adminTanaka Mahanya
THE three-day Africa Regional Water Conference got underway in Harare yesterday ahead of the United Nations Water Conference set for New York next month.
The regional conference provides an opportunity for African countries to converge and build consensus ahead of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
The UN Water Conference is a mid-term review of progress made during the International Decade for Action, ‘‘Water for Sustainable Development’’ (2018-2028).
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was profoundly grateful to host the regional conference, as it resonated well with the Government’s engagement and re-engagement drive.
“This Regional Water Conference has been convened to help foster collective action at regional level and to help countries find common ground and common positions to guide their participation and contribution at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference.
“This Regional Water Conference will thus provide us, as Africa, a platform for the development of a shared vision and a shared voice at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference.
“It is my hope that Africa’s collective position shall demonstrate a great deal of collegiality, unity in our diversity and, most importantly, consider the needs and aspirations of Africans,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka.
The President said the regional water conference takes place at a time when the world continues to face various challenges related to water availability and access.
“We are having this regional conference at a time when the number of people without access to water is on an increase and at a time when the already stressed and limited water resources are also under serious threat from pollution, climate change and droughts.
“Furthermore, the conference is coming at a time when an estimated 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed environments, with more than 733 million of these people, living in countries with high and critical water stress.
“The United Nations further estimates that only 39 percent of the population living in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to safe, clean and potable water with the proportion dropping to as low as 19 percent in Africa’s rural areas.
“These worrying statistics should jolt us into action and should also serve as an unambiguous reminder of the task that we have to transform the lives of all Africans,” the President said.
Minister Masuka said water is both a right and an accelerator for the attainment of Vision 2030 in Zimbabwe.
“It is my Ministry’s key area of focus to ensure water availability, safety and security for all Zimbabweans.
“This will catalyse the attainment of perennial food and nutrition sovereignty and security and spur economic development.
“I am convinced that addressing water, sanitation and hygiene ensures sustainability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030 in this region,” he said.
Online Reporter