By ‘Majirata Latela
The implementation of the Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project Phase II (LLWDP II) will affect the lives of about 727 families in the three districts.
Already, the cabinet last month adopted the project policy regarding its implementation in the districts of Leribe, Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek covering a land area of 12 600 square kilometres.
According to LLWDP II policy, the project will operate in Zone Two and Three constituting Hlotse and Maputsoe. The other zones are to be in Mohale’s Hoek and Mafeteng.
It is expected that 267 households in Zone Two and Three and 274 households in Zone Six and Seven will be affected by the project’s varying activities. Of these, 24 percent are child-headed households which require special attention and social assistance to restore their livelihoods.
LLWDP said it is undertaking all efforts to reduce to a minimum the number of project affected persons (PAPs) that are to be resettled and compensated for their property or livelihood. In some instances, it is likely to become inevitable to displace some of the dwellers in the affected areas.
In an interview with theReporter this week, social safeguards specialist of LLWDP, ‘Masetori Makhetha, suggested that the approval of the policy by the executive was a step in the right direction.
She said the number of residents to be affected by the project might change based on the implementation of works to be carried out by the engineer.
“As the project indicates that we are trying by all means to minimize the number of people to be affected, it may be possible that the number may decrease given the size of work to be carried out by the engineer.
“The compensation will be done in a way that there will be people valuing the assets to determine how much one can be given for compensation. They will be given an option to determine whether they seek compensation in monetary value or for the assets.
“For instance, in Hlotse, those to be affected are some street vendors. They will be compensated for their shacks which will either be destroyed or moved during construction. Some of the street vendors will be compensated for the time they will have to close down their shacks during construction period which will affect their business profits,” ‘Masetori clarified.
She said the project involves construction of bulk water supply infrastructure. It includes river intake at Hlotse and Makhaleng rivers, the construction of water transmission pipelines and reservoirs, the construction and rehabilitation of water mains as well as networks in Maputsoe and Hlotse towns. It is also set to rehabilitate the boreholes in Maputsoe.
She said the areas were chosen due to a high demand in water supply for the residents. That, she, observed would improve the residents’ livelihood.
The project is meant to improve the economic standards of the people nearby while fighting the droughts.
During the official launch of the giant project in March this year at Ha Setene in Leribe district, Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro said the project was part of government’s policy to supply water to the lowlands communities.
He said in the course of two decades, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has successfully developed water supply project schemes for projects such as Metolong Dam, water supply networks, water treatment plants and storage tanks.
He emphasized that clean water supply is significant in eradicating poverty, diseases that are caused by dirty water as well as supporting the country’s economic growth, adding that this project will also build pipelines that will enable the supply of water to the communities.
He said the water treatment plant to be built will provide more than 25 million litres a day which will be expanded to a daily capacity of 65 million litres.
“The government signed M14 million from partners to support this water project and this event marks the implementation of the entire project funded,” he remarked.
In March last year, the publication reported that the protracted water shortages at Maputsoe have become synonymous with the industrial town for many years. The problem is reported to be taking a toll on the financial sustainability of the factories which are forced to buy water from neighbouring South Africa to maintain operations.
The textile industry is dependent on water in virtually all steps of manufacturing. Dyes, specialty chemicals, and finishing chemicals used to produce clothing, are all applied to fabrics in water baths. This means that huge amounts of water are used to dye, finish, and wash clothes. The textile industry uses millions of litres of water daily.
Approximately 500 gallons of water are used in the production of just one pair of jeans.
The situation is affecting a range of businesses, health centres, industrial firms and other service providing agencies.
Maputsoe and Hlotse towns have an estimated population of 300 000 with the latter being the administrative arm.
