Land acquisition and compensation by cannabis companies: narratives of displeasure by communities in Berea District, Lesotho

Abstract

This study analyses the impact of land acquisition (viewed as investment on land) by the cannabis companies on local communities and the fairness of compensation that is paid to displaced/dispossessed landowners, in Berea District in Lesotho. It adopted qualitative case study design with semi-structured interviews used to collect data from the landowners, local leaders, the representatives of the cannabis companies and the officials from the Ministry of Health. Data was analysed thematically with an application of both deductive and inductive methods. The study revealed that stakeholders acknowledged the benefits such as employment opportunities and community development; however, they expressed concerns regarding inadequate compensation, communities’ inclusion and unmet promises among others. The study concludes that if well administered, the cannabis initiative could improve the communities’ livelihoods and boost the Lesotho’s economy. Therefore, it recommends implementation of the existing land related legal frameworks, fostering inter-ministerial planning and maintaining ongoing community sensitisation.

Lolu cwaningo luhlaziye umthelela wokuzuzwa komhlaba (ebukwa njengotshalomali kwezemihlaba) yizinkampani zama-cannabis kwimiphakathi kanye nokulingana kwinkokhelomali yabanikazi bemihlaba abasusiwe, kwisifunda sase-Berea e-Lesotho. Isebenzise uhlelo locwaningo lwekhwalithi olusebenzisa izingxoxo ezihlelwe ngokulinganiselwe zokuqoqa idatha kubanikazi bomhlaba, abaholi bendawo, abamele izinkampani ze-cannabis, kanye nezikhulu ezivela eMnyangweni Wezempilo. Idatha yahlaziywa ngokwezihloko ngokusebenzisa izindlela zokufunda eziqondile nezokuhlola. Ucwaningo lukhombise ukuthi ababambiqhaza bayazivuma izinzuzo ezifana namathuba emisebenzi nokuthuthukiswa komphakathi; noma kunjalo, baveze ukukhathazeka maqondana nenhlawulo enganele, ukungafakwa kwemiphakathi kanye nezithembiso ezingagcwaliswanga phakathi nokunye okuningi. Ucwaningo luphethe ngokuthi uma iphrojekthi ye-cannabis ilawulwa kahle, ingathuthukisa izindlela zokuphila zomphakathi futhi ikhuphule umnotho waseLesotho. Ngakho-ke, luphakamisa ukusetshenziswa kwemithetho yendawo esekhona, ukukhuthaza ukuhlela phakathi kwamahhovisi kahulumeni ahlukene, nokugcina ukuqwashisa komphakathi okuqhubekayo.

Phuputso ena e manollotse kameho ya phumano ya naha (e nkwang e le letsete la naha) ya dikhamphani tsa matekwane baahing ba lehae le ho dumella beng ba tlositsweng naheng ho hlahisa maikutlo a bona ka tefo eo ba e lefilweng, Seterekeng sa Berea, Lesotho. E sebedisitse patlisiso e kenelletseng ya ketsahalo ho ya ka kutlwisiso ya boemo ba yona ba nnete, e nang le diinthaviu tse tataiswang ka dipotso tse hlophisitsweng le tse botsisisang ho ya ka dikarabo tseo ho fanweng ka tsona tse sebedisitsweng ho bokella datha ho beng ba naha, baetapele ba lehae, baemedi ba dikhamphani tsa matekwane le diofisiri tse tswang ofisisng ya Letona la tsa Bophelo. Data e ile ya manollwa ho ya ka mookataba ho sebediswa mekgwa ya ho fuputsa e tlohang kakaretsong ya theori kapa molao ebe mofuputsi o e sebedisa ketsahalong e itseng le mekgwa e sebedisang phetapheto ya ketsahalo e itseng ebe mofuputsi o etsa qeto e akaretsang. Phuputso e bontshitse hore bathahaselli ba ananetse melemo e jwalo ka menyetla ya mesebetsi le ntshetsopele ya maphelo a baahi; le ha ho le jwalo, hara dingongoreho tse ding, ba hlahisitse tefo e sa lekaneng, ho se kenyeletse baahi mererong le diqetong tse nkwang le ditshepiso tse sa phethahatsweng. Phuputso e nkile qeto ya hore haeba mohato oo ho iqallwang oona o amanang le matekwane o ka tsamaiswa hantle, o ka ntlafatsa maphelo a baahi le ho matlafatsa moruo wa Lesotho. Kahoo, e kgothalletsa ho kengwa tshebetsong hwa meralotshebetso e teng ya molao e amanang le naha, ho kgothalletsa mafapha kapa matona a mangata a mmuso ho sebetsa mmoho ho etsa meralo le ho tswella ho lemosa baahi ho tseba ditshebeletso tseo ba di fuwang le ho utlwisisa bohlokwa ba tsona.