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dam-l LHWP housing problems


>March 18, 1998
>Lesotho: new homes, new problems
>By KHUTLISO SEKOATI
>
>Maseru - New homes have resulted in new problems in the resettlement
>of villagers near Lesotho's Highlands Water Project. They were
>persuaded to move because of fears for their lives from possible earth
>tremors.
>
>Those fears have partly been proved right as seismic tremors caused
>by the creation of the 185m-high Katse Dam have opened a crack that
>cut their village into two.
>
>Social tremors are now being felt as a result of resettlement.
>Malefetsane Ndaba lived all his life in the mountain village of
>Mapeleng, 200km north east of Maseru city, which is home to 100
>families. Ndaba, along with more than 50 other residents, now lives in
>a brick house with windows and an iron roof, a far cry from his former
>home.
>
>They were evacuated from their original village after an earth tremor
>measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale. Last year the first tremor was
>felt, measuring 1.2 on the Richter scale.
>
>The villagers are unhappy because they have been moved away from
>their former neighbours and because their traditional way of life has
>been changed.
>
>The new homes have fences separating families. This, according to the
>villagers, breaks up the unifying bond that existed when there was no
>fencing separating the families. There will not be any sense of
>belonging and neighbourliness they say.
>
>In addition, the use of floor tiles and painted inside walls will mean
>that money has to be spent on maintenance.
>
>Some of the villagers say it will be difficult to light fires on the
>tiled floors, particularly in the extremely low temperatures in
>winter.
>
>About 30 households opted to stay behind in their old village and
>declined to be resettled. They are much happier because new houses
>have been built for them, but they still have their old neighbours.
>
>They disbelieve claims by scientists that there could be another
>dangerous tremor. Only time will tell if their faith in their
>traditional home is well founded.
>
>from MISAnet/AIA
>Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
>

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      Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
           International Rivers Network
              1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                  Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                        http://www.irn.org
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