Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
SOUTHERN Africa has begun a crucial process to consolidate its position on water security and sanitation ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, as high-level consultations opened in Harare yesterday.
The meeting, convened under the auspices of the African Ministers’ Council on Water, is expected to feed into Africa’s collective priorities under the Africa Water Vision 2063 and strengthen the continent’s voice on global water governance.
Speaking at the opening session, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Senior Programme Officer for Water, Dr Patrice Kabeya, said the region has a critical opportunity to influence the continental agenda.
“This consultation provides Southern Africa with an opportunity to contribute practical regional priorities, align continental ambitions with realities facing Member States, and strengthen Africa’s common voice ahead of the UN 2026 Water Conference,” he said.
Dr Kabeya warned that while progress has been made, the region continues to face serious and growing challenges.
“Increasing droughts, floods and climate shocks, rapid urbanisation and growing demand for water services, infrastructure deficits and ageing systems, groundwater stress and weak monitoring systems, and persistent inequalities in access to WASH services remain key challenges,” he said.
He said the cooperation over shared water resources will be central to the region’s stability and development.
“Southern Africa includes numerous shared river basins and aquifers whose sustainable management is essential for peace, trade and economic integration,” he said.
Officially opening the meeting, Zimbabwe’s Chief Director for Water Resources, Irrigation Development and National WASH Coordination, who is also the Chair of AMCOW Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Technical Experts Committee (TEC) – Southern Africa, Engineer Tinayeshe Mutazu, described the gathering as a decisive moment for Africa’s water future.
“Let me be unequivocal from the outset: this is not a routine gathering. This is a strategic working session that will shape the trajectory of Africa’s water future,” he said.
Eng Mutazu stressed the need for tangible results rather than continued policy discussions.
“We must convert ambition into execution. We must move from vision to verifiable results,” he said.
He said the implementation plan must meet strict standards of practicality and accountability.
“This plan must be technically rigorous. It must be evidence-based, prioritised, and realistic. We cannot endorse a plan that is aspirational but impractical,” he said.
The consultations are being held in line with the African union 2026 theme of “Safe Water and Sanitation,” which places water access and hygiene services at the centre of Africa’s development agenda.
Also weighing in, African union Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Mr Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, said the continent must translate its long-term vision into concrete action.
“Africa Water Vision 2063 is not a distant aspiration—it is a practical framework to secure water, sanitation and dignity for every African citizen,” he said.
He underscored the importance of collective action across regions.
“No region can act alone—transboundary cooperation will define whether Africa turns water into a source of peace or tension,” he said.
Mr Nyambe Nyambe added that success will depend on effective implementation and financing.
“The success of this Implementation Plan will depend on our ability to mobilise financing, strengthen governance and accelerate delivery at the country level,” he said.
Zimbabwe, as host, is using the platform to showcase its ongoing efforts to improve water security, including dam construction, irrigation expansion, rehabilitation of infrastructure and strengthening of water quality systems.
Deliberations in Harare are expected to produce clear regional inputs into the First Implementation Plan (2026–2033), establish consensus priorities and outline a practical roadmap towards continental action.
The outcomes will feed into Africa’s engagement at the 2026 UN Water Conference, where governments are expected to accelerate progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation.
With climate change intensifying pressure on water resources, regional leaders say a coordinated and pragmatic approach will be critical in ensuring that Africa speaks with one voice on the global stage.
