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Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.

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Main Author: Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
Other Authors: Sebitosi, Adoniya Benaya
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2020
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access_status_str Open Access
author Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
author2 Sebitosi, Adoniya Benaya
author_browse Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
Sebitosi, Adoniya Benaya
author_facet Sebitosi, Adoniya Benaya
Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
author_sort Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/108199
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:59.323Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
publishDateSort 2020
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/108199 Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline Sebitosi, Adoniya Benaya Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Social aspects Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Economic aspects Land settlement UCTD Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. ENGLISH SUMMARY : The controversies surrounding the construction of large dams around the world are well documented. The most talked about in recent times is the Chinese Three Gorges dam, which broke all-time records. On one hand, the Chinese government has projected it as the largest green power initiative, while on the other hand it displaced a whopping 1.13 million villagers in addition to other environmental issues. In Africa the narrative is very similar. While national governments prefer to highlight the potential economic benefits of such projects, the communities directly affected are invariably indignant during and after such projects are commissioned. Not only do they express dissatisfaction for little or no compensation for the direct losses occasioned by their displacement, they also do not benefit from the supposed economic benefits. When one reads such stories they are often presented by un-empathetic foreign researchers, who simply present the communities as faceless numbers. This is a study with a difference. It is about the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and was undertaken by a researcher born and raised under similar socio-economic and cultural circumstances as the communities involved. The constructions of large dams serve a variety of purposes. Lesotho’s primary purpose is selling water to South Africa. A secondary purpose is provision of hydropower to Basotho. The study is aimed at exploring and understanding the socio-economic impacts experienced by Basotho who have been displaced by the LHWP. The area of interest fundamental to the research was to understand the livelihoods of project affected persons (PAP) during pre and post-resettlement. Discussed in the study were impacts of the resettlement and development implementation program (RDIP), as seen from the re-settlers’ perspective and the implementation of the compensation policy on PAPs as presented by the project implementers. The PAPs resettled in many host villages, but only two: Ha-Mosalla and Makhoakhoeng were selected for the purpose of this study. This explorative study adopted a qualitative approach where primary and secondary forms of data were collected. Literature review served as background information and provided foundational information to the problem statement, application of relevant theories and methodology design. The literature further sharpened the understanding of larger dam impacts. In-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted during data collection. Informed by life history method of data collection, the life-changing events of participants were effectively captured. The study found that PAPs have experienced negative and positive impacts owing to compensation and the RDIP. However, due to inefficient implementation of programs, results indicate that the negatives outweigh the positives. The study uncovered an unexpected phenomenon. Those regarded as unaffected by the LHWP turned out to be inadvertent PAPs due to the socio-economic and cultural interdependency with PAPs. Finally, the study came up with recommendations from the lessons learnt. These included: (i) prioritization of livelihoods restoration; and (ii) comprehensive and inclusive community participation during inception and post implementation phases of dam projects. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : PAP’s het hulle in verskeie naburige dorpies hervestig, maar slegs twee dorpies is uitgekies vir die doel van hierdie studie: Ha-Mosalla en Makhoakhoeng. Hierdie verkennende studie gebruik ’n kwalitatiewe benadering, waar primêre en sekondêre datavorme versamel is. ’n Literatuuroorsig dien as agtergrond en verskaf grondliggende inligting vir die probleemstelling, die toepassing van tersaaklike teorieë en die metodologie-ontwerp. Die literatuur verskerp verder die insig oor die impak van groter damme. Diepgaande semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en fokusgroepe is tydens die data-insameling gebruik. Die deelnemers se lewensveranderende ervarings, ingelig deur die lewensgeskiedenis-metode van data-insameling, is effektief vasgelê. Die studie het bevind dat PAP’s negatiewe en positiewe gevolge ervaar het na aanleiding van die vergoeding en die RDIP. Die resultate dui daarop dat vanweë die ondoeltreffende implementering van die program, die negatiewe aspekte ongelukkig die positiewe aspekte oortref. Die studie het verder ’n onverwagse verskynsel uitgewys. Diegene wat beskou is as persone wat nie deur die LHWP geraak is nie, het geblyk onbewustelik PAP’s te wees as gevolg van die sosio-ekonomiese en kulturele interafhanklikheid van die PAP’s. Uiteindelik kon die studie aanbevelings formuleer uit die lesse wat geleer is. Dit sluit in: (i) die prioritisering van die herstel van lewensbestaan; en (ii) omvattende en inklusiewe gemeenskapsdeelname tydens die aanvangs- en postimplementeringsfases van damprojekte. Masters 2020-02-26T17:35:39Z 2020-04-28T12:24:56Z 2020-02-26T17:35:39Z 2020-04-28T12:24:56Z 2020-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/108199 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xiii, 118 pages ; illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Social aspects
Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Economic aspects
Land settlement
UCTD
Liphoto, Mosili Jacqueline
Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title_full Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title_fullStr Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title_short Exploring the impacts of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
title_sort exploring the impacts of the lesotho highlands water project on the sustainable livelihoods of resettled communities
topic Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Social aspects
Lesotho Highlands Water Project -- Economic aspects
Land settlement
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/108199
work_keys_str_mv AT liphotomosilijacqueline exploringtheimpactsofthelesothohighlandswaterprojectonthesustainablelivelihoodsofresettledcommunities