An organisation calling itself Survivors of Lesotho Dams, has organised a march to the Ministry of Natural Resources, to deliver grievances about the plight of communities affected by the building of Lesotho Highlands Water Project dams. 

The march, on September 21, is planned to coincide with the signing of Phase II of the Project’s five-dam scheme, according to a statement from the Transformation Resource Centre.  

The statement said the handing over of the memorandum “follows about 10 years of broken promises by the LHDA on resettlement, compensation and rehabilitation…. also the last straw in a series of sustained efforts including regular meetings, ombudsman hearings, court actions and other interventions by various pressure groups.”  

Among the communities’ grievances are delayed or complete non-payment of compensation; the poverty occasioned by lost lands and other property; the disease and trauma suffered as a direct result of the dam’s effects as well as the frustrations resulting from the authorities’ disregard in addressing the communities’ demands, the statement said.

16 September 2005