On Tuesday, Lesotho and the Republic of Botswana signed a Bi-National Commission of Cooperation at the State House in Maseru.
As a formal agreement between the two member states to cooperate on issues of mutual interest including water, agriculture and food security and energy, the commission will serve as a platform for dialogue, negotiation and coordination across these sectors and others with the goal of strengthening bilateral relations, fostering development and addressing shared challenges effectively.
Statements prepared for the media show that Botswana has experienced several severe drought spells in the past that have led to water restrictions and despite several efforts to alleviate the situation, predictions were that water would be inadequate as early as 2025, causing Botswana to make efforts to meet its water needs of 150 million cubic metres annually from this year onwards to 2045.
As part of its efforts to ensure water security, the then Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources in Botswana, Honourable PH Kedikiwe then proposed the Lesotho-Botswana Water Project in 2011.
With a similar design to the Katse Dam, the construction of the 140-metre-high concrete double-curvature arch dam will stand at the bottom of the gorge in which the MakhalengRiver flows in, right in the area of Malealea.
The dam is envisioned to store over 1.2 billion cubic metres of water and generate 4o megawatts of hydropower at the dam and 5 megawatts along the conveyance system.
Downstream water is expected to travel over 700 kilometres through an advanced conveyance system to reach NnywaneDam in Lobatse, Botswana, delivering 136 million cubic metres of water while adding 158 million cubic metres shared between Lesotho and South Africa.
The proposed budget required for this project is 2 million USD (M35 371 698.20) to conclude the feasibility stage and an estimated 3 billion USD (M53 057 550 000.00) for the implementation stage and partners and stakeholders include ORASECOM, government of Lesotho, Botswana, SA and Namibia that will actively participate as an observer on project studies. There is also the African Development Bank which will play the role of the trustees for the African Water Facility; a financial support for the project preparation and the World Bank financing the reconnaissance studies among many.
The Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer project has evolved through a structured and collaborative process under the auspices of ORASECOM, prompted by the long-term water security concerns in Botswana and the potential to harness Lesotho’s relatively abundant water resources. Its objectives include, among others, to promote sustainable socio-economic development in Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa, to enhance water security by transporting water to Botswana and creating employment and investment opportunities during project development, construction and operation phases.
Speaking at the site visit in Mafeteng, the Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Mohlomi Moleko, said the MakhalengRiver stands as testament to a shared regional statement and the power of cooperation.
“The Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project is more than just an infrastructure venture; it is a strategic long-term investment in regional water security, energy production and climate resilience,” Moleko said.
He urged the two countries to deepen the collaboration and apply more efforts to accelerate the implementation of the project.
“Let us together build a legacy that future generations will look back on with pride, a legacy of resilience, neighbourliness, solidarity, cooperation and sustainable development,” he concluded.
