Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to assess the socio-economic impact of the
Metolong Dam restoration program on the affected community’s livelihoods.
Lesotho has in recent years experienced several constructions of bulk water
projects, with the latest being the Metolong dam and reservoir. These projects
are normally embedded with differing impacts on the affected communities,
highlighting the need for compensation on those affected. Compensation is
usually based on loss of land and other different assets.
However, cash compensation for such resources has been condemned for
failing to restore the welfare of communities removed from their lands and
losing livelihood resources. The LHWP restoration package was largely based
on a long-term compensation bundle to those affected, while Metolong
restoration package provided a once-off cash transfer package accompanied
with a capacity building program meant to enable affected people to create
profitable livelihoods. Although Metolong's compensation package was meant
to be different to that of LHWP, anecdotal evidence shows that affected
community livelihoods have been negatively affected.
The findings of the study revealed that the construction of Metolong dam and
reservoir had adverse impacts on the societies residing in close proximity to
the project site. The dam was expected to deliver many socio-economic
benefits to the affected communities. However, it was determined through the
findings that the project had limited positive impacts on the livelihood of the
affected communities leaving them further impoverished
