Billy Ntaote
MASERU — The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has refuted allegations that it wants to railroad villagers in the Polihali catchment area, who should be compensated for the dam construction, into getting a raw deal.
Polihali Dam construction is part of the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Projects (LHWP).
LHDA Chief Executive Officer, Refiloe Tlali, said her organisation accords great importance to participation and consultation with stakeholders directly and indirectly affected by the LHWP.
Tlali said it is within this context that LHDA started to sensitise communities in the Polihali catchment area about the envisaged Phase II of the LHWP as far back as in January 2011.
She said in the on-going consultations, communities are being informed about the experiences and lessons learned in Phase I.
“Information is also being disseminated on the general aspects of Phase II of the Project and some of the policies and strategies which will be developed going forward,” Tlali said, adding that so far no villagers have been resettled.
She said what needs to happen first is to develop the resettlement policy in consultation with the communities and their leadership and it is only after that that processes of resettlement could begin.
Tlali said the establishment of community liaison structures would be guided by the community participation strategy.
She however skirted mentioning the TRC in her responses.
The civic group has been mentioned repeatedly due to its work in sensitising and advocating better resettlement compensation for villagers affected by the LHWP.
Tlali insisted the strategy would be developed in consultation with the communities and their statutory leadership.
“The strategy will also be aligned with the laws of this country such as the Local Government Act of 1997 as amended.
“This Act provides for establishment of structures answerable to the councils.
“We have engaged a community participation specialist who will lead this very important component,” Tlali said.
Tlali insists election of people into positions of representation should at the very minimum entail the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and participation by all stakeholders.
“As the LHDA, we will be relying on these principles when the time comes for the establishment of community structures,” she said.
She said those who have already been given compensation were consulted in the presence of their chiefs, the councillors, the interim community, liaison representatives and members of the community.
“It was explained to them that they will be compensated in terms of the 1997 Compensation Policy,” she said.
Tlali said it was further explained to the villagers that when the Phase II Policy on Compensation had been approved and is operational, any differences, “if any between what had already been paid and what would be payable under the Phase II Compensation Policy would be settled.”
She said the people already affected are very familiar with the procedure for lodging complaints and to date no complaints regarding compensation payments have been lodged with the LHDA.