…instructs them to uphold respect for human rights
…as M700 million water project gets underway
Moroke Sekoboto
CONTRACTORS engaged in the multimillion maloti Lesotho Lowlands Water Project (LLWP)Phase II have been ordered to respect the human rights of communities within which the project is being implemented.
They must adhere to guidelines on sexual harassment in the workplace, refrain from child labour practices and avoid forced displacements.
They must also implement their contracts in accordance with agreed conditions, observe all the requirements from the financiers, and ensure that they complete the work on time with the set standards and quality.
This is according to the Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, who spoke at the sod turning and handover event of the LLWP Phase II project in Hlotse, Leribe, recently.
The M700 million project is aimed at supplying the northern Leribe district’s economic zones of Maputsoe and Hlotse, and surrounding areas, as well as selected regions of semi-arid districts of Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek, with clean drinking water.
“As I hand over to the contractors today to commence the works under this project, I want to assure you that I have already instructed the Principal Secretary and the Project Implementation Unit to ensure that contractors implement the project in accordance with the agreed conditions,” Mr Moleko said.
“That includes observing all the requirements from the financiers and the government, such as adherence to guidelines on sexual harassment, engagement of child labor and forced displacements. I have also instructed them to make sure that they complete this work on time with the set standards and quality.”
The overall LLWDP included Phase I which saw the construction of the Metolong Dam in Maseru, which supplies parts of Berea district with water. It will also include Phase III which is currently under evaluation, intended to supply Butha-Buthe district with potable water.
The LLWP is being funded to the tune of M4.057 billion or €200.3 million, by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Union (EU), and the government of Lesotho.
The government says the project speaks to its commitment to provide portable water to every Mosotho by 2030, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to Mr Moleko, the project which is expected to take just under two years to complete, would upon completion, supply at least 60, 000 people with potable water.
He said the project would also employ at least 1450 unskilled local laborers for its duration.
“At least 1450 job opportunities will be created for unskilled laborers for the duration of the project’s construction. I instructed the project management and the contractors to hire local unskilled labourers in the project areas to give them a sense of ownership….,” Mr Moleko said.
The contractors have been awarded tenders to, among other things, build bulk water infrastructure intake structures, pump stations, raw water mains, water treatment plant as well as service reservoirs, transmission lines and booster pumps, accompanied by improvements to the distribution systems and low-scale sanitation and hygiene systems.
UNIK Construction and Engineering will build the bulk transmission system comprising of approximately 28.0 km of a steel transmission pipeline, and approximately three concrete reservoirs and one pressed steel tank.
The project will cover Khanyane, Hlotse, Tsikoane and Maputsoe and is expected to be completed within 16 months, at a cost of about M421 million.
The Qingjian Group has been awarded the contract for distribution networks for Hlotse, Ha Lesiamo, Khanyane, Tsikoane, Maputsoe and Mpharane.
The work is divided into two contracts constituting the distribution networks for Hlotse, Ha Lesiamo, Khanyane, to be completed in 12 months at a cost of about M146 million and the distribution networks for Tsikoane, Maputsoe and Mpharane to be completed in 12 months at a cost of about M211 million.
Minister Moleko surged the contractors to complete the work within the agreed time frame and allocated budgets.
He also appealed to members of parliament in these arears, councilors, principal and local chiefs, to work together with the contractors and assist in “hiring the labourers with transparency”.
Finance and Development Planning Minister, Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane, has allocated the water sector M2.2 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal budget. She said the allocation was in line with Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s commitment to “implement policies and programs that will ensure sustainable provision of water to the communities as well as protection of water resources”.
“The Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project Phase II is scheduled to commence construction of water supply infrastructure in April 2024/25, focusing on zones 2 and 3 encompassing Hlotse and Maputsoe towns,” Dr Matlanyane said.
“In 2025/26, the project will focus on zones 6 and 7 covering Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek, including the surrounding areas.”
Dr Matlanyane said that Phase III of the LLWP project, would provide clean water to Butha-Buthe district, including the town itself and adjacent rural settlements, as well as certain parts of the Leribe.
She said the third phase of the project, was still in the planning stages, focusing mainly on infrastructural designs.
“The construction of water infrastructure (phase III) is planned for 2025/26. This phase aims to enhance potable water supply infrastructure and sanitation facilities in zone I of the Butha-Buthe district, including the town and adjacent rural settlements, as well as certain parts of the Leribe district,” Dr Matlanyane said.
“Upon completion of these phases, over 550,000 individuals will benefit from a dependable and sustainable potable water supply.
“The Lesotho Lowlands Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is nearing completion, with the installation of a 12.5-kilometer pipeline and a one-million liter command reservoir at Lekokoaneng and Maretintši, scheduled for completion by August 2024.”
The finance minister said the initiative was expected to provide benefits to approximately 9,000 individuals in the region.
Additionally, she said, feasibility studies would be conducted for multi-purpose dams along several rivers, including Ngoajane, Hlotse, Makhaleng, Senqu, and ‘Maletsunyane.
“These dams are intended to serve multiple purposes, including providing water for domestic use, irrigation, hydropower generation, recreational activities, tourism, and aquaculture, among others,” Dr Matlanyane said.
