Abstract:
As a developing country, Lesotho is using Environmental Impact Assessment as an environmental
management tool with the intention of attaining sustainable development. This is provided for by
the Environment Act 10 of 2008 which entails guidelines for EIA. The guidelines identifies
activities/projects for which Environmental Impact Assessment is required. Housing developments
are subject to Environmental Impact Assessment in Lesotho under the EIA guidelines, while the
collective individual undertakings are disregarded for being too small, yet their environmental
impact is prominent. The guidelines also outline that buildings with a floor space of 500sqm or
more should be subject to an EIA.
This study looked at the relevance of EIA in housing construction in Maseru urban using Maseru
South West (MASOWE) and Motheo as case studies. Data was collected using qualitative research
method, which included consideration of literature, interviews with various participants and
observations.
The results revealed that individual house are regarded as small of undertakings even as a
collective unlike undertaking of housing developments. Moreover, there were houses found to
have a floor space of 500sqm and above that were also not subjected to EIA’s. The relevance of
EIA in housing construction is taken lightly, even when the compounded impacts are visible and
detrimental to the environment. Public participation is one other aspect that the study found to be
lacking, 95% of the public did not even what Environmental Impact Assessment was, let alone the
specifications thereof.
The recommendations were, the public should be sensitised so that they are cautious of their
environment and taught of EIA as an environmental management tool to advance sustainable
development. Also, clear demarcation of sites dependent on size of buildings will better facilitate
the clear and correct use of EIA in housing construction. The demarcation should be characterised
by follow up site visits by relevant authorities to ensure encroachment of servitude zones is
alleviated. Lastly the study recommends the formulation of a piece of legislation dealing
exclusively with EIA, an EIA Act. This will facilitate a clear and proper way of applying EIA to
manage the environment effectively, even in housing construction.
