…Spring water companies clash as community is caught in the middle
A seemingly modest community well near Moshoeshoe I International Airport in Mazenod has become the centre of a deepening dispute between two spring water companies, Dewdrops Lesotho and Nyorolla Bottling Company, leaving the Ha Loka community caught in the crossfire.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the Natural Resources Cluster, led by Chairperson Moeketsi Motšoane, has stepped in to investigate the conflict, which has escalated into a full-blown water rights dispute.
Following tense deliberations this week, Motšoane ruled that Nyorolla, which holds an existing agreement with the Ha Loka community, should be allowed to continue its operations, for now.
The ruling also mandates that Nyorolla uphold the promises outlined in their agreement, including prioritising local employment and improving the community playground.
Motšoane stated that Dewdrops, lacking any formal written agreement with the community, should revert to their previous arrangement of working with Nyorolla, based on their prior terms.
Furthermore, he cautioned the local chief against interfering in the companies’ operations, emphasising that the community’s sole existing agreement is with Nyorolla.
However, the chairperson’s directive came with a significant caution. He emphasised that this is a temporary measure pending a thorough investigation into the matter, particularly regarding Nyorolla’s legal standing to extract water from the well.
“If ever we find out that the right procedure was not followed, leading to Nyorolla having all the legal documents as well as the lease to operate at that well in question today, all of that will be cancelled, and Nyorolla will have to stop operations from that well,” Motšoane declared.
Mateboho Sehlooho, the founder of Nyorolla Bottling Company, recounted her company’s history with the well, stating that they began operations in 2017 after conducting and paying for all necessary water quality tests.
Following these tests, Nyorolla negotiated a lease agreement with the community and secured a certificate from the Water Affairs department permitting them to extract water.
Sehlooho explained that Dewdrops initially approached them, leading to a collaborative agreement where Dewdrops would purchase raw water from Nyorolla at 30c (lisente) per litre for bottling and resale.
“We worked only for that year without problem,” Sehlooho stated.
“As we entered our second year, Dewdrops was aware that the charge for water per litre would increase to 40c (lisente), and they requested we decrease it to 15 (lisente), but we never agreed. We believe that is where our problems started. From there, Dewdrops did not want to work with us,” she said.
Sehlooho further revealed their shock upon discovering that Dewdrops had allegedly bypassed their agreement and was now working directly with the community without any written contract.
“As that was not enough, we were called to a gathering with the community where we were told we should no longer extract water from the well, and going forward, the community will be working with Dewdrops,” she lamented.
Haroon Ahmed, Director of Dewdrops, admitted to the existence of the agreement with Nyorolla and acknowledged that he had gone against it.
“We were called by the Chief, who said I cannot work with Nyorolla because the well is community property, which does not belong to any company, and going forward, I will work with the community through their committee,” Ahmed explained.
Chief Teboho Makoanyane confirmed his knowledge of Nyorolla Bottling Company, stating they were initially granted permission to use the well in 2012.
However, Makoanyane noted a significant delay in their operations.
“We met Ahmed at the well and asked him who permitted him to draw water, and he indicated he is working with Nyorolla Bottling Company and buying water from them. But we instructed him to stop right away,” Makoanyane stated.
The chief further explained that while Nyorolla was certified by the Water Affairs department for bottling water, there was an expectation that they would not be selling raw water to another company.
He then detailed how Ahmed approached the community, expressing concerns about business disruptions and requesting to work directly with them.
“After that, Ahmed came to the community, indicating that he cannot afford to wait because his business will be affected and requested to do whatever the community instructs him to do so that he can continue to access water, and we started working with them,” Makoanyane concluded.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
