RASEBALA DAM DREDGING PROJECT IN MAFETENG DISTRICT.
Project Overview
Project Name: Mafeteng Drought Relief Project – Dredging of Rasebala Dam.
Location: Rasebala Dam, Mafeteng.
Executing Agency: Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO).
Contractor: Founda Construction Engineering.
Project Cost: M52 million.
Project Duration: Estimated at 10 months.
Why the Project is Important?
The dam is currently operating at only 15% of its capacity due to heavy siltation.
The project aims to:
1. Restore the dam’s water storage capacity.
2. Improve water security in Mafeteng.
3. Address acute water shortages.
4. Strengthen drought resilience in the district.
Project Activities
. A specialized dredging machine has arrived in Lesotho to begin the project.
. The machine will take approximately two weeks to assemble.
. Actual dredging is expected to take about six months.
. The project involves removing accumulated silt from the dam.
Environmental Context:
. The silt build-up is linked to upstream land degradation.
. Rasebala Dam has not been upgraded since 2012.
Scale of the Problem
. The amount of silt to be removed is estimated at 900 cubic metres.
. This is described as roughly five times the size of Qiloane.
. Water Supply During Construction
. The dam will be phased out during dredging operations.
. WASCO has indicated that a contingency plan is in place to ensure a continuous water supply to Mafeteng residents throughout the project.
Recent Milestone
The dredging machine arrived at the Maseru Border Post on 27 July 2026, marking the commencement of the project implementation phase.
Government Ministries/Institutions Involved
1. Ministry of Natural Resources (oversight of the water sector).
2. Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) (implementing agency).
3. Mafeteng District authorities and local stakeholders supporting implementation.
Source: Government Spokesperson
