The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has launched the One-Stop Shop Integrated Services platform, an initiative designed to bring project teams closer to communities affected by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).
According to LHDA, the LHWP is “a diverse, multidisciplinary project whose work touches every aspect of community life, from the environment and human settlements to livelihoods and local development.”
Because of this wide scope, the Authority says delivering services to affected and beneficiary communities “is equally multifaceted, often requiring close collaboration across many LHWP departments.”
LHDA said the new platform is part of its efforts to strengthen direct engagement with communities.
“In line with our commitment to integrate with communities and deliver services that reflect their needs, we introduced the One-Stop Shop Integrated Services platform,” it said.
“This initiative brings LHWP teams directly to the people, creating accessible spaces for information-sharing, service support and meaningful engagement,” it added.
The latest sessions were held in Popa and Malingoaneng, Mokhotlong, on November 18 and 19. The gatherings included LHWP teams and key project partners such as ZUTARI, WRES JV, Concor–Nthane Brothers JV, Lima–Thaha JV, Sixty-15 JV, MAM JV, SUN JV, MSKC JV and Kopano ke Matla JV.
LHDA reported that community members raised issues related to resettlement planning, livelihoods, catchment management, compensation, business participation, and both skilled and unskilled labour opportunities.
The Authority said the community members received “real-time responses from the responsible teams, reaffirming our commitment to transparency, accessibility and responsiveness.”
The initiative responds to concerns raised during LHDA stakeholder conferences and the 2024 reputation research, which highlighted the need for stronger, compassionate engagement, especially on community education, grievance handling and service responsiveness.
LHDA said the ongoing campaign is helping it “deepen our understanding of community information needs and gather feedback on ongoing concerns.”
Insights gathered through the platform will be used to strengthen communication and improve service delivery, “ensuring that our engagements continue to be meaningful and create sustainable value for the communities we serve.”
LHWP is a major bi-national infrastructure programme established under a 1986 treaty between Lesotho and South Africa. It was created to meet two core objectives: to transfer water from Lesotho’s highlands to South Africa’s economic hub in Gauteng, and to generate hydroelectric power for Lesotho.
The project is widely regarded as one of Africa’s largest and most complex water-transfer schemes.
It is being developed in phases. The first phase, completed in the early 2000s, delivered Katse Dam, Mohale Dam, an intricate network of tunnels and the Muela Hydropower Station, which remains a key contributor to Lesotho’s electricity supply.
The project is now in Phase II, which centres on the construction of Polihali Dam and the Polihali–Katse Transfer Tunnel, along with extensive supporting infrastructure such as major roads, bridges and community facilities.
When Phase II is finished, the volume of water transferred to South Africa is expected to rise significantly, increasing royalty revenue for Lesotho while expanding the country’s long-term energy potential.
LHDA is the institution responsible for implementing the Lesotho components of the project. Created by the same treaty that established LHWP, LHDA oversees all planning, construction, operations and maintenance of LHWP infrastructure.
Its mandate also covers environmental protection, resettlement and compensation, livelihood restoration, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with social and environmental standards.
LHDA’s latest work reflects the scale and complexity of Phase II. Construction of the Polihali Dam is advancing, and development of the transfer tunnel that will connect the new reservoir to Katse is underway.
The Authority is also rolling out major advance infrastructure, including bridges, access roads and utilities, that enable construction and support surrounding communities.
Alongside engineering work, LHDA continues to carry out resettlement planning for households affected by the Polihali reservoir area, while compensation, housing development, grazing management and livelihood support programmes are being implemented across Mokhotlong.
Environmental and catchment management has become another central focus. LHDA is working on erosion control, biodiversity monitoring and sustainable land-use initiatives to protect the delicate highland ecosystem that underpins the project.
Community engagement has also intensified, with LHDA expanding its information-sharing efforts, improving grievance-handling systems and increasing direct outreach through platforms such as the newly launched One-Stop Shop Integrated Services initiative.
These efforts are linked to LHDA’s broader strategic direction, which emphasises transparency, stronger communication, environmental stewardship and long-term social and economic value for communities affected by the LHWP.
Summary
- The initiative responds to concerns raised during LHDA stakeholder conferences and the 2024 reputation research, which highlighted the need for stronger, compassionate engagement, especially on community education, grievance handling and service responsiveness.
- The first phase, completed in the early 2000s, delivered Katse Dam, Mohale Dam, an intricate network of tunnels and the Muela Hydropower Station, which remains a key contributor to Lesotho’s electricity supply.
- The project is now in Phase II, which centres on the construction of Polihali Dam and the Polihali–Katse Transfer Tunnel, along with extensive supporting infrastructure such as major roads, bridges and community facilities.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
