Maseru — The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has been urged to strengthen education for compensation beneficiaries to ensure that the benefits are managed sustainably for current and future generations.

The call was made by Mr. Boeang Khatleli during a panel discussion on sustainable communities and environmental stewardship, as well as strengthening governance, engagement and accountability, at the ongoing LHDA Stakeholders Conference.

In his remarks, Mr. Khatleli emphasised the importance of educating beneficiaries on how to manage compensation payments, cautioning against the distribution of lump-sum payments where such arrangements could undermine the long-term benefits intended for future generations.

He stressed that proper guidance on the use of compensation could help communities make informed decisions and ensure that the benefits arising from LHDA developments contribute to sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Khatleli also identified the protection of grazing lands as another issue requiring attention, calling for a review of the laws governing the protection and management of these resources.

He noted that grazing lands remain important to communities and that appropriate legal measures were necessary to safeguard them for continued use by present and future generations.

Furthermore, Mr. Khatleli said communities in areas affected by LHDA developments wished to see national parks, including Liphofung, Ts’ehlanyane and Mafika-Lisiu, returned to LHDA management, arguing that such an arrangement could bring benefits to the surrounding communities.

He indicated that community involvement in the management of these natural resources could contribute to local development while supporting environmental conservation.

The LHDA Stakeholders Conference brings together various stakeholders to discuss issues relating to the authority’s operations, community development, environmental protection and accountability as it commemorates its 40th anniversary.