Leabua Jonathan

Joseph Leabua Jonathan (b. 30 October 1914 ? d. 5 April 1987) was the first Prime Minister of Lesotho. He held that post from 1965 to 1986, when the military overthrew his government.

Related Topics:
30 October - 1914 - 5 April - 1987 - Prime Minister of Lesotho - 1965 - 1986

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Born in Leribe, Jonathan was a great-grandson of King Moshoeshoe I. He worked in local government from 1937 and was a member of delegations to London that sought self-government in Basutoland.

Related Topics:
Leribe - King - Moshoeshoe I - 1937 - London - Self-government

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In 1959, he founded the Basutoland National Party (BNP, renamed Basotho National Party at independence), which won a slim majority in April 1965 elections. He took office as Prime Minister on 7 July 1965.

Related Topics:
1959 - Basotho National Party - April - 7 July

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Soon after Basutoland gained independence in 1966 as Lesotho, executive power was transferred from the King to the Prime Minister. Jonathan's government established full diplomatic relations with South Africa in 1967.

Related Topics:
1966 - Lesotho - South Africa - 1967

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The first post-independence elections were conducted in January 1970. The results gave Jonathan's Basotho National Party (BNP) 23 seats, while the opposition Basotho Congress Party (BCP) won 36. In an apparent response to his defeat, he declared a state of emergency, suspended the constitution, and jailed opposition leaders. The election was annulled and Lesotho was ruled by decree.

Related Topics:
January - 1970 - Basotho Congress Party - State of emergency

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On 10 February 1970, he briefly superseded the monarchy by installing himself as head of state with the style Tona-Kholo. He held that position until King Moshoeshoe II returned later that year after agreeing to take no part in politics.

Related Topics:
10 February - 1970 - Monarchy - Moshoeshoe II

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Despite Lesotho's economic dependence on South Africa and the government's official policy during the 1970's of dialogue with its neighbor, Jonathan repeatedly criticized the South African government's policy of apartheid, and declared his support for the prohibited African National Congress (ANC). During the late 1970's, Jonathan accused the South African government of supporting the Lesotho Liberation Army (LLA), an armed faction of the Basotho Congress Party (BCP), which was conducting a campaign of violence in the country. The South African government denied these claims. The cancellation of elections, after an opposition boycott in 1985, increased the hostility of the LLA, who launched a number of attacks on BNP targets late in that year.

Related Topics:
Apartheid - African National Congress - Lesotho Liberation Army - 1985

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On 20 January 1986, a military coup led by Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya deposed the Jonathan government. He was placed under house arrest in August 1986 and died of a heart attack on 5 April 1987 at the age of 72.

Related Topics:
20 January - 1986 - Military coup - Justin Metsing Lekhanya - House arrest - August - Heart attack

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