Lesotho loti Lesotho loti The Loti (plural: maLoti) is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is subdivided into 100 "Lisente" (sg. "Sente"). It is pegged to the South African rand on a 1:1 basis through the Common Monetary Area, and both are accepted as legal tender within Lesotho. The loti was first issued in 1966, albeit as a non-circulating currency. In 1980, Lesotho issued its first coins denominated in both loti and lisente (dated 1979) to replace the South African Rand, but the Rand remains legal tender. The name derives from the Sesotho "loti", "mountain," while "sente" is from English
Mining industry of Lesotho Mining industry of Lesotho The mining industry of Lesotho is mostly concentrated on diamond mining and as such the mining sector in the country has not played any significant role in furthering its economy. Apart from diamonds, the country's main mineral resources have been identified as base metals, clays, dimension stone, sand, gravel and uranium. The lack of initiative to extract other minerals commercially is mainly attributed to the inadequacy of infrastructure and finances. Between 2000 and 2011, the percentage of GDP contributed by diamond mining to Lesothos economy rose from "virtually zero" to about 4%. The mining of diamonds