Mokhotlong, April 20 — The Minister of Natural Resources Mr. Mohlomi Moleko has commended Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) and contractors for the progress made on both the Polihali Dam and Transfer Tunnel.
The Minister said this when speaking at the Polihali Tunnel Boring Machine naming and launch held at Malingoaneng in Mokhotlong on Monday.
He said a lot has been achieved so far and further urged LHDA to focus its efforts on restoration of livelihoods and social development since they are a top priority for Lesotho and South Africa as provided in the treaty that formed the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Mr. Moleko explained that the lives of the people should be improved through implementation of the project to gain knowledge and skills for socio economic development.
As many speakers including a Member of Parliament for Malingoaneng Constituency talked more on the need for water and electricity supply in the area, Minister Moleko allayed their fears saying the Ministry will ensure that 20 villages are connected to electricity.
He said despite roads infrastructure development and Muela Hydropower station, the second phase of the LHWP created jobs too many people disclosing that 8000 were from the project area.
Also speaking at the same event was South Africa Minister of Water and Sanitation Mrs. Pemmy Majodina who appreciated the work that has been done since her last visit in Lesotho in December last year.
She said the interest is more on how the lives of the people are going to change from the implementation of a M54.9 billion project between Lesotho and South Africa.
Mrs. Majodina commended the workers for their dedication to ensure the work is done on time.
She said Basotho should first benefit from the clean water coming from the mountains before it could even be transferred legally into South Africa and other communities.
“The water that is transferred to South Africa from Lesotho is done legally because South Africa is paying its dues, it is not stealing the water”, she clarified.
A Member of Parliament for Malingoaneng Constituency Mr Monethi Ramakalima appealed that the project should improve the living conditions of people living around it through supply of electricity and water.
He said they should also ensure that ranges are compensated accordingly as majority are not used to buying animal feeds.
A community representative Mr. Mosa Lengoasa expressed happiness for developments achieved by the local community saying most of them are transport operators who vary workers to and from work every day with vehicles they purchased since the project was implemented.
LHDA awarded the multibillion Maloti contract for the 38 kilometre long Polihali Transfer Tunnel construction to Kopana Ke Matla Joint Venture (JV) in November 2022. The JV includes Yellow River Company, Sinohydro Bureau 3 (China), and Unik Civil Engineering (South Africa), with construction scheduled for completion around 2028-2029.
Kopana Ke Matla JV is the primary contractor for the construction while Subcontractors include Nthane Brothers (Lesotho), Esor Construction, and MECSA Construction (South Africa) while construction supervision is done by Metsi a Senqu-Khubelu Consultants (MSKC) joint venture.
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