Lesotho introduced a quota for women in local government in 2005 amid
different interpretations of the concept and the general preparations for
elections. The phase II era of decentralisation, after the quota for women
was introduced, was marked by the October 2011 local government
elections. In both instances a deliberate effort was made to reserve one-third
representation for women, though each time in a different way. This article
analyses the way in which the government’s efforts to use a legal framework
to challenge traditional and patriarchal tendencies have evolved. It argues
that while the introduction of a quota is a good development it was not
properly institutionalised in 2005, nor have the changes introduced in 2011
improved the situation. The article argues that insufficient dialogue has led
the government and civil society to miss a valuable opportunity to use a
women’s quota in local government to change women’s political, social and
economic status.