Maseru, Aug.19 — As Lesotho marks its 60th independence anniversary, elderly residents in rural settlements like Ha-Khoeli and Thoteng, Ha-Mothetsi feel forgotten.
They regret leaving their prosperous mountain homes for areas lacking basic services, roads, and electricity.
Mrs. ‘Matjotji Motloheloa (69) moved from Semonkong to Ha-Khoeli 38 years ago with her late husband to find an easy life near the city.
But to date, Ha-Khoeli still has no roads, water and electricity while Semonkong in the mountains has grown and prospered since 1988.
She says, close to four decades she lives in darkness with a two-hour walk to the nearest health centre.
She states that 60 years of independence bring “nothing celebratory except hunger and poverty.”
She highlights that bad roads stop her from buying cheap food in Maseru saying she is forced to buy costly goods at local village shops.
Moreover, she jokes that if houses had wheels, she would drive hers right back to Semonkong.
On one hand, Mrs. ‘Masetsomi Setsomi (84) who also moved from Semonkong to Ha-Mothetsi near Ha-Khoeli about half a century ago, shares the same deep regret, feeling trapped by the lack of development.
She says she never thought Semonkong would flourish more than the lowlands saying if she were young, she would return immediately.
She appreciates only the old age pension, which helps elderly people raise vulnerable and orphaned children.
On the other hand, Mr. Moeketsi Sello from Ha-Khoeli reflects on 50 years his life and notes that free primary education was the past government’s only great achievement.
He acknowledges that it helped poor children get an education, but it lost quality over time due to poor monitoring.
He states that teachers get paid monthly yet act like uncompensated volunteers who put no effort into teaching, forcing parents to move children to private schools. Thus leaving the less fortunate with no choice.
He urges government through its ministries to ensure proper monitoring of good policies like free primary education so that it benefits the children.
Earlier Member of Parliament for Koro-Koro constituency Mr. Abinyane Mahatanya had acknowledged that access road is a major challenge in the area but quickly pointed that Ha-Khoeli road falls under the Malealea Zone project scheduled for construction in 2026.
Meanwhile the construction processes and upgrading of 154-kilometre Malealea Zone Road Project which commenced earlier this month includes Ha-Khoeli road.
It is aimed at connecting remote valley communities across Maseru, Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek, boosting local safety, trade and tourism.
Ends/AT
