Maseru, Lesotho – Lesotho, a tiny kingdom nestled in southern Africa’s mountains, is a source of lifeblood for its much larger neighbor, South Africa. Lesotho’s abundant water is channeled to South Africa through a decades-long project, generating millions for the smaller nation. However, a cloud hangs over this lucrative deal – the wellbeing of villagers displaced by the project.
Lepeli Moeketsi, a lawyer representing a Maseru-based NGO, raises concerns about the lack of transparency and compensation for villagers whose lives have been disrupted. Many have lost fertile land due to resettlement for dam construction, impacting their livelihoods. Clean water access, environmental damage, and health concerns due to air and noise pollution add to their woes.
Moeketsi acknowledges the project’s economic benefits for Lesotho, with South Africa’s annual water payments exceeding €180 million and doubling recently. However, he argues that the responsible authority, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), hasn’t adequately informed communities or provided fair compensation for communal land use.
Promised compensation for some land may not materialize until 2028, with doubts lingering about its actual delivery. Relocation efforts are incomplete, leaving some residents exposed to construction disruptions. Moeketsi believes the government lacks the will to ensure the project adheres to international standards.
A legal challenge is underway, seeking a revision of the 1986 agreement and prioritizing villagers’ socio-economic and cultural rights over solely viewing these projects through an economic lens.
Lesotho is embarking on another water transfer project, this time supplying drought-stricken Botswana. While international organizations see this as a model of regional cooperation, experts like Susanne Schmeier, head of Water Governance at a UNESCO institute, emphasize the need for improved living conditions and fair resettlement for affected villagers.
Schmeier urges Lesotho to ensure profits are distributed equitably, benefiting even the most vulnerable. Analysts point out that Lesotho could leverage the water trade to build infrastructure, create jobs, and connect more citizens to electricity and water supplies.
