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Report No 678-F-001
METSI CONSULTANTS: SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS FOR PHASE 1 DEVELOPMENT
consisting of both indigenous and exotic specis. Wildlife communities of Lesotho are highly distinctive with
several endemic species but wildlife densities are very low due to heavy uncontrolled exploitation.
The human population along the rivers downstream of the LHWP structures within Lesotho is about 155,000.
Most of these people live in small villages, with a small proportion living in larger settlements such as Marakabei.
Lack of formal education and high unemployment are characteristic of most communities. Rural people are
heavily dependent on local resources for their livelihood, while foreign employment (South African mines)
represents an important but declining source of income. Agriculture is an important source of livelihood but
agricultural lands are constrained in size by topography and soil depths. Relatively more and better land is
available along the Matsoku and upper Senqunyane Rivers than along the deeply incised Malibamats’o and
upper Senqu rivers. Livestock are abundant in the study area (estimated populations of 68,000 catttle, 78,000
sheep, 131,000 goats and 24,000 horses and donkeys). Nutritional levels of local people, especially children, are
low, even by Lesotho rural standards, and there is a high incidence of childhood infectious diseases as well as
water-borne diseases.
3.2. STUDY SITES
Within the broad study area, the areas addressed have been delineated according to the needs of the social and
biophysical portions of the study.
3.2.1 River Reaches
The following reaches comprised the main area for the IFR determination:
Malibamats'o River downstream of Katse Dam (LHWP Phase 1A) to the confluence with the Senqu
River.
Matsoku River downstream of the diversion weir (LHWP Phase 1B) to the confluence with the
Malibamats'o River.
Senqu River from the confluence with the Malibamats'o River to the Lesotho/RSA border.
Senqunyane River downstream of Mohale Dam (LHWP Phase 1B) to the confluence with the Senqu
River.
3.2.2 Definitions
The following definitions have been applied.
IFR sites: sites for the collection of biophysical data; IFR sites are ~1 km long sections of rivers that are
considered representative of the river reach on which they are situated; IFR sites extend to
the 1:100 year flood line on either side of the river; sites are selected on the basis of typical
geomorphology, flow characteristics, riparian vegetation, proximity to a flow or water level
gauging station, and proximity to road access.
IFR reaches: lengths of river represented by each IFR site; reaches are defined by the locations of major
confluences, geomorphology and degrees of habitat integrity.
Social villages: units for the collection of sociological data; survey data are collected at the level of the
household, while the villages define the geographical cover afforded by the social study.
Clinics: units for the collection of public health data.
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