The Panel of Experts on Resettlement, Compensation and Environment (POE) advises Lesotho Highland Development Authority on managing programmes
The POE comprises Drs. John Ledger, Mike
Mentis, Professor Bob Hitchcock and Amusaa Inambao. They undertook a supervision
Mission from 4 -12 April, 2005. The purpose of the mission was to help develop
and implement critical LHDA programmes.
An excerpt of their findings are as follows:
Residual resettlement:
155 household were identified as losing some or all of their land to the Lesotho
Highlands Water Project ( LHWP). Of these, 65 households stood to lose 50% or
more of their land and are therefore
considered ‘potential high risk cases’. The socio-economic situations of
the 65 household vary considerably. Some of them are not self-sustaining and
will require minimum threshohld payments. The land remaining in the Mohale
basin needs to be reallocated to residual resettlement households.
The POE are advising LHDA to intensify
development program in these areas that are losing more than 59% of their land;
that are highly stressed; who want to resettle and whose livelihoods would be
maintained or improved if they moved.
Vulnerable households)
The POE contends that the strategy for
vulnerable households in the LHWP needs to be refined, and greater efforts need
to be made to identify activities that would help maintain or enhance the
living standards of the households. The decision by the Lesotho Highlands Water
Commission (LHWC, the to assist those households caring for the HIV/AIDS
orphans, is perceived to be good. The assistance will include providing funds
for school fees, subsistence and clothing. The Panel however suggested that a
monitoring program for the vulnerable households be put in place and that if targeted
interventions be quickly made should problems arise.
The LHDA Compensation Policy: Minimum Threshold
Assessment Study (LHDA Contract 1238) was carried out in October, 2004 by the
Agriculture and Environment Statistics Division of the Bureau of Statistics
(BOS). On the basis of the findings, 94 households were paid minimum threshold
for 2004/05. At least 19 households were removed from the pay rolls as they are
above the M7,000 minimum threshold level.
The POE advised that in order for regular
accurate data collection to be done in the future, the study questionnaire
needs to be refined, field tested and modified in the light of the problems
identified. They add that the study needs to be done earlier in the year so
minimum threshold payments can be done by October.
Furthermore, stakeholders will need to be
informed on the purposes and objectives of the studies and efforts should be
made to obtain corroborating data on such issues as livestock holdings,
agricultural activities and employment.
The complaints resolution mechanism of LHDA has
improved over time in response to the Ombudsman’s interventions. Compensation,
Resettlement and Field Operations Branch personnel are in the process of
verifying new complaints, paying –off those that are owed and updating the
modified compensation register.
Community Lump Sum payments
Communal assets compensation has been provided to cooperatives formed in the Phase IA Katse-Lejone and Matsoku ( KLM) area, and in Phase IB to communities in the foothills such as Ha Ratau and to downstream proximal reach communities that have formed local legal entities (LLEs). The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives and the LHDA have collaborated with communities, in respect of cooperative training and advising on potential investments to be undertaken.
The mission observed that the progress of
getting projects on the ground has been relatively slow and needs to be expeditedintensified. They also advise
that the LHDA must work more closely with the Ministry as well as the local
authority structures on conflict resolution and management in some of the
cooperatives.
Household lump sum payments
More households are taking up sum compensation option. Some of them are putting their funds in unit trusts and money markets in Lesotho’s financial institutions. A number of households are investing their cash in agricultural inputs and implements, wagons and poultry farming.
The
LHDA has been advised to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry on information
dissemination, training and evaluation of business plans and investment
opportunities.
Sustainability of Development programs
The agricultural projects exit strategy is
going forward with the assistance of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU).
Agricultural activities include the extension advice to farmers in areas such
as field crops, vegetable and seed potato production, asparagus, garlic, range and livestock management.
Sustainability of these projects will depend in part, on farmers’ abilities to
obtain seeds, tools, agricultural inputs and their competitiveness in both the
local and regional markets.
The POE advise that the LHDA must come to some
agreements with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Self-sufficiency that 1)
assistance will continue to be provided to highlands farmers, 2) budget lines
will be set aside for projects in the LHWP areas, and 3) relevant field
personnel will be maintained in project areas and not transferred to other
parts of the Lesotho.
Integrated Catchment Management
(ICM)
Deliverables for the ICM study have added onto improving the
sustainability of land-use and lowering reservoir sedimentation to facilitating
and empowering collaborative sustainable development and economic growth by
engaging Government of Lesotho’s
(GoL’s) Ministries and local communities.
The POE perceives the addition as a potential
win-win for all stakeholders,
Government Ministreies and Department, local communities, LHDA) and the
environment. They advise that high-level leadership and supervision is
warranted.
Comments by Panel of Experts at the Lesotho Highlands
Water Project on the effects of reduced
river flows on woody vegetation
Report by Drs Mike Mentis – Environbiz Africa and J.A. Ledger- SADC Environmental Solutions both in the Republic of South Africa.
Link: to pdf