OMBUDSMAN INSPECTS LHDA'S COMPENSATORY ACTIONS
The
office of the Ombudsman is currently running inspections of the corrective
measures taken by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) in
compensating people who have been affected the Lesotho Highlands Water
Project (LHWP). This exercise started on 14th June 2004 at Ha
Thetsane and the Ombudsman has invited the LHDA on this tour.
This follows the Ombudsman’s report of 1st August 2003 after an inquiry into complaints lodged by the affected on matters ranging from resettlement, destruction of houses and arable land, as well as communal assets and infrastructure.
After this inspection the Ombudsman intends to hold two more inquiries. One in the Phase1B and the other in Phase 1A of the LHWP. The plan is to start in August 2004 in Phase1B.
Mr. Sekara Mafisa - The Ombudsman
Also, the office of the Ombudsman had in the recent past received many complaints of the communities of Pela-Tsoeu and T’sehlanyane about the damages caused by the LHDA to their fields, houses and environment. The Ombudsman intends to carry out an inspection in this regard at Pela-Tsoeu and T’sehlanyane on the 23rd – 24th June 2004. Again the Ombudsman has invited the LHDA on this tour.
It is stated in the Ombudsman’s report that during the months of December 2002 and January 2003, the Ombudsman received complaints from people who have been resettled from the areas of the Mohale Dam in the mountains of Lesotho into the lowlands of the country. The resettlees were complaining against LHDA about various matters; the most important of which related to LHDA’s compensation programme.
A formal inquiry into those complaints was set by the Ombudsman covering the evidence of the extent to which complainants were affected and the nature of compensation to which they are entitled. Another important task was to hear evidence on the refusal or delay by LHDA to make compensation to members of the public who have been affected by the LHWP.
According to the report, some of the findings of the inquiry were that the allegations proved and LHDA itself conceded most, if not all, the failures complained about. The report further adds that the LHDA honourably admitted to have failed to apply its compensation legislation and to have used its compensation policies to the exclusion of the relevant legislation. Another finding indicated that some complainants made attempts to defraud LHDA of compensation benefits by posing as deserving cases.
16 June 2004