Abstract:
This policy brief presents the challenge of democracy as a misunderstood
and abused concept amongst Basotho and provides recommendations
for viable civic education programmes. The challenges are faced by
three key groups of Basotho. First politicians, who need to overcome
the structural rigidity of party politics based on personalities and
factionalism thus falling short of fulfilling their electoral promises.
Second, the citizens who reside mostly in the rural communities
where many tensions between the traditional and modern democratic
leadership structures are taking place. Third, providers of civic education
whose duty it is to educate the populace on the democratic governance
processes and structures. Inadequate civic education resulted in a
disjuncture between citizens and democratic governance structures.
Recommendations emerging from this analysis include the need for
effective civic education, which to bridge the gap between traditional
and modern practices.