The Impact of Basotho Migrant Labourers' Retrenchment from South African Mines on Rural Development in Lesotho: The Post-Mine Livelihood Strategies of Former Basotho Miners at Koro-Koro in the Maseru District.

The article examines the impact of retrenchment of Basotho migrant labourers from South African mines on rural development in Lesotho, focusing on the post-mine livelihood strategies of former miners in Koro-Koro, Maseru district. Historically, Basotho men migrated to South African diamond and gold mines for employment, sending remittances that supported rural households; however, downsizing and retrenchment from the 1980s onward drastically reduced these opportunities, leading to unemployment and loss of income for many families. The study, based on qualitative and quantitative data from 50 former miners, finds that most retrenched workers struggled to sustain livelihoods due to limited entrepreneurial skills, inadequate training on managing retrenchment packages, and few viable local employment options, resulting in widespread economic hardship and reliance on subsistence farming or informal work. The authors recommend that the Lesotho government and stakeholders provide former miners with start-up capital, business training, and ongoing support to revive income-generating activities and mitigate the negative effects of mine retrenchment on rural development.