LHDA Response to "Mother Jones" Magazine Article Dated December 16, 2002
Re. 'Mamolupe Tsalong
FACTS
Contrary to the impression created in the article, ‘Me ‘Mamolupe Tsalong is not one of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) resettlees. LHWP resettlees are people who are resettled by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) due to LHWP works, and because their resettlement is related to project works, the project also facilitates and funds the resettlement. Resettlement has been implemented in both phase 1A and 1B areas of the project. The article refers to resettlement due to the construction of Mohale dam in the phase 1B area. A comprehensive Compensation Policy exists which governs all aspects of mitigation of negative impacts brought by the implementation of the LHWP.
The resettlee is Takatso Tsalong whose brother Lebona Tsalong is married to ‘Mamolupe Tsalong. The family of Lebona and ‘Mamolupe Tsalong has been residing at Ha Ts’iu , before LHWP implementation and was not resettled in that village by the project. This family is therefore not one of the LHWP resettlees. Takatso Tsalong, together with his family was resettled from Ha Ralifate to Ha Ts’iu in 1998. Takatso Tsalong is married to ‘Mabatho Tsalong and they have children. Before his death in 2000, ‘Mabatho had left her husband, Takatso and children. However, when Takatso died in 2000 the family appointed ‘Mabatho Tsalong as the heir to the property.
To date, ‘Mabatho has not come back to Ha Ts’iu, and in the interim, her brother in law, Lebona Tsalong has been temporarily appointed by the family to be the recipient of ‘Mabatho’s compensation, which also goes towards upkeep of her children who now live with their uncle and aunt (Lebona and ‘Mamolupe).
Payment schedules show that compensation has been paid from 1998 to date and Takatso received the compensation until 2000 when he died. From then on his brother, Lebona, received the compensation through a family intervention when the heir ‘Mabatho could not be located.
The truth of the matter is that Mamolupe is not a resettlee and is not entitled to any LHWP compensation. Her husband, Lebona, is receiving compensation (as per family agreement) on behalf of his late brother’s children.
For more information please contact LHDA Public Relations on +266 22 318 573/6