Polihali Liaison Community Participation (PLCP)
The Polihali Liaison Community Participation programme sensitizes communities affected by Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase 2 dam construction. It empowers communities to claim their rights and social justice through lobbying and advocacy strategies. TRC’s major role is to address compensation and resettlement issues that affect Polihali Communities.
These efforts are made mainly to safeguard these communities, their compensation, environment, pursue developments and hold developers accountable to commitments made to mitigate arising problems. The programme investigates the fulfilment of social impact assessments conducted or subcontracted by the developers during implementation of their projects.
The process of Polihali Dam construction entails a wide ranging problems that can result with permanent predicaments that involve;
- Permanent displacement of settlements
- Loss of land and natural resources
- Limited access to water resources
- Change of social infrastructure
- Increased health risks
- Drastic economic changes
- Absence of development around the dam perimeters.
- Low employment opportunities of community members
The programme provides capacity building for affected communities to claim their rights and demand complementary development initiatives from LHWP and government. The project seeks to help communities to re-establish themselves under changed conditions whilst it advocates fair and adequate compensation from the loss of their properties. It further initiates and monitors LHWP and community policy consultative engagements through discussions and involvement in decision making.
