Development for Peace Education (DPE) created an information sharing platform for its partners from Denmark Lesotho Network (DLN) on the 4th of March 2025 about public participation in Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) project to evaluate on how the project see itself putting into practice Public Participation. The purpose was to hear from the Survivors of Lesotho Dams (SOLD) standpoint and compensation process.
DPE Coordinator Valentine Mosoeu indicated that dialogue and public participation are the pillars which DPE strives believing that if the community can be directly involved on the matters affecting their lives there would be no way development could be possible. Adding that, LHDA has a significant impact in developing the country however, public participation is amidst the foundations that have to be taken into consideration.
SOLD’S Coordinator Mothuse Seqheee argued that money compensation for the affected people is not enough. “There is no compensation policy in this country, we need national compensation law and public participation law because public participation is very key in this process”, He said. Moreover, SOLD stressed that the resettlement process brought more challenges that include their houses being built on wetlands which disturb their daily wellbeing. Pointing that, LHDA failing to fulfil its promises and as a result they are experiencing hunger due to lack of natural herbs that they used to live with. ‘We tried to protest but were told that our policy is different’, they said.
While LHDA, Public Relations Officer Mpho Brown responded that LHDA is aware of the gaps caused by the resettling process and is actively correcting by fixing the houses and consultants are doing work on figuring out if the issue on the swampland is long term to make a recommendation. Reiterating that, all of these issues will be soon be responded to on the phase II of the project.
Speaking as an expert on Public Participation Sofonea Shale underlined that Public Participation is not as innocent as it sounds, and also not a source of contention but a contention itself in development, governance, politics, elections, civil society. Adding that, contestation over Public Participation is significant but ordinarily avoided, pushed aside or ignored. He cited the founder of DPE Sr Veronica Phafoli standpoint on Public Participation is that the effort to change people’s misery without their participation is a futile exercise, effective development should be based on the accurate social analysis, for it to be accurate, it has to be done by the people themselves.
