MCA-Lesotho Land Administration Reform Project (LARP)

On the 17th June LEI successfully completed the ‘design phase’ of the Systematic Land Regularisation and Improvement of Rural Land Allocation processes project. This component of the MCA-Lesotho Land Administration Reform Project (LARP) focused on the regularization of urban and peri-urban areas of Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city. On completion of activities the project team regularized over 4000 urban parcels (i.e. final adjudication and cadastral survey of each parcel) and over 5,300 rural land allocation parcels in Maseru and Berea Districts.

Land allocation involved mapping using orthophoto maps and adjudicating parcels in four participating Community Councils. To assist with future land allocations and planning procedures Councils received hardcopy and electronic copies at the Community and District Councils respectively.

Often land disputes are brought to the fore during mapping and regularization activities, however LEI did not encounter major problems. In total, the project identified only 64 dispute cases that were resolved with the assistance of the Legal Aid Advisor: 46 regularization and 18 rural allocation disputes. This is less than 1% of all parcels encountering a land dispute. The success of the project was largely due to a dedicated team integrating closely with members of the community at every step of the process. This meant ensuring clear lines protocol were followed for stakeholder engagement, and ensuring beneficiaries were prepared for the project entering target areas, they were conversant with process they would engage in, and understood the ongoing benefits and obligations as leaseholders.

Detailed Standard Operating Procedures of every step of pilot activities undertaken were handed over to the LAA to ensure effective and efficient roll out for the implementation phase. LEI are providing ongoing technical support to the recently established Land Administration Authority that, as of June 15th 2010, was mandated to administer the leasehold land tenure system among other functions. LEI will continue working alongside the LAA to ensure leases are delivered to the beneficiaries.