Stakeholders Comment LHDA for Handling Compensation in a Widely Consultative Manner

As part of its information sharing sessions with all relevant stakeholders and partners in development, LHDA has held wide- ranging talks with varied stakeholders on the delivery programme for the 2006 compensation for the affected communities. The purpose of the consultations was to inform the stakeholders that delivery was going to be behind schedule for a number of reasons beyond LHDA’s control that included decision by Project authorities to empower local farmers by giving them preference in the procurement of grain and pulses.

A major briefing session was organised between LHDA and the Combined Area Liaison Committees (CALCs) representing the three main Project sites namely Katse, Mohale, and ‘Muela at the Khali Hotel in Maseru on July 22, 2006.The highlight of the meeting was a joint letter written by the CALCs to the Project authorities listing 12 points for the latter’s action. The issues raised included warning  LHDA to observe and adhere to agreed delivery deadlines (July 31 for Annual Cash Payment, and August 31 for grain and pulses), requesting LHDA to facilitate in the passports procurement  process for some members of the affected communities, and to restore training programmes for people who  opt for lump sum compensation.

At the end of the day, the CALCs were unanimous in appreciating LHDA’s efforts to keep them abreast of developments on the crucial subject of compensation and other equally important issues that concerned them.Meanwhile, also in July, LHDA convened a similar meeting with the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), a non-governmental organisation with proven record of interest on LHWP activities.Speaking on behalf of TRC, Mr. Mabusetsa Lenka expressed appreciation for the openness and transparency that LHDA displayed by the briefing session.

He encouraged the need for regular information sharing meetings so that there could be improved service delivery. In particular he reminded LHDA about the need to hold frequent meetings on sustainable development initiatives that would reduce the dependency on annual compensation.

In closing the briefing session, the LHDA representative, Mr. Masilo Phakoe, reiterated that it was LHDA’s vision and express desire to bring meaningful change in the lives of the Basotho and the Lesotho ’s economy. In this light therefore, further information sharing sessions would shed light on the on-going community development programmes.  

The Total compensation requirements for maize and beans for the financial year 2006/2007 was 10,323* 70kg bags of white grade A  maize and 22,341* 1kg packets of speckled sugar beans.The total cost for these was M1,107,059.68 and M107,150 respectively;

-About 60% of maize was sourced locally and 40% from South Africa , while 20% of beans was sourced from local farmers and 80% was procured from a local  company through competitive bidding.

© copyright LHWP