- More than seven in 10 Basotho (72%) say the Constitution should be changed to allow citizens of Lesotho to hold dual citizenship with any other country. Even more (77%) favour legalizing dual citizenship with South Africa, up from 48% in 2014.
- A slim majority (52%) of Basotho say Lesotho can only realize meaningful development if it becomes part of the Republic of South Africa. This proportion has increased from 40% since 2014.
- Two-thirds (65%) of Basotho find it “difficult” or “very difficult” to cross international borders to work or trade in other countries.
- More than four in 10 Basotho (44%) say they or their relatives have gone to live in another country for more than three months during the past three years – a higher proportion than in six other Southern African countries.
- Almost four in 10 Basotho (38%) say they have considered moving to another country, including 20% who have given “a lot” of thought to the idea.
Lesotho’s Constitution prohibits Lesotho citizens from holding the citizenship of any other country. Basotho who want to become citizens of another country must renounce their Lesotho citizenship, giving up certain rights and benefits to which Lesotho citizens are entitled.
Advocates have argued for years that legalizing dual citizenship – particularly dual citizenship between Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho’s only direct neighbour – would benefit the country (Lesotho Times, 2015; Namasasu, 2016). Among their arguments, they have pointed to the more than 400,000 Basotho living in South Africa due to high unemployment in Lesotho; harassment that Basotho who travel to South Africa face at the border; and the strong historical, cultural, and economic bonds that exist between the two countries
Noting that Lesotho is losing social and economic benefits by not allowing dual citizenship, the government has submitted to Parliament a bill to amend the Constitution to allow for dual citizenship (Post, 2018; Sunday Express, 2017). The World Bank (2017) estimates that remittance inflows to Lesotho have dropped from a high of U.S. $647 million in 2011 to $367 million in 2017, including $331 million from South Africa.
As Lesotho embarks on a highly anticipated multi-sectoral reform process called for by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in an attempt to bring lasting peace and stability to Lesotho, dual citizenship counts among constitutional issues that will be debated.
Results of a new Afrobarometer survey show strong – and increasing – public support for legalizing dual citizenship with South Africa, as well as a clear preference for legalizing dual citizenship in general.
Moreover, the number of Basotho who say their country must become part of South Africa in order to realize meaningful development has grown to a majority. Among the four in 10 Basotho who have considered emigrating, most say they would most likely move to South Africa to find work.
