The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which has been in action for 40 years, features significant achievements including the construction of two major dams—Katse and Mohale—along with ongoing development of a third dam. This infrastructure has enabled the transfer of vast quantities of water to South Africa, specifically to the Vaal River in Gauteng province, which is crucial for the region’s economic activities. Lesotho, as a result, receives substantial royalties, amounting to billions of rand each year, thus somewhat benefiting from the project.

However, despite the technical success of the project, many citizens in Lesotho and South Africa feel that it has not fulfilled all its promises. There is a growing sentiment that the project has brought in disappointments, particularly regarding its impact on local communities. Residents have expressed concerns that while South Africa gains substantially from the water, the people of Lesotho have not seen equivalent benefits in terms of development or improved living conditions.

The historical context of the project, analyzed in a newly published book by a researcher who has studied the subject for two decades, underlines these dualities. This acknowledgment of the project’s shortcomings juxtaposed with its operational success creates a complex narrative about development in Lesotho. As it stands, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project serves as a case study for understanding the broader challenges of large-scale infrastructure programs in bringing about equitable development.