
A diplomatic conflict may further delay the launch of a multi-billion dollar project in Lesotho, which is crucial for averting a water crisis in South Africa, as reported by Business Day, citing legal documents and various sources.
Lesotho has raised concerns regarding the reappointment of Tente Tente as the chief executive officer of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, an organization founded by both nations in 1986 that manages the water supply to South Africa’s economic hub, Gauteng, according to the Johannesburg-based publication.
With a population of around 3 million and completely encircled by South Africa, Lesotho is vital in providing water to its neighbor, particularly as climate change exacerbates drought conditions in the continent’s most industrialized country.
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The mountainous nation attributes the delays and rising costs of a R53 billion ($3 billion) project, which aims to construct a new dam and a tunnel for transporting water to South Africa, to Tente’s leadership, the article indicated. However, South Africa argues that various factors—including environmental challenges, political issues, and others—contribute to the delays and overspending, the report noted.
Lesotho’s Attorney-General Rapelang Motsieloa and Natural Resources Minister Mohlomi Moleko have filed a court petition to invalidate the appointment, while the South African government is working towards resolving the ongoing dispute, according to the newspaper’s findings.
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