Maseru, Mar. 23 — As Africa prioritises water security under the African Union’s (AU) 2026 theme of ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, many rural communities in Lesotho continue to face persistent water shortages that affect daily life, health and economic activity.
The AU has declared 2026 the Year of “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” elevating water and sanitation as key drivers of development across the continent.
The theme was launched during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa on February 14 this year, recognising that limited access to clean water continues to undermine health, productivity and human dignity across Africa.
In Lesotho, the situation remains particularly challenging in rural and mountainous areas where communities often rely on springs, rivers and communal taps that are sometimes located several kilometres away from households.
A resident of Taung, Mohale’s Hoek, Ms.’Masechaba Thabane, said women and girls in her village walk long distances daily to collect water for household use.
“Sometimes we wake up before sunrise to go fetch water as the spring is far and the queues are long,” she said. “During dry seasons the water becomes even less, and we are forced to use water carefully for cooking, washing and drinking.”
She said the burden of collecting water often falls on women and young girls, which sometimes affects school attendance and limits opportunities for economic activities.
Water and sanitation experts say the situation mirrors a broader challenge across the continent where women and girls are disproportionately affected by water scarcity…
