Briefing Paper

Basotho’s less Supportive of Women’s Political Leadership, Opposed to Traditional Chieftain Role

Basotho women still find it hard to attain leadership positions due to discriminatory cultural practices and laws. Support for women’s political leadership declined from 2012 to 2014, and even though two thirds
of women say that women should have the same chance as men of being elected to
political office, a majority of women and men still support the law that allows only sons to succeed to chieftaincy in Lesotho.