Land preservation for socio-economic rights : A review of the burial culture in Lesotho

Abstract

Lesotho is a country commonly known for, amongst other things, a small land size. As one of the hardest hit countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence and death rates, there is a need to create space for cemeteries across different parts of the country. The argument put forward in the study is that instead of creation of more cemeteries, land could be used for other human development and life-sustaining activities. It is thus argued that other methods of disposal of deceased people's bodies should be explored in favor of implementation of various socio-economic rights discussed in the study. The context of the word preservation in the study is similar to that of conservation. As it is a multidisciplinary study, arguments are based on philosophical, legal and theological normative frameworks.