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Eighteen rural settlements in Lesotho have lodged a grievance with the African Development Bank over its funding of a multi-billion rand hydraulic scheme whose construction process they allege has damaged farmland, contaminated drinking supplies and weakened houses.

Demands for Transparency and Compensation

About 1,600 people based in the villages in Mokhotlong district in north-east Lesotho are demanding clarity over proposed forced relocations and reparations they say they have not been consulted on.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is scheduled for finalization by 2029, a decade later than originally planned. It will deliver water from mountainous Lesotho to a area containing the Republic of South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, at an projected expense of 54bn rand (2.28 billion pounds).

Official Grievance Submitted

Last week, the local residents, assisted by the Lesotho-based Seinoli Legal Centre and the American nonprofit Accountability Counsel, filed a formal appeal with the AfDB’s IRM. They asked the IRM to advise that the AfDB board halt the project until their concerns are addressed.

The document stated that rock blasting had resulted in fissures in house walls, while rockfalls and flooding had obstructed access to some fields. It claimed that dust and rubble had tainted water sources.

“Our land is being taken [and] they haven’t compensated in a fair way,” said a community representative, requesting privacy due to fears of reprisals from officials.

Official Responses

Representatives for AfDB, which loaned R1.3 billion to the project in 2021, indicated they would reply to written inquiries, but had not done so by the time of publication.

The LHDA, which runs the project, said: “No household has been, or will be, displaced without prior and comprehensive consultation … Our pledge is to openness, availability, and prompt feedback across all stages of interaction.”

It added: “As of now, no homes have been declared as unsafe due to detonations. However, where households have experienced damage such as cracks or other integrity problems, contractors are obligated to perform repairs to the approval of the affected family, or reimbursement is offered in accordance to regulation.”

The LHDA further noted that rockfall problems had been resolved, allegations of field access being impeded had not been verified and “overall water quality stays within acceptable standards for its intended uses”.

Allegations of Police Misconduct

The residents also alleged they had experienced unjustified arrests, detention and torture by security services and law enforcement for demonstrating calmly.

A police representative, a official voice for the Lesotho Mounted Police Service, said: “Officers operated within the rule of law … Protests are regulated, therefore illegal assembly cannot be peaceful. We are directed by principles of human rights as embedded in the Lesotho Constitution Act of 1993.”

A representative for Lesotho’s defense force did not reply to a request for statement.

Other Backers

The project’s financial supporters also include the BRICS alliance’s New Development Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa, both of whom replied to requests for comment.