Impacts of Lesotho Highlands Water Project on Sustainable Livelihoods

Haretsebe Manwa

doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p640

Abstract

The sustainable livelihood framework was used to understand and interpret communities’ perceptions of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s impacts on livelihoods in the highlands of Lesotho. In-depth interviews were held with representatives of households in three villages who were part of Phase 1A of the Lesotho Highland Project. The results suggest that the Lesotho Highland Water Project has changed the livelihoods of the mountain people living nearby. The water project should embark on image building by involving people from the affected communities in setting up new priorities and a new vision concerning how the project can aid in sustaining the livelihoods of affected villages. Most importantly, the project should educate the concerned villages regarding its prime objectives and how communities can benefit from them. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p640

Highlights

Introduction and BackgroundLesotho is one of the 15 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Lesotho is classified as one of the least developed countries, with 50.1% of the population living below the poverty datum line. (United Nations Development Programme, 2008) Interestingly, poverty is acute mainly in the mountains where the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is based (Azubuike, 2006)
The older residents have a good grasp of developments in the region, including impacts of the Lesotho Highland Water Project on people’s livelihoods

Summary

Introduction

Lesotho is one of the 15 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) It is a landlocked country completely surrounded by another country, South Africa, making it dependent on South Africa. (United Nations Development Programme, 2008) Interestingly, poverty is acute mainly in the mountains where the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is based (Azubuike, 2006). It has a GDP of US$1.60 billion (World Bank (2008). The number of Basotho migrants, who were estimated to be about 50% of the total male labour force that was employed in South African gold mines, was reduced to 69, 000 in 1999 (World Bank, 2000)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion