This story was supported by the Pulitzer Centre

PERSISTENT and severe droughts have drastically curtailed Lesotho’s capacity to produce its own hydropower, shoving the country into a perennial power crisis.

The droughts have reduced the water levels at Katse Dam, Africa’s second-largest dam, which powers the turbines at Muela Power Station.

Mohale Dam, which feeds Katse Dam, has also experienced extended periods of low water levels.
The results are severe: lack of drinking water and reduced hydropower generation capacity.
Lesotho is thus struggling to meet its energy needs and the 1986 Treaty’s obligations to supply water to South Africa.

The Drought Dilemma: Water levels and power generation

Data from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), which oversees the Lesotho Water Highlands Project (LWHP) and the country’s hydropower operations, indicates a steady decline in water levels at the Katse and Mohale dams over the decade from 2014 to 2023.
Over this period, water levels in these two dams averaged 60 percent, with the lowest levels recorded in 2019.

Data shows that the Katse Dam declined significantly, reaching only a third of its capacity, while in October 2020, the Mohale Dam fell to its lowest level of 11 percent.

These low water levels have impacted electricity generation at the ‘Muela Hydropower Station in Butha Buthe district, which operates three generators to produce 72 megawatts a day.

But, when water levels in the two major dams feeding the power station are low, the reduced pressure on the turbines results in lower power output.

The consequences are clear: energy production fell dramatically over the decade between 2014 and 2023 and although there was a slight increase in production in 2021, hydroelectricity production in Lesotho has not returned to its peak in 2015 when 532 190 megawatt-hours were generated.

“The worst drought was in 2019 where we were unable to meet the water delivery target and power generation targets as well. During the other drought periods, the LHDA (Lesotho Highlands Development Authority)was able to meet the targets,” said the LHDA Public Relations Manager, Mpho Brown.

The battle for power: imports and shortages

The ‘Muela plant is the main source of power in Lesotho, but it is not the only one.

A 30-MW solar farm, in Mafeteng and funded by China, also adds to the grid.

However, its contribution is not only limited to the fact that it only produces power during the day but is unable to store electricity generated.

The reality for Lesotho is that, even if the ‘Muela plant produces all 72 MW that it is capable of each day and if the solar plant adds another 30 MW to that, this 102 MW produced each day is still way short of the 160 MW the country needs each day.

Lesotho plugs this gap by buying the remaining around 58 MW from South Africa and Mozambique at a much higher cost than its own produced power.

The ‘Muela plant has shut down for six months, from October 2024 to March 2025, so that maintenance on transfer and delivery tunnels can be done.

This means no water is being transferred to South Africa during this period and no electricity is produced at ‘Muela and Lesotho relies on 100 percent imported electricity at night.

A delicate balance – power generation and water levels

‘Muela plant depends on water from the Katse and Mohale dams, both constructed under phases 1A and 1B of the LWHP.

The dams are connected by two-way transfer of water and Katse dam feeds the power plant through a 45-kilometre-long tunnel.

Water levels affect the amount of power the plant can generate.

When the water levels are high, the plant can exceed its nominal rating of 72 MW.

Each of the three generators can generate up to 30 MW, making a total of 90 MW possible. But, when the levels drop, it can’t produce as much.

In extreme cases the turbines are forced to work harder to maintain output, quickly depleting the remaining water in the dams.

According to Brown, Katse Dam levels started dropping in 2015, as a result, hydropower production reduced because the head was decreasing.

This is corroborated by analysis of the dataset supplied by the LHDA on Katse Dam and Mohale Dam levels from January 2014 to December last year.

At Mohale Dam, water levels have been low for a prolonged period, according to the statistics.

Data further shows that half the time between January 2014 and December 2023, water levels have been below 51%.

On average, water levels stood at 43 percent over a 10-year-period and most of the time, the water levels could not exceed half but improved only in 2021 and peaked in 2022.

Similarly, the same picture was painted by Katse Dam.

Between 2014 and 2023, Katse Dam water level was unstable but started declining significantly from 2015 to late 2019, signalling a protracted drought period.

Data shows that in Katse Dam water levels started dropping in percentage terms from record levels to an average of 93 percent in 2015 and never recovered until seven years later.

It improved significantly at the beginning of 2018 to reach the 80 percent-mark but declined steadily over the rest of the year to a third – or around 30 percent – in October 2019.

Katse Dam’s water level remained at a critical level in 2020 and peaked in 2021.

When Katse dam levels drop during extreme droughts, electricity generation at ‘Muela plant also goes down, according to Poloko Sephelane, the LHDA’s Senior Engineer, Operations and Maintenance based at ‘Muela Plant.

“This is the same when dam levels rise, electricity production also goes higher,” Sephelane added.

“Each of our generators has a nominal rating of 24 MW. When dam levels are at their full capacity, we can reach as high as 30 MW from one generator. But if dam levels keep declining, even the electricity output declines to the ultimate minimum of 24 MW.

He said for instance, guide vanes could open at 70 percent to allow the inflow of water into the electricity generation system and give 20 MW when dam levels are high, but with lower dam levels, the opening must go beyond 70% for more water but give the same number of megawatts.

“This means with lower dam levels, more water is needed to give one megawatt as pressure needed to turn turbines is lower than when the head is higher,” Sephelane said, adding that in 2019, they had the worst experience and failed to meet targets as they were generating at lower pressure.

“This was quickly draining our dams as a higher volume was needed to reach the generator’s 24 MW capacity,” said Sephelane.

Climate changes the future of hydropower

A climate change vulnerability assessment conducted by the LHDA between 2022 and 2023 confirms that the outlook for Lesotho’s energy future is uncertain.

The study found that Lesotho, thanks to global climate change, is likely to experience more severe droughts.

Rising temperatures will reduce rain and snowfall flowing into the rivers and dams, particularly the Senqu basin, which all supply Lesotho’s hydropower plant.

“If nothing is done, there could be less water flowing through the LHWP system, affecting both hydropower generation and water transfer to South Africa. This could impact the royalties collected by the government of Lesotho from water transfers and decrease energy security,” warned Brown.

Renewable future

Despite the challenges, there is still hope for Lesotho’s energy crisis.

The country has significant potential for other clean energy, including wind, solar and biomass sources.
With a growing push for renewable energy, Lesotho aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and power imports by developing a diverse mix of energy sources.

The Lesotho Energy Policy (2015-2025) aims to increase independence through the development of both large and small-scale energy projects, including micro-hydro, wind and solar power plants.

A key component of the LHDA strategy, according to Brown, is the implementation of a comprehensive wetlands and rangelands rehabilitation and conservation programme in the LHWP catchments.

“This initiative is further supported by plans to declare the headwaters of the LHWP catchments as protected areas to enhance the project’s resilience to climate change impacts,” he added.

“However, with multiple interventions for climate adaptation and the LHDA’s Integrated Catchment Management interventions, together with the government and partners such as ReNoka, the project is doing what is possible to ensure sustainability and conservation of the catchments, water sources and to reduce impacts on the wetlands and rangelands that are the lifeblood of the water in the LHWP system and Lesotho’s water as a whole.”

While the road ahead is challenging, there is huge potential for sustainable energy sources in Lesotho.
As Brown puts it: “It is the LHDA’s priority to ensure that the future of hydropower is protected, and that is an effort for not just the Lesotho Government but also other regional governments in the ORASECOM who are beneficiaries of the Senqu/Orange River Basin.

Sechaba Mokhethi

I write to an audience of concerned sports enthusiasts, especially the football fraternity, as well as the powers-that-be who are privileged enough to sit in this country’s executive. My message is more of an insight than a warning regarding the refurbishment of Setsoto Stadium.

My good brother, Molefi Lengosane, has raised our hopes for two months about installing an artificial turf at Setsoto Stadium. With propaganda verve and flavour, Lengosane has been giving his audience what they wanted to hear even when some of us have warned that the Setsoto Stadium project is stuttering and highly likely to remain in limbo for months to come.

At one point he claimed, in social media posts, that there was some earthmoving equipment working on the playing surface. I promptly asked him about the truthfulness of those claims.

I didn’t need him to convince me because I knew there was no iota of truth in those claims. True to form, he escalated the half-truths by boldly claiming that a company was manufacturing the mat and its trucks would be making their way to the stadium.

I was firm in my belief that this was not true because I was part of the process that awarded the tender a year ago. It didn’t make sense that the turf, the main part of the stadium’s rehabilitation, was now being manufactured a year after the tender was awarded. What had been the hold-up all this time?

It is also important to note that the rehabilitation of Setsoto Stadium to meet FIFA standards was much broader and more complex than just the replacement of the turf. Some structural issues have to be sorted out first.

For those who don’t know, in our SADC region, December is considered a contractors’ holiday month. This means very soon, manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials will close for the festive season. Some have actually stopped production lines to carry out annual maintenance ahead of closing for the festive period.

With the above scenario, you will recall that in or around August we were informed that the works on the Setsoto Stadium would need an estimated M75 million. That has probably escalated because when we issued the artificial turf project tender last year it was M5 million. Just two weeks ago the Honourable Minister of Sports proudly said it would now cost the taxpayer M7 million, a 40 percent escalation due to unjustified delays that border on negligence.

With the contractors holiday, one can be assured of further escalations from the M75 million when business resumes. We will then have to wait for the 2025/26 fiscal budget and this will balloon yet again.

When that happens, the cost might be too high and the government might be forced to abandon it.
While the escalations take effect, the FIFA and CAF calendars are not on hold. LeFA as a football organisation has to enroll teams in the FIFA and CAF competitions but given the way we do things in Lesotho, I honestly don’t see Setsoto Stadium working out in the short term. Something different has to be done.

I know some people might have a different opinion but my take, based on experience, is that we have some waiting to endure. Meanwhile, it will be our football that suffers.

The cost of playing home games in other countries would be mounting. Basotho will not be enjoying their beloved game.

What is sad is that we are capable of doing better but we don’t seem to want to. Instead, we are content with doing the same things that don’t work but expecting different results.

Mokhosi Mohapi

AS we commemorate World Children’s Day under the theme “Listen to the Future,” wecall on the elders, policymakers and leaders to truly hear the voices of young people.

HIV, a persistent challenge in our communities, remains shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding despite years of education and advocacy.

As someone living with HIV, I can testify that our future demands open dialogue, bold action and an unwavering support from those in positions of influence.

For many, the journey with HIV begins in silence.

Fear and isolation take root and opportunities to seek help are overshadowed by stigma.

I remember the uncertainty I faced when I was first diagnosed. But through learning about the virus and connecting with others, I found strength in knowledge and community.

This journey showed me the urgent need for advocacy, not just for myself but for countless others whose voices remain unheard.

Advocating for HIV testing and support is about more than just health.
It is about dignity and survival.

Testing is the first critical step in taking control of one’s health, yet many avoid it due to fear of discrimination.

With proper treatment, people living with HIV can lead productive lives.

But that requires access, education and a community free from stigma — challenges we cannot overcome alone.

Elders and leaders hold the power to drive the change we need.

In Lesotho, the effects of HIV are woven into the fabric of our society. Families lose loved ones, leaving children to shoulder responsibilities far beyond their years.

This burden creates cycles of poverty and exclusion, impacting generations.

We cannot afford to turn a blind eye. HIV is not just a health issue; it is a human rights issue.

People living with HIV are our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. They deserve respect, love and support — not fear or judgment.

Yet stigma persists, preventing open conversations and silencing those who need help most.

The voices of young people are essential to breaking this silence.

We are the future, but we cannot achieve change alone.

Leaders must support us by creating safe spaces for dialogue, providing access to accurate information and championing policies that make testing and treatment accessible to all.

Comprehensive sexual health education must be prioritised and resources for mental health and social support must be expanded.

Imagine a world where HIV is no longer a source of shame.

In this world, testing is routine, care is universal and stigma is a relic of the past. Families thrive in communities where health and well-being are prioritised and every child grows up with hope for a brighter tomorrow.

This vision can become a reality — but only if elders and leaders listen to our voices and act with urgency.

Your decisions shape the environment in which we live.

By fostering open conversations, funding education and healthcare and dismantling barriers to support, you have the power to transform lives and secure a healthier and more equitable future.

I urge every policymaker, community leader and elder to join us in this fight. Listen to the future.

Hear the stories of young people navigating these challenges and understand what we need to succeed.

Together we can build a world where no one is left behind, where every voice is valued and every child has the opportunity to thrive.

HIV advocacy is about more than battling the virus — it is about building a world where rights, dignity and hope define our collective future.

This is your call to action. Will you listen?

Rakhants’a Lehloibi