Lesotho–South Africa relations for apartheid South Africa. There is no reason for us to exist any longer as a nation with its own currency and army". Ntate Manyanye, a charity director, cited the AIDS epidemic as a reason why Lesotho could no longer survive as an independent country: "Lesotho is fighting for survival. We have a population of about 1.9 million but there may be as many as 400,000 AIDS orphans among us. Life expectancy has fallen to 34. We are desperate". Lesotho–South Africa relations Lesotho–South Africa relations refers to the current and historical bilateral relations of South Africa and Lesotho. Lesotho, which
Lesotho literature Lesotho literature Lesotho literature is the literature of the African kingdom of Lesotho. Notable Basotho authors include Moroesi Akhionbare (1945– ), Thomas Mofolo (1876–1948), Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–2012), Mzamane Nhlapo and Mpho Matsepo Nthunya. Only a limited amount of Lesotho literature is available in the English language. Among these works is "Chaka" (1931)—the most famous novel by the writer Thomas Mofolo. Written in Sesotho, it tells the story of the rise and fall of a Zulu emperor-king. It was named one of the twelve best works of African literature of the 20th century by a panel organized by Ali Mazrui.