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Kizito Sikuka in MAPUTO, Mozambique
WHILE water resources can help communities cooperate if properly managed, they can be a source of conflict if mismanaged.
Cognisant of this reality, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) developed the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses of 2000 to promote closer cooperation among its 16 member states in the region.
Of the 15 shared watercourses that cut across political boundaries of two or more countries in Southern Africa, 13 are located within the SADC region.
These shared water resources support various socio-economic activities in the region, including agriculture, mining, tourism and energy generation.
However, due to various factors, shared transboundary waters are facing unprecedented pressure from rising temperatures, consumption patterns, hydrologic variability and population growth.
To share best practices in transboundary water resources management, SADC introduced a platform where river basin organisations (RBOs) and shared watercourse’s institutions (SWIs) that manage transboundary water issues in the region exchange experiences on how to better manage and increase water security.
The biennial platform called the SADC RBOs/SWIs Workshop is held every two years with the main aim of engaging RBOs and SWIs as a vehicle for strengthening regional integration and cooperation.
The workshop is also one of the many platforms where consensus is built on the region’s strategic approaches to increasing water security and resilient development.
This year, the 10th SADC RBOs/SWIs Workshop is being held in a hybrid format and coordinated from Maputo, Mozambique.
Running under the theme “Promoting water security through inclusive transboundary conjunctive management and development of water resources”, the workshop will, among other issues, discuss ways of improving inclusive water resources management.
Other key deliberations will focus on transboundary water financing and collaborative development, as well as strengthening groundwater management governance in the region and flood risk mitigation strategies.
Southern Africa, like the rest of the global community, has been experiencing increased frequency and severity of floods and droughts in recent years due to climate change, hence flood risk mitigation strategies are a priority for the region, particularly in the management of shared water resources.
Speaking ahead of the 10th SADC RBOs/SWIs Workshop, which kicks off in Maputo tomorrow, Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) executive secretary Mr Sergio Sitoe said the region will strategise on how best to strengthen transboundary water management in Southern Africa.
The Limpopo watercourse is shared by Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique.
“Preparations for the workshop have been progressing smoothly,” said Mr Sito, adding that SADC and partners will discuss inclusive water resources management to ensure that water resources are beneficial for the present and future generation.
He also said outcomes of the workshop will be presented for endorsement to the SADC Water Resources Technical Committee (WRTC) scheduled for October 5-6 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Senior programmes officer at the SADC Water Division, Dr Patrice Kabeya, noted that water is a critical resource for sustainable development, hence the need to strengthen inclusive transboundary water resources management.
Hosted by Mozambique — through the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources (MOPHRH) in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and LIMCOM, with the technical support of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) — the regional water workshop will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including member states, regional institutions and international cooperating partners.
Established in 2006, the SADC RBOs/SWIs series of workshops are organised every two years to use RBOs as a vehicle for strengthening regional integration and cooperation.
Online Reporter