Overview
The Kingdom of Lesotho has a largely rugged topography that has made development of road and other transport network a challenge. This has a significant implication for transport modes and accessibility throughout the country. The creation of an integrated transport system remans central to the government’s infrastructure development program. The total road network in Lesotho is approximately 6906.26 kms in length of which 1798.76 kms are paved. The remainder is made up of 3830.52 km of gravel roads and 1276.98 km of earth tracks. Two agencies are responsible for management of the road network (Roads Directorate and the Ministry of Local Government (Urban and Rural)). Asset value of roads is 42 billion Maloti. Road maintenance technical needs was 2 billion Maloti (including administration, rehabilitation and maintenance) up to 2004 and has increased to 4 billion (include upgrading). Financing of maintenance is made through road fund consolidation and the GoL capital budget.
While passenger and cargo transport are provided largely by the private sector operator which includes buses, taxi and privately owned trucks, the Government provides a regulatory framework and policy to allow these industries to provide services. The Government is responsible for the Lesotho Freight and Bus Services which has been run down by inefficiency and poor management and been grounded. Due to challenging topography and infrastructure costs, some areas of the country do not have good roads network and there is no accessibility during bad weather, including rain and snow.
The Roads Directorate (RD) which is responsible for the regulatory framework and policy was established by legislation, Roads Directorate Act No. 16 of 2010 (through merging and restructuring former Roads Branch and Department of Rural Roads) to carry out road development and maintenance core functions of the road sub-sector. The changing needs of the economy and population of a country mean that strategies in any sub- sector need to be developed and regularly reviewed and updated as required. In democratic countries, the strategy review and development includes the views, knowledge and expertise of the role players in the sub-sectors.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.
Distance Matrix
The distances given below are from the capital city Maseru to major towns only and are over the most practicable routes; these are not necessarily the best or the fastest.
Travel Distance between Major Towns (km) |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maseru |
Berea |
Leribe |
Mafeteng |
Mohale’s Hoek |
Mokhotlong |
Qacha’s Nek |
Quthing |
Thaba Tseka |
Butha Buthe |
|
Maseru |
58 |
96 |
77.7 |
124 |
277 |
228 |
176 |
167 |
123 |
|
Berea |
58 |
106 |
132 |
178 |
254 |
255 |
231 |
195 |
100 |
|
Leribe |
96 |
106 |
203 |
249 |
186 |
353 |
301 |
179 |
32 |
|
Mafeteng |
77.7 |
132 |
203 |
46.3 |
351 |
265 |
98.5 |
215 |
197 |
|
Mohale’s Hoek |
124 |
178 |
249 |
46.3 |
397 |
218 |
52.2 |
262 |
243 |
|
Mokhotlong |
277 |
254 |
186 |
351 |
397 |
|
502 |
450 |
121 |
155 |
Qacha’s Nek |
228 |
255 |
353 |
265 |
218 |
502 |
171 |
344 |
349 |
|
Quthing |
176 |
231 |
301 |
98.5 |
52.2 |
450 |
171 |
|
314 |
249 |
Thaba Tseka |
167 |
195 |
179 |
215 |
262 |
121 |
344 |
314 |
|
202 |
Butha Buthe |
123 |
100 |
32 |
197 |
243 |
155 |
249 |
249 |
202 |
|
Distance from Capital City to Major Towns | ||
---|---|---|
From |
To |
Distance (km) |
Maseru Circle |
Alwynskop |
167.48 |
Maseru Circle |
Boinyatso |
25.71 |
Maseru Circle |
Butha Buthe |
121.80 |
Maseru Circle |
Caledonspoort |
130.69 |
Maseru Circle |
Ficksburg Bridge |
83.97 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Jonathane |
103.67 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Khabo |
125.58 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Koali |
41.61 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Lejone |
163.51 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Makhakhe |
64.37 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha 'Makhoroana |
79.10 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha 'Mamathe |
50.18 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Mokhalinyane |
54.78 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Mopeli |
126.20 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Mosala |
68.19 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Ramabanta |
65.18 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Sekake |
294.14 |
Maseru Circle |
Ha Seshote |
194.54 |
Maseru Circle |
Hleoheng |
72.63 |
Maseru Circle |
Hlotse |
93.34 |
Maseru Circle |
Katse |
216.57 |
Maseru Circle |
Khanyane |
99.71 |
Maseru Circle |
Khobotle |
95.66 |
Maseru Circle |
Khukhune |
142.47 |
Maseru Circle |
Kolo |
73.95 |
Maseru Circle |
Lekokoaneng |
30.68 |
Maseru Circle |
Likalaneng |
79.65 |
Maseru Circle |
Likhoele |
80.91 |
Maseru Circle |
Mafeteng |
75.72 |
Maseru Circle |
Mahobong |
109.97 |
Maseru Circle |
Makhaleng Bridge |
130.14 |
Maseru Circle |
Makhunoane |
151.30 |
Maseru Circle |
'Mants'Ebo |
24.23 |
Maseru Circle |
Mants'Onyane |
120.11 |
Maseru Circle |
Mapholaneng |
253.97 |
Maseru Circle |
Mapoteng |
69.82 |
Maseru Circle |
Maputsoe |
83.25 |
Maseru Circle |
Marakabei |
103.05 |
Maseru Circle |
Maseru Bridge |
4.16 |
Maseru Circle |
Matelile |
70.14 |
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (Hours) |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maseru |
Berea |
Leribe |
Mafeteng |
Mohale’s Hoek |
Mokhotlong |
Qacha’s Nek |
Quthing |
Thaba Tseka |
Butha Buthe |
|
Maseru |
1:24 |
1:50 |
1:20 |
1:56 |
5:03 |
3:52 |
2:45 |
3:10 |
2:17 |
|
Berea |
1:24 |
1:26 |
2:40 |
3:16 |
4:37 |
4:54 |
4:05 |
4:12 |
1:52 |
|
Leribe |
1:50 |
1:26 |
3:05 |
3:41 |
3:13 |
5:35 |
4:31 |
4:04 |
0:28 |
|
Mafeteng |
1:20 |
2:40 |
3:05 |
0:36 |
6:23 |
4:07 |
1:25 |
3:40 |
3:37 |
|
Mohale’s Hoek |
1:56 |
3:16 |
3:41 |
0:36 |
6:56 |
3:32 |
0:49 |
4:17 |
4:11 |
|
Mokhotlong |
5:03 |
4:37 |
3:13 |
6:23 |
6:56 |
8:47 |
7:39 |
2:59 |
2:45 |
|
Qacha’s Nek |
3:52 |
4:54 |
5:35 |
4:07 |
3:32 |
8:47 |
2:52 |
5:54 |
6:01 |
|
Quthing |
2:45 |
4:05 |
4:31 |
1:25 |
0:49 |
7:39 |
2:52 |
|
5:06 |
|
Thaba Tseka |
3:10 |
4:12 |
4:04 |
3:40 |
4:17 |
2:59 |
5:54 |
5:06 |
|
4:31 |
Butha Buthe |
2:17 |
1:52 |
0:28 |
3:37 |
4:11 |
2:25 |
6:01 |
5:03 |
4:31 |
|
Road Security
In general, most roads within Lesotho are secure and transporters operate with few, if any, difficulties. There are no alarming cases of highway banditry and insecurity. Police patrols are visible and consistent along the main highways that link the main districts.
Driving is one of the biggest risks to personal safety and security. Vehicles traffic circulates on the left (keep left). Many vehicles are not roadworthy, and not all drivers are properly trained. The average speed limit in the cities is 50 km/hr and outside the city speed limit is 80 km/hr. However, most vehicle do not keep the speed limit. It is common to come up behind a vehicle moving at slower speed. Over speeding is also very common as the country traffic police do not have speed guns.
Other challenging factors include poorly lit roadways. Very few road signs on most of the highways. While many roads are in poor state of disrepair, inexperience and irresponsible drivers are also a great risk. All drivers should be aware of potholes and careless pedestrians, the presence of non-roadworthy vehicles plying the roads. The drivers frequently change the lanes into oncoming traffic without adequate viewing and caution. Street and traffic lights are frequently non-functional or nonexistence altogether.
The overall mission of the Ministry Transport and Communication is to formulate and monitor the implementation of appropriate, comprehensive and robust transport and construction sectors and maintain a dynamic and effective institutional and legal framework, which, provides an enabling environment for sustainable development of transport and construction industries and thus contribute to the achievement of the overall national development objectives.
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
The Ministry of Transport and Communication is yet to enact the Weighbridge and Axle Legislation. Since the neighbouring South Africa has Weighbridge legislation, most heavy vehicle in Lesotho Country will keep the maximum weigh applicable in South Africa. However this appears to have an impact on the Lesotho roads which are of lower capacity.
Source: https://lesothotradeportal.org.ls/kcfinder/upload/files/-%20Schedule%20No%201%20Part%203E.pdf
Axle Load Limits |
Lesotho |
South Africa |
---|---|---|
Truck with 2 Axles |
18,000 Kg |
18,000 Kg |
Truck with 3 Axles |
24,000 Kg |
24,000 Kg |
Truck with 4 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Semi-trailer with 3 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Semi-trailer with 4 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Semi-trailer with 5 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Semi-trailer with 6 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 4 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 5 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 6 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 7 Axles |
TBA |
TBA |
Road Reserve and Building Restriction Areas
To protect the investment in road building, a road reserve and, outside urban areas, a building restriction area should be located equally about the road centre-line, as shown in the table below
Road Classification |
Width Each Side of Road Centre Line (m) |
|
---|---|---|
Road Reserve (m) |
Building Restriction Width (m) |
|
A |
15 |
30 |
B (major – links districts) |
15 |
30 |
B (minor – links local centres to A Class Roads) |
10 |
20 |
C |
10 |
20 |
D |
10 |
20 |
Note: The building restriction width includes the road reserve width.
Class |
Km |
% of network |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Classified Network & Gazetted |
|||
A |
1525.21 |
22 |
Primary roads linking major towns and district centres and main border posts |
B |
1401.24 |
20 |
Secondary roads connecting districts and linking local centres to the primary network |
C |
539.93 |
8 |
Tertiary roads connecting local centres within districts, and linking to secondary or primary roads |
D |
2421.14 |
35 |
Access/Feeder roads to one or more villages |
Sub-Total |
5887.52 |
85 |
Total km that are in the current road Classification |
Unclassified Network & Not Gazetted |
|||
Rural Roads |
651.70 |
10 |
Access/Feeder roads to one or more villages |
Urban Roads |
367.04 |
5 |
Estimated paved and unpaved roads in urban areas. Streets within major towns |
Sub-Total |
1018.74 |
15 |
Total km that are in the current road classified |
Total |
6,906.26 |
100 |
Density is 0.243 km/km2. Per capita is 0.00338 km/person |
Of the total road network; the classified network is under the direct management of the Roads Directorate and is disbursed as follows per surface type:
Description |
Equipment-based maintenance |
Labour-based maintenance |
Total Km |
---|---|---|---|
Surfaced roads |
1628.79 |
0 |
1628.79 |
Gravel roads |
888.98 |
2111.89 |
3000.87 |
Earth roads |
0 |
1150.70 |
1150.70 |
Tracks |
0 |
107.16 |
107.16 |
Totals |
2517.77 |
3369.75 |
5887.52 |
DESCRIPTION |
RURAL ROADS (KM) |
---|---|
Surfaced roads |
0.00 |
Gravel roads |
615.02 |
Earth roads |
36.68 |
Tracks |
0.00 |
Total |
651.70 |
DESCRIPTION |
URBAN ROADS (KM) |
---|---|
Paved roads |
169.97 |
Gravel roads |
214.63 |
Earth roads |
50.74 |
Tracks |
84.7 |
Total |
367.04 |