By ‘Majirata Latela
The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) continually hits a brick wall when it attempts to implement community development projects in affected areas, theReporter has learned.
The LHDA is finding it hard to work hand in glove with some government ministries to implement projects meant to upgrade the lives of communities affected by the construction of dams in the highlands.
LHDA indicates that with funds from communal compensation for communities that have been affected by construction of the dams, the communities are allowed to use the money for developmental projects. The communities agree on which project they would like to use the funds for.
A source close to the paper has revealed that the ministry of local government is tarnishing the name of LHDA in these projects because they are failing to develop the communities themselves. The source established that there are allegations from the ministry that LHDA does not use communal funds appropriately on the projects.
At an inauguration of a bridge at Ha Moqekela in Thaba-Tseka district theReporter learned from a member of the Moqekela Association, Matsepo Sebutsoe, the local government ministry delayed to ferry machinery such a loading trucks and excavators. She said the villagers were not in the knowledge as to why there was a considerable delay in ferrying the machinery to the site. The workers there had to use wheelbarrows to collect building stones.
“When we realised that the machines may come in late, we opted to find a solution to avert delaying the project’s kick-off. Workers who were employed at the site worked very hard and collected stone resource for building of the bridge. then decided that we should find a solution so that we do not delay the project,” she said.
The LHDA public relations manager, Masilo Phakoe, said the authority encountered some problems with a failure in communication taking the lead. This, he added, was due to involvement of various ministries.
“I do agree that yes there are indeed slip-ups in the chain of command during the delivering of the projects. LHDA relies on other government ministries for the technical knowledge. If we are doing a project on electricity we rely on the ministry of energy with its experts to help,
“To solve the problems and to keep up with each other, whenever there are problems we go back to the drawing board and see where we went wrong. That does not mean there won’t be problems with other projects that will follow. Every project comes with its challenges,” Phakoe related.
The projects that are being undertaken involve roads construction, electricity supply and building of bridges across some rivers
Thaba-tseka district council secretary, Lenka Letlatsa, told this publication that a shortage of resources immensely contributed to a delay for projects implementation.
He argued that limitations in budgetary allocations were central to the challenges of shortage of equipment for roads and bridges construction. Added to that, he said, lack of sufficient fuel supply was hampering some progress while some equipment required major repairs.
The delay that normally comes from our side is because of inadequate resources to carry out the job that we are tasked to do as the district council. However when there are such problems, we communicate with the other stakeholders being LHDA or any other department. That usually helps us to overcome the problem.
“For instance, when Ha Moqekela bridge was constructed, the machines used there did not have enough fuel. The matter was referred to the LHDA, it stepped in to ensure sufficient supply of fuel for completion of the construction.
“One other issue that has surfaced in some projects implementation is a breakdown in communication among the concerned ministries. If there is a certain project that requires use of machinery, the issue is discussed at district council meeting in the presence of that particular area’s councillor. It is at such meetings where councillors are enlightened about the availability of the equipment for them to relay the information to their respective communities,” Letlatsa noted.
