- Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) employees and police officers have been accused of mistreating traditional fishermen, causing physical harm, and confiscating their fish.
- Fishermen are restricted by fishing laws that limit their daily catch to two fish per household per day.
- These laws have forced many fishermen to turn to illegal fishing, leading to violence and abuse.
The Katse Dam, built as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, has brought Lesotho revenue of M3.5-billion annually from water exports to South Africa. However, traditional fishermen, who have traditionally caught yellow fish and trout, are struggling to survive due to restrictive fishing laws and abuse by authorities. In Lesotho, fishing is a vital source of income for many families. The country’s traditional fishermen have relied on the Katse Dam to catch fish for generations. However, the introduction of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has led to severe restrictions on fishing, including the introduction of restrictive fishing laws. These laws limit the daily catch of fishermen to just two fish per household per day. This has forced many fishermen to turn to illegal fishing to make ends meet. The restrictions have also led to violence and abuse against fishermen. Fishermen are also being fined and arrested for exceeding the daily limit or for using fishing nets that are not permitted. The authorities claim that the restrictions are necessary to protect the fish population. However, many fishermen argue that the restrictions are not only harming their livelihoods but also denying them the opportunity to catch enough fish to feed their families. According to Molise Mare, a community councillor from Likheleng village, the restrictions have had a devastating impact on the local fishing industry. “Everything changed when the LHDA imposed restrictive fishing laws,” Mare said. “We were told we could only catch two fish a day. That was a blow for us because fishing was our livelihood.”
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a major water project that was implemented to provide Lesotho with revenue from water exports to South Africa. The project has created jobs and stimulated economic growth, but it has also had a significant impact on the local fishing industry. The project’s reservoirs, including the Katse Dam, have created a favourable environment for fish to multiply. However, the restrictions on fishing have led to a decline in the fish population. The authorities claim that the restrictions are necessary to protect the fish population, but many fishermen argue that they are not only harming their livelihoods but also denying them the opportunity to catch enough fish to feed their families. The LHDA has defended its actions, saying that the restrictions are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the fish population. However, many fishermen argue that the restrictions are an example of how the authorities are prioritizing the interests of foreign companies over those of local communities. The situation is not without examples. According to Pheello Seafo, a fisher from Likheleng village, a vehicle from the LHDA stopped near where he was fishing with four others. Police officers came out of the car and asked the men what they were doing. “We responded that we were fishing. They asked what we were using, and we said hooks. They told us they would torture us if they found nets with us.”
“They mistook one of the lines for a net, began beating us with sticks, and left us there,” he said. Another example is the case of Mathabo Thibeli, who was arrested by armed soldiers in a boat. With guns pointed at her, she was accused of stealing from the government. “They ordered me to leave the net. The soldiers used their guns to assault me,” she said. “The net was heavy as I had caught so much fish. They beat me with sticks and gun butts on my back while I pleaded that I was just trying to support my family.”
Thibeli and another villager were kept in a police cell for three days. “We were charged and fined M100 each, which we paid, and we were freed.”
In another case, fishermen were beaten, their fish were confiscated, and then they were sent home. The struggle for access to fish has driven villagers to fight over fish bones and fish heads discarded by a commercial fish farming company at Katse Dam. These remnants have become a vital protein source for many. SanLei Premium Trout, a company based in Katse Dam, has been distributing fish heads to the surrounding communities. However, this has led to violence. In 2023, a fight over fish heads turned brutal when a villager was stabbed. “There’s never enough for everyone,” said Malieketso Ramokoatsi, a village committee member. “People grab as much as they can without considering others who are more vulnerable.”
The authorities claim that the restrictions on fishing are necessary to protect the fish population. The LHDA has been accused of abuse and human rights violations. The company’s compliance officer, Relebohile Ntoi, confirmed the violent incidents. “One of our drivers distributing fish heads was even threatened with a gun when trying to organize orderly distribution of fish heads and bones at Khohlo-Ntsoo,” Ntoi said. As part of their licence requirement, SanLei is required to submit a community benefit strategy and, “in that strategy, we included fish heads distribution.” However, instead of throwing away the fish heads, SanLei decided it would be a good source of protein for the community in the catchment area. Initially distributed daily at the SanLei plant, the fish heads were later delivered to villages on a rotating schedule to avoid further fights in the villages. Monongoaha confirmed that the distribution of fish heads is part of SanLei’s community strategy. “Nutritionists say the fish head is the most nutritious part, so instead of throwing them away, we said they should be distributed to combat malnutrition in the catchment,” she said. She said SanLei attaches a monetary value to the fish heads in their reports on community benefits. “As the only company in Lesotho doing primary fish processing, they produce many fish heads—more than the market can absorb,” she said. Asked whether LHDA was concerned that communities were not receiving whole fish, Monongoaha said, “Let’s put it this way: SanLei is a business and their sole purpose is to make profit.” She said expecting SanLei to give out whole fish would be like “asking a hotel owner to feed the community for free on certain days.”
Responding to complaints that local people can no longer fish freely as they did before the dam’s construction, while foreign companies profit, Monongoaha said, “These companies do not harvest naturally occurring fish from the dam. They import eggs, hatch them, and keep the fish in cages. If there is any restriction on traditional fishing, it is not related to the companies. In fact, the dam has created a favourable environment for fish to multiply.”
Monongoaha said the LHDA monitored the fish population in Katse and Mohale dams. “We’ve been collecting data for over 14 years now. The aim is to attract investors who can partner with local communities to fish sustainably, so that the fish can be sold and benefit the local people,” she said. However, villagers like Litaba Khanare are not convinced. “Foreign businesses benefit from our waters, while we are left with nothing,” he said. “If our government cared, it would support community-run fish projects to benefit us directly.”
