Leribe

Leribe is Lesotho's second-most populous district—a northern territory that includes both lowland areas along the South African border and highland zones rising to the Maluti Mountains. The district capital, Hlotse, serves as a commercial center for the northern economy. Diamond mining has historically contributed to Leribe's development, though global diamond prices have depressed revenues across Lesotho. The nation's GDP growth reached 2.6% in FY24/25 (up from 2.0%), primarily reflecting LHWP-II construction spillovers rather than sector diversification. Leribe shares the structural vulnerability affecting all Basotho districts: AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) expires September 2025, and US tariff uncertainty has already halted orders from American buyers, threatening 30,000 textile jobs nationally. The Central Bank reported 5.3% economic contraction in early 2025 from tariff impacts. South African Customs Union (SACU) transfers and water royalties provide fiscal buoyancy, but expenditures on LHWP-II are projected to push the national deficit to 3.3% of GDP by 2025. As a landlocked enclave with over 80% of territory above 1,800m, Leribe—like all Lesotho—depends on the South African economy for trade, remittances, and employment.