Africa-Press – Lesotho. Just outside Maseru town is a huge Lepereng Cemetery, in the middle of this burial ground is a stand-alone house that belongs to ‘Makamohelo and Mohlalefi Mohlalefi.
The couple was left stranded after the same site, which was initially occupied with many houses, was ruled to be belonging to Maseru City Council (MCC) by a court order.
Other families were able to relocate, but their case was different as they could not afford to buy a new site and build a new house. They are still stranded to date because they cannot afford relocation costs.
Relating her story, ‘Makamohelo told Informative Newspaper that she has been in and out of the hospital due to high blood pressure which was caused by this situation.
She lives with her husband and four children, two who belong to her late siblings and two whose mother has since left to seek greener pastures in South Africa and never came back.
At the moment, the two are not going to school because their school fees, which she hardly affords, are in arrears. When she first bought the site from the then Chief who is now late, there
were no graveyards but houses. It was only later that graveyards started being excavated. She revealed that the villagers went to court to sue MCC and the
verdict was that people should seize building on that area and those who had already built their houses should be excused. ‘Makamohelo further said in March 2020, the graveyards increased
around their households and her neighbors started relocating one by one to nearby villages until her house was left alone. “I live amidst dead people and this is troubling me.
The only reason my family is left behind is because I cannot afford to relocate. I have no means. I wish one day I will leave this place and regain my peace of mind,”
said Makamohelo with teary eyes. From one of the families that relocated, Lesia Mosoeu said he moved because the graves were getting nearer to his house.
He recounted one incident when he was working and staying in Mohale’s Hoek, he got a call from his children that a grave had been excavated right next to their door.
He took a decision to buy a new site and built a 3 roomed house for his family which consists of 5 boys and 2 girls. Ha Tšiu Village Chief ‘Mamochela Tšiu confirmed knowing this issue
and said she tried to help by consulting the Principal Chief of Thaba Bosiu together with the Maseru District Administration to find out how they can all
source help for the mentioned family but to no assistance. She indicated that the only thing holding her hands is the shift of land allocation authority, which
is now handled by the Community Councils, Tšiu however noted that “her doors are open to anyone who would like to help the family to relocate”. Maseru City Council (MCC) Public Relations Officer (PRO) ‘Makatleho
Mosala indicated that the families had sued MCC over the Lepereng Cemetery site and the court determined that the land belongs to MCC. Addressing the case on
failure to relocate, Mosala said MCC has no say, saying the council has not stepped in their way. She highlighted that the families are staying there against the Court Order (contempt of court).
