＠ :._. i 1J 1 e e '=.l vl c .- ti on ,· i J l be

provided at the lOV/eSt pvf:'~i1le COS"'u o Self- help .Jho~·il'.i be

u '--' 0 Ll GUY I l'\. 12 C v 1 0 r ~{: 0 f

~ove rnmen t mny t;e, ;, e \"Jill n.o t Let ._..:ny \ !1 er~

,J.nle ..... ..., v:e .... rt? _prepc.-_r~ · to or:( 1.1 rd ,-A.t t.."'J l levE::l~ of' e,.,1r

:n- -'--ior. ..... ll _1.,,. L -.1.c:.t- 1- 1 .1. .1. E:. • ~he 8.,1 V:.. .. ticil of I 2 "-''--- t_1 o l ::. in tl1e . ·n.,C"

... 1~ U>J

of ever, ILanj v\· 0 IT ... cl Yl ,~a chil3 \1:10 1 ive here . I :-i • 1 e~1 to • ' I -1J . -J

__.. __

J·o iJ.. --11 Cl. ~-. let .. lS do t.. .. ore n ~,

... 1 ... ｾ＠ t:·li{ le:::. u o Iet 1 C ,A.I.J n.,.,ve action

u..nd 110 t 148 re ·,.,o rdB o

Vve 8..ce beco:i1in; an inC:.epl,n~eut St.(J4.te in a d .... 1'l6 e rous

a11d 1.J".nsettled vvcrldo ,1 e ~re c... very st:all n, ..... tion, end vie

&TC puor; out l!'.:1.Vlil5 reL_rrl to vllI [GC>t.., T phiG SitJ"'°tiOil y

i t i s i r_ e v ..:_ t .:.. 11 e t n . t our re :p :r 0 s i-= 11 t .. -. t i v e b ·, .1 i 11 be c ::...11 e d.

.J. 11on to 2.il preo .... vie·.v·s on c ne ~10.c or nother on l r e&t ~na ......

con trove rsir~l i..., ... lle s ,." r!i h o cc .. _,r;y ..,o vro c~ir ... en L c, pl ace in

t n e d a i 1 c1 n e v\· s o I e t .,L::., 111- !{ 8 i t l\. i t e c J e 'i r t • _ t , w 11 i 1 e

we h&VE: 0,.1r prine;i 1 le s \,e ·,vill 1..ever Geek tu inter 1. ere in

the domestic ~i. .::_ L.ir.:.i 01 0i,l1r.;;.r 11.rc~t :i.1s .

As a smCA.11 n -ti on ·.:e \Jere · 1.Jl'- to G..,lrVi VC:: be cause we

were &. 1,1e· 1 cef1,.t.l p~of.,le . -,e fou. 0 ' 1 t only\ hen ;,ic ·.~:crE' _...tt: eked .

1e never allov:ed OJ.r,_ lvE.:s Lu Je ~ivic1e .. _ lJ, intt:'rn'3.l conflict~

c au.:,e,, by trib li sm, nd in -che s me beri.:;e , e sb.:..11 1esist any

attenipts to divide us thro e,b political r-ffiJi~t vl.L..., .

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tit, _,,. • ,,_ of tlw Ju,lw,t IM*' -

t . I ｾ＠ . 1 ci l · ..... rj ｾ＠ ,..ti -- ｾ＠ -- u ' 0lc,

i n suet. 1 re;e nJ.t. cere ir: TiiH .. .:»t: ce:::..9tr .. ti:>no, .le .. i t-2 :'I •

...t.lSCC...tr ..... Let...eni; ::rJ~ ~Er"tc.:'J.L .._\.A.Erters . 1t...S ..... i:,_bcl t ... ｾ＠ 0;1 is

ivr .ini "tJ at _)ome after Inde pen ·t:r.~e ....... t11, t le rJ.._ .. y v ork

tct..etnei fe r pe ce u1d t ... 1e Lll".1it:t of A:.'ric:J. in tLe Or .... a~iss"tion

~f afric n JnitJ as 1cll ｾｾ＠ f01 t_e ie~ce uf ~he ·L~lc ~orld .

J.:ut _ e~ .. ce, unit~ and com .. OL ..1.n .erot:nG.ine:. C.1~.1....;t l:a. -e their

ori.1::;in l:ere :--::: ::~me . \:e believe in ...:.c.._ocT .... tic wny of

l i fe and i n freedom for all, irr~cp0cti1e of r - .... ~, colour or

creed . .·e desire to te =-i\JeL r f .. 11 ..:...111 f2ir cppor1:ui1ity

t. .... abov; t.::iut ou.r .. ay of life c;ln l0rk . 7.e o not expect

t...1 be in-cerfered \ i t_1 ... Ld ·.·e \'."ilJ nc11; interierc witn other s .

\1 i th others v,e .1eal •, i "tn tuler'1nc2, ..... :c.d 1iO the bef:.t of OLlr

3-bili T.y, r, i Th ~.nderst':..~idi..:1c. ...:.r..d ~ODf 4::.,sivn . e .;s.k for

simil&2" tred. 'tm2 .. -t . T::i s is v;:. t I c1ean n !"1~n I s1-e.::.k of 11 nrincl .:,led eo - e xi b Tence . " - ...

I \"\~.L.ld like to S~\y :... wurd tc c "'r :'Jrope_r.1. ir.:..ends

\.no hc..\e contrib..1tsd to our r::tio ... 1.:.l life . I t .. iri..k I

1 "' 1- ....., t' l T • 1 1 t • • i" t • spea_\'.. ror a .l .bt..SC .ao \'_:en ... ""C11:.11\. ue -~l-.Jl~ns _or _Jelr

pionee r ·~·,1ork in edu.c_t:..01: . A..,, = re.:;;tllt, o.: their laco...1.·:rs

"t:.:e level or lit.Sr"}~;, iL. Lesot:i':.o iv bi....-:her t.1.:"11 n:ost othe:r ...... I ｾ＠ . ... ,." ""\. r r-." -. - l. ..... V I _)c;.. 'II I;..

-..:-el_ l_ o •.· c~ 1 nt1'"'_jrr.. . cr1 I ...... T' - T \ p [1 11 e C0 1'- e -vi. L--'- - ,,.l. ... ｾ＠ .::, •' u .. .l..__ I.I V - o:l .,; -- ..,..1 ~\..!. ~t,;: nd

tl1e n oble \,vrk. of ~..t It: . ..1.;-_u t 1e C . .1ri~1.i..:11 rLeo ._r .. ._e . To 'tl1e

t r c:.~ers I z..lso he.., c .. !:..\'.: ... :.:ace of c::r~t:.. t~de f .... r t1 eir pionee r

wu r k in ru..: d :_a.h.in._. 2.....1.L~ f .Jr brir_t:.,int.... to the ..1..0s t re n.o te

~reas 't~e L~ce~ i~ies 0f civili~cd life . ,.,.- d .1\ o mu.n .. n no

COt.:.LfLIJ.ni t.., can 1, ros1 er 111 ivul.~ • .-tior... intl we ohall .3lVJ~ .. S

v~lv.~ the G.,_:::.,ist nee .. :nd cu- or,cr i..~L;1l of our =uropee"-11

friendo i n \.:1_ -cever vu::, .. :J tLeJ Cc n ~orJ.tri bv."te to our national

i:, r obr e .... s and 1-rospE-ri t., • Thobe v•no n:;vG ...Lecidec t leave

t he coun tr: , .· e "th~nk ｾ＠ '-'.., t he I ti l;, tor t r1e \-tJ rk: they he ve

r}on e a _ ... J V, e S-~::..i.11 ~l \,'"'JS Ttw.e::tbt=r +:1pm ~..., Ctlr f r iends .

I 9.ffi un.l J t oo :e l J •.r. Er .,, t L r t t: .. l: r e :'I Cher :l uf us

will not b_ ~a s:, c ~t J~ffic: i .J ｾ＠ 1st t c be uv~r~ume .

Wf: he...-.. = t he r L.l ' t 1: 1. )f ..., o rnl r. ... LJ.on 1 ... o ri 1-JL t nere in

Lebotlio . Our II .. 11 -r.t ,n ..... 1 .. ..... c t J. c1 e ~· t 1 t Lt ib

Ilt;edeJ. .:.i i .l'i C .1 ti l b .ill t .J. ' t _ ｾ＠ '1 \Ai i ll !.LO o, t,; r e me

t.hen1 . like - ｾ＠ ~t (;;;l t1 'I ·ill r -- l t.; J. \ t: \ . l t..:. ,_11J t. I... ... l . -E.; .1e rt c t . p. bet r 1 1 .j .c • 1 . t l l .1 I t to

ullc· .. JOtlT Luin s to De cl d l ｾ＠ b,. .J - ｾ＠r ._, ..

l l ._ .t I th~

1 l t .Are of n l 1dt: l n nt Ie Ot o. let LL. (. t ... r:· iufle~io.t ly tc bu. 1 a or ... i; roL ·t: ro ｾ＠ C ntr l t

.... • ... (. ..... 1· l!C

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( N.B, 1 r, ' nrad/11g- of tl,/rr Jacket 11111.,t be the 3ame as that of tire hiclre3t iratkd .-...,.,,,,........... . .. . -

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Let u~ f ｾｾ＠ ce tl1t fu GtrE with cc..1..1.rc1.~e. lJif [ E.. 1 encP. •J u bou. t ·ways

und LG~ llb 7 there wi_l &lw~ycl be 7 out there cLn sirely be no

r ... ,Jru for differences ahou.t our .A..i timn.te obJective. Y/e aJl

want a ha1JIJY l· nd in whic:h there v?ill b0 a ..f11ll ::-... rid wc)rth ­

whilG lire for everv ~osotho . ...

Let us go forward then, and toge th~ r bu.ild : .. n·• tion

on the f o Lln J. at i c n s of p e a c: 1;; , w i .s do m , gu o G. w i 11 c .n d g 1J o d

sense :aid b} our king and f·3.tber the E..:.reat ~i.103hoesnoe .

~ay God bless Lesotho - M~y Gud blebs us all ! !

K H O T S O! ! P J LA!! N A L A!!

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