When Tlali Moferefere walked into the National University of Lesotho (NUL) for orientation week in 2018, he never imagined that a single scholarship announcement would eventually shape his entire future.
Nor did Kananelo Phakisi, a quiet but brilliant Computer Science student from Mafeteng, know that a phone call summoning him to the bursary office would change the course of his life and career.
Both young men are among a group of Basotho whose potential was unlocked by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) Bursary Programme, an opportunity that often goes unnoticed but continues to rewrite the stories of hardworking students across the country.
In Lesotho, tertiary education is primarily financed through the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS), the government’s loan-and-scholarship scheme. For decades, NMDS has been the default route for students seeking higher education. But the system, constrained by limited resources and ever-growing demand, cannot reach everyone. Many bright young Basotho miss out on opportunities simply because they cannot afford tuition, accommodation, or basic learning materials.
This is where institutions like the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) step in.
LHDA, established to implement, operate and maintain the multibillion-maloti Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), is best known for engineering marvels such as Katse and Mohale dams, the tunnels that deliver water to South Africa, and the hydropower infrastructure that supplies electricity to Lesotho.
But LHDA’s mandate extends far beyond engineering. As part of its social responsibility commitments, the Authority invests in the development of Basotho, especially in fields critical to the water, environment, engineering, and technical sectors.
One of its most impactful initiatives is the LHDA Bursary Programme, awarded to top-performing students in selected disciplines at institutions across Lesotho and South Africa. The bursary covers full tuition, accommodation, monthly stipends, and book allowances, lifting the financial weight from families and allowing students to focus entirely on their academic paths.
For Moferefere and Phakisi, the bursary became more than financial support. It became a source of dignity, confidence, and direction.
Tlali Moferefere: “The bursary gave me more hope.”
From Lithabaneng, Ha Keiso, Tlali Moferefere grew up without the certainty that university would be financially possible. He studied BSc Environmental Science, completing in 2022. He first heard of the LHDA bursary in an unexpected place: orientation week.
“The first time I heard of the LHDA bursary programme was during orientation week in 2018. Secondly, I got a call from the bursary administrator telling me that I had been nominated for the scholarship.”
The relief that followed was immediate and deep.
“The bursary covered tuition fees, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and a book allowance. On a personal level, the bursary gave me more hope in my studies and made me focus more on my studies and less on my family.”
For Tlali, this support was not only financial, it was stabilising.
His hard work paid off.
“I was one of the best students in Environmental Science, and I even received an award for it.”
That excellence opened a further door, something he attributes directly to being financially unburdened.
“Due to this LHDA bursary opportunity, I managed to further my studies in a Master’s of Water Engineering at the University of Cape Town. This is because I did not have any financial burden from the government.”
Today, Tlali is driven by purpose.
“This experience has shaped my plans. It gave me love for dealing with water-related issues and the environment. That’s why I ended up furthering my studies in water engineering. I would love to give back to the community after this big opportunity by expressing my expertise in both environmental and water engineering.”
And to students waiting for their chance, he has a message:
“I advise them to work hard, value such opportunities, be respectful, be dedicated, and motivated all the time.”
Kananelo Phakisi: “This basically gave me a stress-free living.”
Born and raised in Mafeteng, Kananelo Phakisi pursued a BSc in Computer Science (Single Major) at NUL, completing in 2022. Unlike Tlali, he had never heard of the LHDA bursary, until the day he was summoned to the bursary office.
“To be honest, I had not heard of the LHDA bursary before, but I was called to the bursary office while in my second year of study. I was told that I was the recipient of the LHDA bursary because I was one of the top-performing students in Computer Science.”
For a young man raised by his grandmother, after losing his mother years earlier, the bursary’s impact was immediate.
“The bursary included tuition fees, accommodation or rent, a monthly allowance, and a book allowance. I come from a family that is not well off, and I am supported by my grandmother. My mother died a long time ago.”
For the first time, he could breathe.
He remembers one instruction clearly: “We were told that we had to be at the top of our performance for us to continue getting the bursary.”
That condition motivated him rather than intimidated him.
“Getting this showed me that my hard work in the first year had been noticed and allowed me to really focus on school and be the best going forward.”
The results were remarkable.
“I received multiple awards during my graduation. When graduating, I received about three awards, one was from Standard Lesotho Bank[MH1] .”
Phakisi did not stop there. He dove deeper into systems, infrastructure and automation.
“I also ventured into site reliability engineering, learning further about IT infrastructure, managing infrastructure.”
Today, he works at Standard Lesotho Bank.
“I am at Standard Lesotho Bank in IT as a Core Banking Administrator. But that is not my only job. I am also into site reliability engineering, making sure we detect problems before the system degrades further.”
A programme that changes more than bank balances
The stories of Moferefere and Phakisi highlight something essential: the LHDA bursary is not just a financial aid programme, it is a bridge to possibility. It identifies talent where it exists and nurtures it, regardless of background or family income.
Where NMDS provides broad access, LHDA’s bursary sharpens focus, producing graduates in fields vital to national development, such as water engineering, environmental science, computer science, and engineering.
The human impact is undeniable. When a young person no longer worries about meals, rent or unpaid fees, their mind becomes free to dream, innovate, and excel.
[MH1]Usually, I would remove it, but this time it leaves a feel-good factor and may be suitable for the partnership with the bank.
Summary
- Both young men are among a group of Basotho whose potential was unlocked by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) Bursary Programme, an opportunity that often goes unnoticed but continues to rewrite the stories of hardworking students across the country.
- LHDA, established to implement, operate and maintain the multibillion-maloti Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), is best known for engineering marvels such as Katse and Mohale dams, the tunnels that deliver water to South Africa, and the hydropower infrastructure that supplies electricity to Lesotho.
- On a personal level, the bursary gave me more hope in my studies and made me focus more on my studies and less on my family.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
