SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF ABANDONED MAQALIKA DAM TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN MASERU, LESOTHO
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Date
2025-10-01
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Abstract
Maqalika Dam was constructed in 1983 to supply potable water for households and other
uses in Maseru. However, since its abandonment for some time it has suffered
progressive degradation due to pollution, sedimentation, and unregulated urban
encroachment. Against that backdrop, this study examined the socioeconomic and
environmental dimensions of the abandonment of Maqalika Dam in Maseru Lesotho. A
mixed-methods approach comprising household surveys (n=310), key informant
interviews with institutional stakeholders, and field observations was used with
tabulations and content analysis to assess the multifaceted consequences of the dam’s
discontinued use. Findings indicated that over 55% of nearby residents experienced
livelihood disruptions, especially in irrigation, livestock watering, and small-scale fishing.
Environmentally, over 94% of respondents reported pollution, waste dumping, and
eutrophication as prominent challenges which posed risks to public health and aquatic
life. Institutional neglect, rapid urbanization, and intentional pollution were identified as
key drivers of abandonment. Although Metolong Dam now supplies Maseru, the Maqalika
site remains a source of socio-environmental concern. Stakeholders proposed strategies
including pollution source mapping, ecological rehabilitation, and participatory reuse
planning. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for integrated water resource
governance, emphasizing rehabilitation or sustainable repurposing to transform
abandoned urban dams from liabilities into community assets.