Moroke Sekoboto
THE Tšoeneng Landfill, earmarked to replace the Ha Tšosane Dumpsite, may be heading for the same catastrophic failure as its predecessor, with concerns raised over alleged lapses in environmental assessment by the government.
These issues emerged during the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s appearance before the Natural Resource Cluster Committee on Friday, where the ministry faced intense criticism for poor waste management and weak enforcement of environmental regulations. committee members called for stricter application of the Plastic Levy to curb improper waste disposal.
During the session, committee member, Lebohang Phohleli, sharply criticized the ministry’s handling of the Tšoeneng site, warning that a lack of proper environmental impact assessments is putting surrounding communities at risk.
“I have seen that the Ministry of Local Government is now dumping waste at Tšoeneng, yet the ministry has failed to conduct the necessary environmental assessments. This is creating the same health hazards we saw at Ha Tšosane, where proper assessments were also neglected,” Mr Phohleli said.
He further highlighted the absence of legislation governing dump sites.
“Despite continuous budget allocations, there is no visible positive impact on the environment. We demand results, but so far, the ministry has failed to deliver.”
Adding to the condemnation, Koro-Koro legislator, Mahatanya Abinyane, accused Minister of Environment and Forestry, Letsema Adontši, of misleading the committee. Mr Abinyane said that promises to arrest those illegally dumping waste at Ha Tšosane have not been fulfilled.
“You assured this committee two weeks ago that enforcement action would begin at Ha Tšosane, yet no arrests have been reported. Do the lives of these people matter to you, or is your concern only for your home district of Mokhotlong?” he questioned.
Responding, Minister Adontši acknowledged staffing shortages but reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to stronger oversight.
“The ministry currently has a limited number of law enforcement officers, but we are actively working to improve enforcement,” Mr Adontši said.
He added that increasing public awareness of the Plastic Levy was a top priority.
“We are educating people through radio, television, and community outreach programs to ensure compliance and keep the environment clean. These initiatives are underway, and we are confident they will yield positive results,” the minister said.
The Tšoeneng Landfill was earmarked as the new “safer” dumpsite after the Ha Tšosane residents had challenged the usage of the Tšosane Dumpsite, saying it was violating their constitutional right to a safe environment, citing hazardous waste, fires, polluted water and livestock deaths.
The Constitutional Court has since ordered the Maseru City Council (MCC) to rehabilitate and close the Ha Tšosane Dumpsite, starting 15 March 2026 (next Sunday).
The court confirmed residents’ rights to a clean and healthy environment are justiciable and approved a phased closure plan, including the development of the Tšoeneng Landfill. The government has allocated M20 million for the project, which will run in five phases, until March 2028.