Africa-Press – Lesotho. For many years, residents of Roma, a community located about 45 kilometres south-east of Maseru, have endured persistent and unpredictable electricity outages that continue to disrupt daily life, despite repeated assurances from the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC).
According to community members, power cuts occur almost every time there is rainfall or even the slightest wind, leaving households, institutions and businesses without electricity for hours at a time.
What has frustrated residents most is that the problem has persisted even after earlier explanations and interventions by the power utility.
Initially, LEC attributed the frequent outages to overgrown trees along the main roads, which were said to interfere with power lines. The trees were subsequently cut down, raising hopes that the situation would improve. However, residents say the outages continued unabated.
More recently, the utility has cited ageing power lines and outdated equipment as the cause of the ongoing disruptions.
Despite this explanation, no visible upgrades or lasting solutions have been implemented, leaving the Roma community to cope with unscheduled power cuts that have gradually become part of everyday life.
The situation has raised serious concerns, particularly given the steady increase in electricity tariffs over the years. Residents argue that they are being asked to pay more for a service that has become increasingly unreliable.
One of the residents, Mrs. Mabonang Makepe said “These power cuts have become normal for us, but that does not mean they are acceptable.” She expressed concern about the lack of accountability from the power utility.
She said critical institutions in the area are also heavily affected. St Joseph’s Hospital, the only hospital serving Roma and more than 20 surrounding villages, reportedly struggles to operate effectively during prolonged power outages. Medical procedures, diagnostic services and patient care are all hindered when electricity supply is interrupted.
She also mentioned that the National University of Lesotho (NUL), located in the same area, is another major institution impacted by the power cuts. Reliable electricity is essential for teaching, research, administrative work and student learning, making the frequent outages a significant setback to academic activities.
Attempts to obtain a comment from LEC regarding the latest complaints were unsuccessful, as the utility did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Frustrated by years of unfulfilled promises and the lack of clear communication, members of the Roma community say they are now planning to formally petition the electricity provider. They hope the petition will compel LEC to take concrete action and prioritise lasting solutions to the long-standing power challenges in the area.
For residents, the issue is no longer just about inconvenience, but about fairness, safety and access to reliable electricity in a community that hosts some of the country’s most important institutions.
The LEC mission statement reads: “To provide reliable, safe, and high quality electricity for sustainable economic growth and better living standards in Lesotho, focusing on service excellence, community upliftment and responsible operations’.
