…Unequivocally condemns workplace abuse, violence, and misconduct
The Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project Phase II (LLWDP-II) has responded to reports of an alleged assault involving Mokete Mothibi, a former labourer at UNIK Construction Engineering (Pty) Ltd, and his former supervisor, Liu Changqing.
Last month, Newsday revealed that Mothibi had filed an assault charge against Changqing following a physical altercation on February 10, 2025, at Ha Potloane in Tsikoane, Leribe. Both men were working on Phase II of the LLWDP, installing pipelines intended to deliver water from Hlotse to Maputsoe.
According to Mothibi, the incident occurred during a routine shift while he was placing road warning signs.
“It was a normal day around 6:50 a.m.,” Mothibi told Newsday. “I had set up the signboards to alert motorists about the construction. Suddenly, my supervisor charged at me, shouting in Chinese—which I didn’t understand. He grabbed me by the collarbone, dragged me back to the signs, kicked my leg, and knocked the boards down. A colleague stood by, shocked.”
Mothibi said he reported the matter to UNIK’s human resources department, but no immediate action was taken. He subsequently lodged a complaint with the police, resulting in a formal assault case.
In a statement issued this week, the LLWDP-II’s Public Relations Office confirmed it was formally notified of the incident through its contractual reporting channels, including weekly incident reports.
“Upon review, the Project Implementing Unit (PIU) promptly recommended the immediate suspension and removal of Mr. Liu Changqing from the Project site to facilitate an impartial investigation,” the statement read.
“This matter has since progressed to a legal case, with Mr. Mokete Mothibi filing an assault charge against Mr. Changqing. The Project reiterates its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all contractors and their personnel strictly comply with the Labour Laws of the Kingdom of Lesotho,” it added.
LLWDP-II said it unequivocally condemns any form of abuse, violence, or misconduct in the workplace.
“We uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, and all personnel, whether employees of the Project, the Engineer, or the Contractors, are required to sign and adhere to the Project’s mandatory Code of Conduct.”
Furthermore, LLWDP-II said it remains dedicated to supporting the well-being and rights of all workers involved in the Project. This includes access to counselling services, legal support, and a confidential grievance reporting mechanism to ensure that any concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.
“We will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure accountability and to foster a safe and respectful working environment across all sites,” the statement concluded.
LLWDP-II is part of the broader Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme and focuses on two priority packages: Zones 2 & 3 in the Hlotse-Maputsoe area (financed by the World Bank), and Zones 6 & 7 in the Mohale’s Hoek-Mafeteng area (supported by the European Investment Bank in partnership with the European Union).
The project aims to construct bulk water infrastructure, including intake structures, pump stations, raw water mains, treatment plants, service reservoirs, and transmission lines, and to implement sanitation and hygiene measures to enhance service delivery.
It also seeks to build capacity among service providers to reduce non-revenue water (NRW), improve billing and revenue collection, strengthen sector planning and monitoring, and support long-term solutions for water security.
Additionally, the project offers technical assistance to bolster institutional efficiency and effectiveness within Lesotho’s water sector.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
