Limpho Sello
A SEVEN-MEMBER Qeme family’s dream of decent accommodation finally came true this past week after Habitat for Humanity Lesotho (HFHL) and well-wishers from the United States collaborated in building them a two-roomed dwelling.
The Liphoto family was sharing a dilapidated stone and mud house room that was on the verge of collapsing before HHL came to their aid on Wednesday.
Residing in Ha-Mpo village in Qeme, on the outskirts of Maseru, the Liphoto family consists of seven-year old physically-challenged Mosiuoa, his 28-year old unemployed single mother, Tšepang, her sister and 67-year old mentally-challenged mother as well as two other relatives.
Tšepang told the Sunday Express on the side-lines of the house’s construction they used to dread the rainy season because it increased the chances of their old dwelling’s collapsing.
She said the plastic bags they used to patch up the structure to stop the rain from entering would fall off leaving them exposed to the elements until the rain stopped.
“We also used to use basins and buckets to collect the water from the leaking roof,” said Tšepang.
“The derelict state of our dwelling was an issue of great concern for us because we lived in constant fear of the structure collapsing on us when we least expect it.
“We had no choice but to live under such conditions because we are unemployed and can’t afford to build a new place or renovate our home.”
She said they survived on her mother’s quarterly disability grant of M750 and a M500 remittance from her sister who is a domestic worker in South Africa.
In her remarks, HFHL National Director Mathabo Makuta said like many least developed countries, Lesotho is beset with the challenge of people living in overcrowded dwellings where there is no privacy at all.
She said the Liphoto family’s situation was not unique since in some areas up to nine people shared a single room due to the high unemployment rate in the country.
Ms Makuta also indicated they were constructing the house in conjunction with a visiting team of nine partner organisations from the United States.
“Apart from helping with the construction of the house, the team is also on a mission to assist orphaned and vulnerable groups,” she said.
“We are happy to have these visitors in the country especially now that they have accompanied us to one of the vulnerable families. They are able to see the situations these families live under and hopefully they will want to do more.”
Ms Makuta said the house was not enough to alleviate the Liphoto family’s challenges, calling on other well-wishers to come to their aid.
“I urge other people of goodwill to assist this family with at least the basic necessities,” she said.
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