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Norest Ndawana Correspondent
Zimbabwe shares a total of five river basins with her riparian states namely; Buzi, Limpopo, Pungwe, Save and Zambezi rivers and one international lake; Kariba Dam.
To foster closer cooperation for sustainable, joint and coordinated management, protection and utilisation of shared water resources, Zimbabwe is party to a total of 11 bilateral and multilateral water agreements.
This is in line with global water conventions namely; the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (the Watercourses Convention), the Convention on the Protocol on Use of Transboundary Watercourses, and International Lakes (the global water conventions) and regional instruments like the 2000 SADC’s Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses which implore riparian states to cooperate and set up joint mechanisms to manage transboundary waters.
The global water conventions establish principles and rules that form the basis for countries working together to protect and sustainably use their shared water resources.
The general principles that govern shared water resources are the principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation of shared water resources, the duty to cooperate, the obligation not to cause significant harm and preservation and protection of the environment.
The global water conventions bring a lot of prospects which includes improved water resources, governance at national and transboundary levels, prevention of significant harm to water bodies, protection of the environment and ecosystems, equitable and reasonable utilisation of transboundary water resources.
The conventions also envisage climate change adaptation and decreased risk of disasters like droughts and floods, the establishment of joint mechanisms to manage the water resources, the regular exchange of data and information on shared watercourses, peace, stability, economic development and regional economic integration.
Despite Zimbabwe having a long record of transboundary water cooperation, Zimbabwe is not party to the global water conventions. The country has, however, taken a giant step to join the global water conventions.
The approach is to accede to both conventions because of their compatibility and complementary role.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, approved the proposal to study or assess potential accession for Zimbabwe to join the global water conventions on July 28, 2023.
A formal expression of interest letter was sent to the United Nations Water Convention Secretariat on August 11 2023. “Zimbabwe is hereby expressing her interest to accede to the Convention” read part of the letter to the Water Convention Secretariat signed by the Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Prof Obert Jiri.
The Water Convention Secretariat responded to the same on September 06, 2023.
“I would like to confirm that the Secretariat of the Water Convention stands ready to support Zimbabwe in the process of accession” reads part of the letter signed by the Water Convention Secretary; Sonja Koeppel.
Subsequently, Zimbabwe nominated a focal point to the Water Convention. The main responsibility of the national focal point is to serve as a channel for all communications with the Secretariat and other countries on Convention related matters.
The accession roadmap has already been put in place. Key milestones of the process include clearance by the Attorney General’s Office, the Public Agreements Advisory Committee, and Cabinet Committee on Legislation, approval by Cabinet and Parliament, holding of a national consultative workshop, signing of the instruments of accession by the President and depositing of same with the depositary; Secretary General of the United Nations.
Cabinet approved accession to the global water conventions on April 9.
The approval by Cabinet paves way for the national stakeholder consultative workshop which will be supported by the UN Water Convention Secretariat.
Professor Jiri advised the Water Convention Secretary on April 22, 2024; “I am pleased to advise that the national workshop has been cleared for and June 17 and 18, 2024.”
The goal is to complete the accession process before the 10th Session of the Meeting of Parties of the Water Convention to be held in Slovenia in October 2024.
Norest Ndawana is an environmental lawyer under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and writes in his official capacity as the National Focal Point to the Water Convention.
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