Basutoland Progressive Association

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The Basutoland Progressive Association ( Sesotho : Kopano ea Tsoele-pele ; German for example: "Progressive Association of Basutoland" or "Progressive Association") was the first political grouping in Basutoland , today's Lesotho . It was founded in 1907.

history

On November 28, 1907, teachers, preachers, writers, merchants, and local colonial administrators formed the Basutoland Progressive Association. They were also called bahlalefi (Sesotho; German for example: "The educated"). Its founders included the first President Reverend Cranmer Sebeta and the writer Thomas Mofolo . Most of the BPA members were affiliated with the Société des Missions Evangéliques de Paris . The aim was to implement reforms that the BPA members did not trust the barena to do. The program adopted in 1908 called for economic and political progress through measures in agriculture, the promotion of small businesses and the education system. Citizens were asked to have a greater say in implementing the reforms.

The members were sometimes referred to as "Black Englishmen" because they wanted to adopt elements of British politics. However, they also supported the traditional Basotho rule system . The BPA received support from Phuthi in the south of the country, who opposed the morena Griffith Lerotholi . In 1914 the BPA received a permanent seat in the Basutoland National Council . The writer ZD Mangoaela was a member of the BNC from 1935 to 1960. In 1916, the BPA published several press articles alleging corruption and abuse in traditional courts. The British Resident Commissioner then tightened press law and threatened penalties for defamation . At the beginning of the 1920s, the BPA had the highest number of members with just under a thousand. In 1921 or 1922, the BPA held a demonstration in Morija against the politics of the barena. Morena e moholo Griffith Lerotholi then invited the BPA to indict them in front of a crowd, but instead the crowd sympathized with the BPA representatives. After the demonstration, the COP was only allowed to be active in the district capitals on the instructions of the colonial administration. The BPA did not always see the role of barena negatively. From 1923 to 1924, four BPA members were members of the Basotho Supreme Court in Matsieng .

The BPA acted against racial discrimination and the possible connection of Basutoland to the South African Union . In 1913, she suggested that March 12 be celebrated as Moshoeshoe’s Day . March 12, 1868 was the day Basutoland was founded as a British colony. The holiday is still celebrated today, but in the 1990s it was moved to March 11, the day Moshoeshoe died.

In the 1950s, the first parties emerged in Basutoland. COP was rapidly becoming less important. In 1960 she could not win a seat in the first parliamentary elections and disbanded.

President

  • 1907-1912: Cranmer Sebeta
  • 1914-1920: Abraham Moletsane
  • 1921–1924: ZD Mangoaela
  • 1928: Simon Phamotse
  • 1935– ?: ZD Mangoaela

See also

literature

  • Scott Rosenberg, Richard W. Weisfelder, Michelle Frisbie-Fulton: Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-4871-9 , pp. 37-40.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Scott Rosenberg, Richard W. Weisfelder, Michelle Frisbie-Fulton: Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-4871-9 , p. 37.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Scott Rosenberg, Richard W. Weisfelder, Michelle Frisbie-Fulton: Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-4871-9 , p. 38.
  3. ^ A b c Scott Rosenberg, Richard W. Weisfelder, Michelle Frisbie-Fulton: Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-4871-9 , p. 40.
  4. ↑ a b Scott Rosenberg, Richard W. Weis fields Michelle Frisbie-Fulton: Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 2004, ISBN 978-0-8108-4871-9 , p. 39.
  5. ↑ 1960 election results at africanelections.tripod.com (English), accessed on March 13, 2013