Mohloai Mpesi
THE government is divided over whether its principal advisor at the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission (LHWC), 79-year-old Masupha Sole, should remain in the post when his contract expires at the end of this month.
While Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, insists Mr Sole’s contract will not be renewed, sources close to the matter say some members of the executive want him retained for another five years to oversee the review of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Treaty.
The treaty, originally signed in 1986, is meant to be reviewed every 12 years, although this has never happened.
The LHWP was established to build infrastructure meant to transfer water from Lesotho to South Africa’s Gauteng province, which faces chronic water shortages.
In return, Lesotho receives royalties of about M298 million a month. The royalties were increased in 2024 from M130 million per month, which South Africa had paid for nearly two decades.
In her 2025/26 budget speech on 19 February 2025, Finance and Development Planning Minister Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane announced plans to negotiate a better deal for Lesotho, with greater emphasis on sustainability and improving the livelihoods of Basotho.
Mr Moleko and others believe Mr Sole has served his purpose and that it is time for a new team to take over.
Sources say Mr Moleko plans to appoint three advisors to replace Mr Sole.
“The minister is under pressure to renew Ntate Sole’s contract. However, he wants him gone because he intends to appoint three experts who will advise the government on LHWP issues,” a source said.
“Mr Moleko believes Lesotho has not been fully benefiting from the LHWP and therefore wants to strengthen his team ahead of the treaty review negotiations….. Another concern is that Ntate Sole is now advanced in age and the project needs fresh minds.”
Mr Moleko confirmed to the Lesotho Times yesterday that Mr Sole’s contract expires on 31 August 2026 and said it would not be renewed.
He acknowledged Mr Sole’s contribution to the commission and the water treaty over many years but said it was now time for a new advisory structure.
“Ntate Sole has expertise, but he has worked enough. He helped us with a lot with advice. We are where we are because of his contribution. But age no longer allows him to continue.
“We are not going to rely on one advisor as we did with Mr Sole. We are going to strengthen the advisory team because we are heading towards the treaty review,” Mr Moleko said.
He said the ministry wanted the treaty review to deliver tangible benefits for communities living around the Highlands Water Project through improved access to water and electricity, tourism development, fisheries and other economic opportunities.
“We want these teams to work towards improving the lives of Basotho by ensuring they benefit from water, electricity, tourism, fisheries and the use of the dams.
“I am concerned when I look at the history of the LHDA. They recently celebrated 40 years of existence, but I was not satisfied because, after 40 years, Basotho living near these dams still do not have water and electricity, yet this is a development authority that was meant to help develop this country.”
He added: “This shows that, at some point, we became too relaxed as a country. We managed to build dams that transport water to South Africa but failed to build dams that directly benefit Basotho.
“I believe that this year, under the new plan, we will change that. Last year we held a retreat in Mohale’s Hoek to reflect on these issues. I am going to ensure that Basotho benefit.
“Mr Sole advised us where he could. We now understand the way forward. There are many young people with the energy and stamina to implement that vision.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Sole declined to discuss the matter, saying the issue was still under consideration.
“That issue is still being discussed at the highest level, so please hold it for now. I promise to get back to you when it has been finalised,” Mr Sole said.
Background
Mr Sole was the first chief executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA). He was dismissed in 1995 after financial investigations and audits uncovered unauthorised payments.
He was later convicted on multiple counts of bribery and fraud for receiving nearly M5 million in kickbacks from Canada’s Acres International and Germany’s Lahmeyer International between the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The two companies were also convicted and fined by the High Court after securing lucrative consultancy contracts linked to the construction of Katse Dam.
Mr Sole was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to a total of 57 years. However, he was to serve an effective 15 years’ imprisonment as his sentences were running concurrently.
He was released on 5 May 2011 after serving eight years and 11 months, having reportedly been granted His Majesty’s pardon for good behaviour together with several other prisoners.
Soon after his release, he was appointed Lesotho’s delegate to the LHWC, the bilateral body that supervises the LHDA.
The LHWC comprises delegates from both Lesotho and South Africa and oversees the implementation of the treaty governing the Katse and Mohale dams, which supply water to South Africa, as well as the Polihali Dam which is still under construction.
SA opposed his appointment
Mr Sole’s appointment to the commission in 2011 was opposed by the South African government.
In a letter dated February 2012, then South African water minister, Edna Molewa, asked the Lesotho government to remove him from the commission.
However, former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane defended the appointment, telling South Africa’s Mail & Guardian in 2012 that his coalition government had retained Mr Sole despite Pretoria’s objections because he had been rehabilitated during his imprisonment.
Mr Thabane said Mr Sole possessed invaluable institutional knowledge of the LHWP and that Lesotho still needed his expertise.
The LHWP
The LHWP is a multi-phase bi-national project established under the 1986 treaty between Lesotho and South Africa to supply water to South Africa’s Gauteng region while generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho.
The project harnesses the waters of the Senqu/Orange River through a series of dams and tunnels for the benefit of both countries.
Phase I, completed in 2003 and inaugurated in 2004, included the construction of the 185-metre-high Katse Dam, Mohale Dam, the ‘Muela Hydropower Station and an extensive network of transfer and delivery tunnels.
Phase II is currently under construction in Mokhotlong and includes the 165-metre-high Polihali Dam and a 38-kilometre transfer tunnel linking Polihali to the Katse Reservoir to increase water transfer capacity.
