King Letsie III to Pardon 240 Inmates in Honour of Basotho Nation’s 200th Anniversary

In a gesture of compassion and national unity, His Majesty King Letsie III is expected to pardon at least 240 inmates this year as part of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Basotho nation’s founding.

The announcement was made by Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Nthati Moorosi, during a government media briefing at Lesotho Television studios. She stated that the royal pardons will serve as both a symbolic and practical step toward rehabilitation and social reintegration of selected inmates.

“As part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Basotho nation, the cabinet has decided to release 240 inmates on parole. This action symbolises compassion towards the people and supports rehabilitation efforts,” Minister Moorosi said.

She further emphasised that the process would be conducted under His Majesty’s constitutional powers and guided by the recommendations of the newly reconstituted Pardons Committee.

Over the years, King Letsie III has used his prerogative to grant pardons during significant national events or to recognise rehabilitation milestones among inmates. In 2021, for instance, 65 prisoners were released in honour of the King’s birthday, while in 2011, 54 were freed during his 48th birthday celebrations.

Minister of Justice and Law, Richard Ramoeletsi, confirmed the development and explained that the Pardons Committee had already completed its work of identifying eligible inmates. The committee, which had not been functional for several years, was recently re-established by the Judicial Service Commission following the government’s assumption of power in 2022.

“We have just constituted a Pardons Committee, which had ceased to exist for some years when we assumed governmental power,” Mr Ramoeletsi said.

He noted that the list of recommended individuals had already been submitted to the King, who would make the final decision. “The King also retains the right to use his discretion to remove some names from that list,” he explained.

Regarding the selection process, Mr Ramoeletsi clarified that the committee operated independently and was guided by strict evaluation criteria. “This committee uses its independent discretion and operates free from any undue influence. Even I, as the responsible minister, am unaware of their identities and have never met them,” he said.

The move to pardon 240 inmates not only highlights the monarchy’s role in promoting reconciliation and reintegration but also aligns with broader national efforts to reform the justice system and reduce prison overcrowding. As the Basotho nation celebrates two centuries of existence, this act of clemency underscores a forward-looking approach rooted in unity, humanity, and restorative justice.