Consultancies 

Consultancies Conducted by Morija Museum & Archives

 

LHWP Phase II – 2021-22

Heritage Impact Assessment for C6019 Feeder Roads & Bridges contract.

​

Lowlands Water Project – 2021

Heritage Impact Assessment and Validation of Findings for Leribe sites. 

​

LHWP Phase II – 2017 to present

Historical research, documentation of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Cultural Heritage Management Plan C6025, LHDA, 2017, through PGS Heritage.

​

LHPW Phase II - 2017 

Heritage Impact Assessment for EIA of C6004 Western Access Corridor, LHDA, 2017 (Stephen Gill, Pusetso Nyabela and team)

​

LHWP Phase II – 2016-17

Heritage Impact Assessment for EIA of C6014 Polihali Catchment Area, LHDA.

​

Letseng Diamond Mine – November 2016

Test Archaeological Excavations at Patiseng Cattle Posts and Old Khaphamali Village Ruins.

​

Kao Heritage Impact Assessment – June 2016

As part of larger EIA for Kao Diamond Mine.

​

Letseng Diamond Mine – June 2015: 

Test Archaeological Excavations at RTZ Valley for Lets’eng Diamond Mine.

​

Master Plan for Lesotho National Museum – March 2015

“List of In-Country Collections and Heritage Sites” for the ‘Master Plan’ for the Lesotho National Museum Project (under Dijon Designs of Cape Town). 

​

Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village - 2014

Research/validation of information for text/layout of new Interpretation Centre at Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village under Dijon Design (Cape Town).

 

Lets’eng Diamond Mine Kholo Project II - 2013

Interviews with key informants was captured on video in partnership with Phokeng Communications. 

 

Heritage and Tourism Component of EIA for Kobong Pump-Storage Dam – 2012
Identification of archaeological and heritage sites within area to be impacted by construction, including gathering oral histories, archival research, assessment of existing heritage and tourism potential and providing recommendations.

 

Lets’eng Diamond Mine Kholo Project – 2012
Assess potential impact on heritage resources of power-line extension from Khukhune to ‘Muela, as well as impact on southern area of Lets’eng Diamond Mine. Study was expanded to include recommendations for a mining museum, and included collection of oral history from individual diggers at Lets’eng during 1960s and testimony from others who worked during the Rio Tinto and DeBeers periods, as well as scans of photographs and other publications that illustrate the history of the mine from its discovery in 1957 through the 1980s.

 

Thaba-Bosiu, Rehabilitation of the National Monument – 2011
Conducted study to determine major heritage features on the mountain fortress and its various settlements for the purpose of developing sign-posting, markers; also rehabilitation of graves, provision of ablution facilities, control of invasive poplars, etc.

 

Thaba-Bosiu, Rehabilitation of the National Monument: Historical Component – 2011
Archival study, plus face-to-face interviews to provide extensive background material for purposes of presentation and interpretation regarding chronology of events at Thaba-Bosiu from 1824 to modern period. Compiled lists of influential persons close to Moshoeshoe, lists of his wives, lists of regiments (mephato), description of social structures, musical instruments, lithoko tsa Moshoeshoe, and related illustrations and photographs.

 

Scoping Exercise for Wind-farm Project – 2011
Scoping exercise on the heritage component regarding a proposed wind-farm project in
the Lesotho Highlands.

 

Metolong Dam II as part of Cultural and Heritage Resource Management – 2010
Conducted research to determine early settlement patterns in Phuthiatsana River basin from 17th century to 1900, with intensive focus on greater Metolong/upper Phuthiatsana.

 

Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply II – 2010
Survey of reservoir/tank sites in Zones 1-3 and 6-8 (over 30 sites) for heritage material, and recommendations.

 

Lesotho Lowlands Water Scheme I – 2009
Survey of 30+ sites for LLWS reservoirs/tanks in Zones 4/5 for archaeological/ heritage materials/ impact.

 

Metolong Dam I – 2009
Collect oral evidence regarding the history of Ha Makoanyane and submitted recommendations regarding steps to mitigate damage to iron age ruins; also incorporated ruins within proposed Interpretive Centre. Evaluated possible evidence for cultural assets, graves etc. within area of proposed Water Treatment Works, and commenced gathering background information on settlement and land use over time in the Ha Sekantsi/Ha Makoanyane area.

 

Botšabelo Leper Settlement Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – 2009
Site survey (for archaeological/heritage material) on two sites ear-marked for development within Botšabelo, gathering of historical information re layout and design of historic leper settlement, possible preservation and interpretation of these assets.

 

EU Local Governance and Non-State Actors Support Programme (LGNSP) Chieftainship Study (Leribe, BB, Mokhotlong) – 2009
Served as reference group member to assist with documentation, historical accuracy (development of chieftainship/local government structures), input/evaluation at Stakeholder Workshop, and input regarding final report.

 

Evaluation of Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) – 2007
Reviewed the progress of the implementation of the 2005-2007 Strategic Plan. Interviews were conducted with CCL staff, management, commission members, and stakeholders as well as interviews/ group discussions at the district level, especially in the Qacha’s Nek, Mafeteng, and Butha-Buthe.

 

National Cultural Heritage Strategy – 2007
Research was carried out as the basis for the planning exercise, followed by a number of Stakeholder Workshops at which intensive discussions and group work were carried out to give shape to a larger strategic plan.

 

ComMark – 2006
Research/writing project to produce a guidebook for the Chinese community in Lesotho (especially those in the textile factories) so that members of the community could understand local Basotho culture, and thus interact and assimilate more easily. The 70-page guidebook was called A Practical Handbook for Expatriate Residents & Newcomers to Lesotho.

 

Kao Diamond Mine – 2006
Developed an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the new diamond mine. This project required that marked and unmarked graves at Kao be moved in order to make way for mining and related activities. MMA staff carried out public participation exercises (pitsos and household surveys of affected families), researched the circumstances around the deaths of those in unmarked graves, identified some of those graves, worked with the community to carry out ritual exercises to move the remains (or the ‘symbolic’ remains) of those who had perished to a new grave site that had been agreed to by all concerned (or to family grave sites outside of the affected area). In total,
about 50 graves were affected.

 

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village Project – 2006
This project involved Archaeological Surveys, an Inventory of Cultural and Heritage Assets and recommendations for the Promotion of Community-based Tourism, Household Surveys & Public Participation Program, and Stakeholder Workshops.