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Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 09:31:12 -0800
To: irn-safrica@netvista.net
From: Lori Pottinger <lori@irn.org>
Subject: LHDA Christmas Celebration/LS
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LHDA Celebrates With the Old


Mopheme/The Survivor (Maseru)

January 9, 2001

Sofonia Shale
Maseru

Christmas gifts awarded by Lesotho Highlands Water
Authority (LHDA) in Mohale to the old age and disabled
affected by the project crowned the end of year
meeting of the LHDA and collaborators last week.

Unlike normal practices whereby LHDA shares its
progress report after which braai and drinks are
enjoyed, this time the more considerable moment was
when the old, the poor and the disabled were given
Christmas packages. About one hundred people received
gifts and nothing could be more reliable to say now
they felt than the joy expressed visibly on their
faces as they jubilated and danced in thanksgiving
tones and rhythms.

On behalf of the old age Ntlatseng Theko thanked LHDA
for bringing together those who were scattered by the
project.

Speaking on the same occasion Morenakemang Tikoe,
Chairperson of Community Liaison Committee thanked
LHDA for its courtesy but warned the project
authorities and the government that the affected and
the would-be affected will not tolerate "games" being
played against Makhoakhoeng residents.

Tikoe moved participants when he noted with concern
that Lesotho Highlands Water Project is bringing
Lesotho millions of Maloti but those who sacrificed
their homes, their land, their suitable and accepted
life style and standards to give away to the project
and despised are treated as if they were non- Basotho.

"We earnestly appeal to government to help those
people in Ha-Matala to re- settle and stay in peace
there or else LHDA will never ever resettle any one in
this area", said Tikoe.

It has been rumoured that the government is intending
to re-resettle the Makhoakhoeng residents following
failure to facilitate harmonious and peaceful
coexistence between Makhoakhoa. Although LHDA
maintained that Makhoakhoa were not hosts, it is
simply impossible for people to live so close to each
other without interaction.

One of the facilities LHDA promised but could no
longer offer was the graveyard. Much as LHDA has not
lived to the expectations and obligations, the
solution proposed by the minister to re-resettle
people is received with diverse perceptions from the
LHDA itself, the affected community, NGO's and
international community. Still time, why not bury the
hatchets and make peace? Mahlape Mothepu, one of the
managers at LHDA headquarters appeared too optimistic
that the issue is being carefully handled and that
people should stay calm. She told the gathering that
LHDA community participation strategy is being
reviewed. It is however the opinion held by the NGO's
that such review should be a mutual process to avoid
past mistakes where LHDA involved NGO's at the
eleventh hour when their input could no longer matter.

Mahlape also announced that the Rural Development
Training Center at Thaba- Tseka should be closed as
the new training approach will be used. Trainings will
be done at villages instead of trainees coming to the
centre. It is indeed a long over due decision as many
thought that the centre has just been a money making
play for foreign consultants who kept on proposing
their continued presence.

It is not yet understood why the staff have been
retrenched. If the centre changes approach, is it not
understood that the very same instructors would now
have to go to the villages? Richard Ramoeletsi, the
field operator branch manager for Mohale highlighted
successes his team made. He said that 237 households
received cash compensation while 44 got grain. Houses
for stage II resettlement in six villages are being
built. Ramoeletsi said that about six villages will be
given communal assets compensation. Other achievements
include HIV/AIDS awareness in which 36 000 condoms
were distributed.

It is however not easy to tell how many were used and
actually protected lives. Another remarkable success
is on the agricultural site where 7 000 fruit trees
were sold both at greater Mohale and foothills. Surely
LHDA would be able to say how many survived.

Ramoeletsi invited NGO's to collaborate in the
gigantic work that LHDA intends to take up. "It is in
our way forward plan to review compensation policy to
address some of the Cray areas, train community
Liaison assistants to be efficient and transparent",
said strict administrator Ramoeletsi.

One of the effective ways LHDA used to reach
unorganized community (non- committee, non-structure
members and those who do not attend pitsos) is a
soccer tournament. Last year LHDA sponsored sports at
foothills where its broader community development
plans were shared. The same activity is proposed but
it s still under discussion within the organisation.

With this kind of tournaments LHDA reached people who
could not be reached through any of the known
conventional approaches such as pitsos, workshops,
seminars, conferences and the media.

The occasion was honored by the presence of the acting
Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu Chief Lerotholi Letsie
Khoabane Theko and Principal Chief of Matsieng Seeiso
Bereng Seeiso who officiated at the closing. The two
chiefs urged LHDA to work hard to ensure that every
the lives of the people affected by the implementation
of the project are improved.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright _ 2000 Mopheme/The Survivor. Distributed by
allAfrica.com. For information about the content or
for permission to redistribute, publish or use for
broadcast, contact the publisher.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- 
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
       Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
         and Editor, World Rivers Review
            International Rivers Network
               1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                   Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                         http://www.irn.org
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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