Maseru
In response to the escalating water crisis in Mafeteng, Lenka Thamae, a policy analyst and public participation specialist with the Policy, Environmental Justice and Water Resources Advocacy (PEWA), has called on the Lesotho government to formally declare water and sanitation as fundamental human rights. Thamae criticized the nation’s lack of prioritization on water access, despite Lesotho’s abundant water resources.
“Mafeteng is experiencing severe water shortages, and it’s unacceptable that Basotho must struggle for access to water in a country blessed with so much of it,” Thamae remarked. He noted that Lesotho only utilizes about 2% of its water resources, which he finds alarming given the country’s dire need.
Thamae stressed PEWA’s support for the communities in Mafeteng and revealed that a protest is being planned to demand water access. While acknowledging a working relationship with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Thamae expressed frustration over the Ministry’s response to the issue, stating, “Water is life and should be treated as an emergency.”
He also pointed out that the Lesotho Highlands Water Project generates M298 million monthly, a figure that could potentially fund water services for all citizens. Comparing Lesotho’s situation to South Africa, where water is a constitutional right, Thamae described the paradox of Lesotho’s water abundance and local scarcity.
Thamae reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for water and sanitation as constitutional rights, calling on the government to prioritize citizens’ needs. “This is a fight for the dignity and survival of our people,” he concluded at a press conference in Maseru.
