Qacha’sNek, April 15 — -Roads Directorate (RD) Public Relations Manager, Mrs. Nosizolo Matela has today assured Head of Departments (HODs) that compensation arrears between the Chinese construction company, Qingjian Group (CNQC) and villagers around Tsoelike constituency will be settled prior and post the official launch of the Mpiti to Sehlabathebe road scheduled for April 26, 2024 at Ha Matlali.
Her reassurance followed concerns raised by HODs pertaining to the matter.
The long over due fight over compensation took a toll on villagers for years resulting to numerous complaints and protests pestering the District Administrator (DA) ‘s office with requests of intervention.
Complaining that the authorities were not listening to their grievances, the angry villagers often resolved to blocking a Mpiti to Sehlabathebe road with stones and the police had to disperse the mob countless times.
CNQC is delivering the nearer to end M1.3 billion (US$84.5 million) road project whose construction began on January 23, 2019.
Mrs. Matela revealed that money challenges led to the delay of payments.
“Payments will be fast tracked to ensure that people get paid before the event although it will not be all of them at once,” he said.
She explained that the officially opening does not mean the contractor immediately leaves as there is still a one year defects liability period attending to all the concerns.
DA Habofanoe Pheku said he is hopeful that they will indeed be paid.
Reports show that CNQC was appointed by the Exim Bank of China to construct a 91-kilometre tarred road at Qacha’s Nek, Tsoelike Constituency.
When complete, the 7-meter-wide double-lane road is expected to boost business in the Tsoelike constituency, shortening the driving time from Mpiti to Sehlabathebe from 4 hours to about 1.5 hours.
The project is said to have created employment for at least 500 Basotho.
