Leemisa Thuseho
WITH the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II progressing steadily, employment, skills transfer and community upliftment remain central to measuring the project’s success—both during implementation and beyond completion.
This was underscored during the official launch and renaming of the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the Polihali construction site in Mokhotlong this week. The event was led by South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, alongside Lesotho’s Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko.
The second TBM, a state-of-the-art machine used to drill the 38km tunnel connecting the Polihali and Katse reservoirs, has been named Leboborane-La-Manyokola-Thita.
The name was proposed by Malira Chefa, a student at St Paul’s High School, who won the TBM naming competition. She received M12 500, while her school was awarded M37 500.
The machine will operate from the Polihali side of the transfer tunnel and will meet the first TBM—named Khoiti-ea-Ngoaha-Khoho—which began drilling from the Leribe/Katse side in early 2025.
Ms Majodina said once the tunnel was complete, water transfer capacity would increase from 780 million to 1.27 billion cubic metres per year. Additionally, energy generation at the ’Muela Hydropower Station was expected to rise by about 30 percent.
She stressed that the project went beyond engineering.
“Beyond engineering, this project is about people—it is about opportunities and empowerment,” Ms Majodina said.
She said approximately 2400 Basotho were currently employed on the project, the majority of them from local communities.
“Over 1100 individuals have received skills training, with more than 700 certified,” she said.
“Local economic participation has already exceeded M600 million, with further procurement and enterprise development strengthening Basotho and regional businesses, including black-owned firms.”
Mr Moleko highlighted that Phase II had created over 17 000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs generated by the LHWP over four decades to more than 33 000.
On the transfer tunnel, he said its contribution to enterprise development was equally commendable.
“Procurement expenditure towards local area enterprises, both at Katse and Polihali, amounts to M153 million, while expenditure towards Lesotho national enterprises stands at M938 million,” Mr Moleko said.
He added that M87 million had been paid to South African enterprises owned by black people, with total expenditure on the tunnel contract reaching M338 million for all South African companies.
“This investment has driven growth among small to medium-sized companies in both countries—expanding employment, enabling diversification into new sectors, and strengthening skills development in critical areas such as contract and financial management, including improved capacity in competitive tendering processes,” he said.
According to Mr Moleko, the skills training programmes which began in November 2024, had awarded certificates to 70 percent of participants. Most of the training benefited individuals entering the workforce at unskilled level.
“Those who have been upskilled have progressed within their roles and attained six certifications, placing them within semi-skilled categories,” he said.
With Chinese companies playing a significant role in the project, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Lesotho, Yang Xiaokun, urged both Lesotho and South Africa to ensure the project benefited surrounding communities and the nation at large.
He said Chinese companies involved in the project had been encouraged to employ local people, with many Basotho already acquiring valuable technical skills that would benefit them beyond the project.
“This is a great project that will benefit Lesotho and South Africa and is being implemented by Chinese companies. We are pleased that our companies can demonstrate cooperation and friendship with both countries,” Mr Xiaokun said.
“We have urged our companies to employ as many locals as possible. This creates jobs for Basotho, and some have now learned to operate heavy machinery, opening future opportunities for them elsewhere.”
Member of Parliament for the Malingoaneng constituency, Monethi Ramakalima, acknowledged the project’s benefits but raised concerns about its impact on local communities.
He said grazing lands and crop fields had been affected, and residents were awaiting compensation, restoration of livelihoods and improved living conditions.
“Our grazing lands and fields have been affected, and we want to be compensated and have our livelihoods restored and improved,” Mr Ramakalima said.
He also raised concerns about damage to wetlands and rangelands, as well as ongoing water shortages in affected areas.
Mr Ramakalima further noted that while project sites and construction offices have been electrified, surrounding villages remain without power.
He added that many Mokhotlong residents have yet to benefit from employment opportunities linked to the project.
“We are pleased that some people are working on the project, but a larger portion of the community remains excluded. Community development projects could help improve livelihoods and ensure sustainability beyond the project,” he said.
