Lesotho’s deteriorating railway infrastructure has worsened an already dire food insecurity crisis, driving up costs for staple foods.
Disruptions to rail freight services, which have left Lesotho Flour Mills (LFM)—the country’s major milling company—scrambling to cover increased transport costs, come at a time when Lesotho is facing one of its worst food crises in years.
LFM, along with companies such as Afrisam (for shipping grain and cement respectively), are the primary users of rail transport in the country.
However, since late 2023, the operators of the rail transport in Lesotho ceased deliveries to LFM due to the badly deteriorated rail line, fearing possible derailment, which would be costly. The train’s daily deliveries to other clients in Lesotho apart from LFM continue to be made.
The 2.5-kilometer railway track, linking Maseru Border Gate to Maseru Station, is the country’s only railway link, which was established in 1905. The aging infrastructure has become a significant challenge, especially as the railway failure coincides with Prime Minister SamuelMatekane’s announcement that the country is grappling with serious food insecurity issues.
He warned that a growing number of Basotho households were struggling to access basic nutrition. According to the Prime Minister, over 700,000 people would be food insecure for the next eight months, and an estimated M1.2 billion in aid would be needed to address the food crisis.
LFM told Newsday this week that it hadsince switched from the cost-effective rail transport to more expensive road transport, significantly increasing the cost of importing raw materials.
While he would not divulge the detailed economic impacts of the railway failure on their business operations, LFM’s Chief Executive Officer, Fourie Du Plessis, said that the shift to road transport had negatively affected the pricing of their products.
“We are currently working together with the Ministry (of Public Works and Transport) on the rail breakdown maintenance. It is true that this has significantly impacted our commodity prices,” Du Plessis said.
“So for us as Lesotho Flour Mills, it is critical for the issue to be resolved as soon as possible for the benefit of our business, which is struggling due to increased operating costs. Road transport is quite expensive compared to rail transport.”
The rising cost of maize meal and flour, essential staples in Basotho diets, is especially hitting vulnerable households the hardest.
On their part, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the custodian of railway transport infrastructure, has faced criticism for delays in addressing the issue, thereby contributing to the rise in food prices.
In a statement to Newsday this week, the Ministry said it encountered challenges, such as a lack of expertise and financial contracts, which have hindered efforts to quickly attend to the broken railway line.
The ministry said it has earmarked a M10 million budget for the repair of the railway in their 2025/26 fiscal year plans.
“This matter is at the stage where the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, together with Lesotho Flour Mills, has recently carried out a deep assessment of the railway line through a South African company called Flint in preparation to make a thorough rehabilitation of the railway line,” the Ministry said.
“We are currently waiting for this assessment report from Flint. Roads Directorate has started developing an RFP document in preparation for a tender for this project but is waiting for the release of the assessment report.”
The Ministry acknowledged that it does not have in-house engineers capable of assessing the full scope of the damage.
“As a Ministry, we do not have engineers who could assess the situation and give a clear cost of repair, hence we are working with LFM. The railway has been assessed and we are currently waiting for the report from LFM, which will also indicate the cost as well as estimated time to do the repair.”
In the last financial year, the Ministry did not have funds to carry out the repairs, but this new financial year, funds are available, and the Roads Directorate will lead the repair process.
The Ministry has allocated M10 million for rail infrastructure maintenance, with repairs set to begin in the 2025/26 financial year.
While the government has promised rail repairs, the timeline remains a major concern. With construction only expected to begin in 2025/26, businesses and consumers face at least another year of high costs before rail services resume.
As Lesotho’s market leader, LFM sets the pricing trend for other millers and food processors. With each price hike implemented by LFM, other millers and retailers adjust their prices accordingly, leading to a widespread increase in food prices.
This domino effect is particularly concerning given Lesotho’s ongoing food insecurity crisis. Households that already struggle to afford food are now facing even higher costs, making it more difficult for vulnerable communities to access essential nutrition.
Lesotho has long suffered from an underdeveloped and unreliable rail system. The 2.5-kilometer railway track, which links Maseru Border Gate to the station, is the country’s only railway link, originally established in 1905.
In 1963, passenger rail services were suspended, before resuming five years later. By the 1970s, road transport had overtaken rail as the preferred travel method, and by 1989, all passenger rail services had ceased. Freight trains continued to run, carrying goods such as cement, maize, fuel, and other bulk imports.
The rail infrastructure in Maseru includes a container handling facility and a bulk grain depot, both of which are owned by the government and leased to Transnet, a South African rail company.
