Mafeteng

Mafeteng is a southern lowland district in Lesotho—one of the country's agricultural zones where subsistence farming remains the primary livelihood despite challenging conditions. The district sits in the lowlands (below the 1,800m that covers 80%+ of Lesotho), making it relatively more accessible than highland districts but still constrained by the nation's enclave geography. Agriculture here faces water stress despite Lesotho's role as a regional 'water tower'—the paradox of exporting water to South Africa's Gauteng via LHWP while rural communities lack reliable supply. The government targets universal water and sanitation access by end of 2025, but Mafeteng's dispersed rural population makes infrastructure expensive to reach. The district's economy depends heavily on remittances from Basotho working in South African mines—a labor migration pattern established during apartheid that continues to shape household incomes. With AGOA expiring and textile factory closures accelerating, even lowland districts far from industrial zones feel the ripple effects of lost employment opportunities in Maseru. Mafeteng embodies the challenge of developing a small mountain kingdom that lacks resources, industries, and access to any port except through a larger neighbor.