17 December 1981

Assistance to Lesotho

The General Assembly,

Recalling Security Council resolution 402 (1976) of 22 December 1976, in which the Council, inter alia, expressed concern at the serious situation created by South Africa's closure of certain border posts between South Africa and Lesotho aimed at coercing Lesotho into according recognition to the bantustan of the Transkei,

Commending the decision of the Government of Lesotho not to recognize the Transkei, in compliance with United Nations decisions, particularly General Assembly resolution 31/6 A of 26 October 1976,

Fully aware that the decision of the Government of Lesotho not to recognize the Transkei has imposed a special economic burden upon its people,

Strongly endorsing the appeals made in Security Council resolutions 402 (1976) of 22 December 1976 and 407 (1977) of 25 May 1977, in General Assembly resolutions 32/98 of 13 December 1977, 33/128 of 19 December 1978, 34/130 of 14 December 1979 and 35/96 of 5 December 1980, and by the Secretary-General, calling upon all States, regional and intergovernmental organizations and the appropriate agencies of the United Nations system to contribute generously to the international programme of assistance to enable Lesotho to carry out its economic development and enhance its capacity to implement fully resolutions of the United Nations,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General, to which was annexed the report of the mission which he sent to Lesotho, in response to General Assembly resolution 35/96, to review the economic situation as well as progress in the implementation of the special economic assistance programme for Lesotho,

Noting the priority which the Government of Lesotho accords to raising levels of food production through increased productivity, thus lessening the country's dependency on South Africa for food imports,

Being aware that the high prices paid by Lesotho for its imports of petroleum products as a result of the oil embargo on South Africa have become a serious impediment to the development of the country,

Recognizing, in connexion with such embargoes, the obligation of the international community to help countries such as Lesotho that act in support of the Charter of the United Nations and in compliance with General Assembly resolutions,

Recalling its resolutions 32/160 of 19 December 1977 and 33/197 of 29 January l979 concerning the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa and, in this regard, noting Lesotho's geopolitical situation, which necessitates the urgent development of air and telecommunication links with neighbouring countries of Africa and the rest of the world,

Taking account of Lesotho's need for a national network of roads, both for its planned social and economic development and to lessen its dependence on the South African network, to reach various regions of the country affected by the imposition of travel restrictions by South Africa,

Taking note of Lesotho's special problems associated with the employment of large numbers of its able-bodied men in South Africa,

Taking note also of the priority which the Government of Lesotho has accorded to the problem of absorbing into the economy the young generation, as well as migrant workers returning from South Africa,

Welcoming the action taken by the Government of Lesotho to make more effective use of women in the development process by promoting their participation in the economic, social and cultural life of the country,

Taking account also of Lesotho's position as a least developed, most seriously affected and land-locked country,

Recalling its resolution 32/98, in which it, inter alia, recognized that the continuing influx of refugees from South Africa imposed an additional burden on Lesotho,

1. Expresses its concern at the difficulties that confront the Government of Lesotho as a result of its decision not to recognize the so-called independent Transkei;

2. Endorses fully the assessment of the situation contained in the annex to the report of the Secretary-General;

3. Takes note of the requirements of Lesotho, as described in the report of the Secretary-General, to carry out the remainder of its development programme, to implement projects necessitated by the present political situation in the region and to lessen its dependence on South Africa;

4. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the measures he has taken to organize an international economic assistance programme for Lesotho;

5. Notes with appreciation the response made so far by the international community to the special economic assistance programme for Lesotho, which has enabled it to proceed with the implementation of parts of the recommended programme;

6. Reiterates its appeal to Member States, regional and interregional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Lesotho for the implementation of the several projects and programmes which are still unfunded, as identified in the report of the Secretary-General;

7. Calls upon Member States and the appropriate agencies, organizations and financial institutions to provide assistance to Lesotho so as to enable it to achieve a greater degree of self-sufficiency in food production;

8. Also calls upon Member States to give all possible assistance to Lesotho to ensure an adequate and regular supply of oil to meet its national requirements;

9. Further calls upon Member States to assist Lesotho in developing its internal road and air systems and its air communication with the rest of the world;

10. Commends the efforts of the Government of Lesotho to integrate women more fully into development efforts and requests the Secretary-General to consult with the Government on the type and amount of assistance it will require to achieve this objective;

11. Takes note of the meeting of donors held in Lesotho from 5 to 9 November 1979, as well as the agricultural sector conference held in Lesotho from 20 to 24 October 1980, and urges Member States and the appropriate agencies and organizations to provide assistance to Lesotho in accordance with the outcome of those meetings;

12. Draws the attention of the international community to the special account which was established at United Nations Headquarters by the Secretary-General in accordance with Security Council resolution 407 (1977), for the purpose of facilitating the channelling of contributions to Lesotho;

13. Invites the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to bring further to the attention of their governing bodies the special needs of Lesotho and to report to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1982 on the steps they have taken;

14. Requests the appropriate specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to co-operate closely with the Secretary-General in organizing an effective international programme of assistance to Lesotho and to report periodically to him on the steps they have taken and the resources they have made available to assist that country;

15. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue his efforts to mobilize the necessary resources for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Lesotho;

(b) To consult with the Government of Lesotho on the question of migrant workers returning from South Africa and to report on the type of assistance which the Government requires in order to establish labour-intensive projects to deal with their absorption into the economy;

(c) To ensure that adequate financial and budgetary arrangements are made to continue the organization of the international programme of assistance to Lesotho and the mobilization of assistance;

(d) To keep the situation in Lesotho under constant review, to maintain close contact with Member States, regional and other intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and international financial institutions concerned and to apprise the Economic and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1982, of the current status of the special economic assistance programme for Lesotho;

(e) To arrange for a review of the economic situation of Lesotho and the progress made in organizing and implementing the special economic assistance programme for that country in time for the matter to be considered by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session.