Lesotho has been governed for the past decade by a string of coalition governments that have proved fractious and frail, and no premier has served out a full five-year term.

"It is very likely that there will be a coalition again," said Liesl Louw-Vaudran, a researcher at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria.

Surrounded entirely by South Africa, which heavily depends on it for water, Lesotho is a mountain kingdom of two million people nicknamed the "Kingdom in the Sky".

It has been buffeted by coups and attempted coups since independence from Britain in 1966, and nearly a third of its population lives on less than $1.90 a day.

The capital Maseru was quiet on Thursday evening, lulled by taxis humming in the streets and vendors chatting under large umbrellas set on the sides of the main road.

About 1.5 million people are registered to vote, with ballots opening at 07:00 am (0500 GMT) and closing at 05:00 pm.

Only 47% of registered voters bothered to cast their ballot at the last elections in 2017.

"I have never voted, and I am not willing to vote," said Dineo Moketsie, a 32-year-old teacher angry at politicians who he said have done nothing to better living conditions in the country.

"I just feel that it's a waste of time."

The process can also be cumbersome and queues outside polling stations can sometimes last hours.

The outgoing government is led by the All Basotho Convention (ABC). But current Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro is not seeking another term, after being ousted as party head earlier this year.

His predecessor Thomas Thabane was forced to step down in 2020, after being accused of ordering the murder of his estranged wife. Charges against him were dropped in July.

The ABC's new leader, former health minister Nkaku Kabi, will square off against an array of contenders.

More than 50 parties are in the running.

"People still believe in our movement and we're going to win," said Kabi (49).

Jacaranda News