Economy of Lesotho with 42.3 years of life expectancy at birth. However, adult literacy is very high - 82% and children under weight aged under 5 is only 20%. Lesotho has received economic aid from a variety of sources, including the United States, the World Bank, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Germany. Lesotho has nearly 6,000 kilometers of unpaved and modern all-weather roads. There is a short rail line (freight) linking Lesotho with South Africa that is totally owned and operated by South Africa. Water and diamonds are Lesotho's only significant natural resources. Water is being extracted through the 30-year, multibillion-dollar
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.