adminThe initiative is a brainchild of the African Ministers’ Council on Water, Climate and Development Programme in collaboration with Global Water Partnership and is being implemented in seven other countries on the continent.
In a speech read on his behalf by Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Deputy Minister Sesil Zvidzai, at the launch, Water Resources Development and Management Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, hailed stakeholders for working together to achieve the aspirations of African leaders and Governments on climate change issues.
“Commitment and partnerships are some of the most powerful tools any community has at its disposal. If we are to bring about development, practical messages of commitment and partnership on the Water, Climate, and Development program, and ultimately on water security and climate change adaptation should be heard and adopted by all.
Responsibilities relating to water security and climate resilience are for all, whether we are in transport, agriculture, social services, energy or any area of our lives for that matter,” he said. He said as part of the national climate change program a committee of permanent secretaries had been set up with the intention of offering support from within different ministries.
Minister Nkomo called for joint efforts towards a better approach towards climate change in the country.
“The huge infrastructural requirements that are evident on our roads, social services, and agriculture and energy systems. These cannot be met by the Water, Climate and
Development Programme alone. Complimentary efforts will be required from other development initiatives, in order to achieve our ultimate objective of a climate resilient nation,” he said.
Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Thankful Musukutwa said the WACDEP is a very important initiative in the on-going process of the development a national climate change response strategy.
“Since work on the development of the climate change response strategy has commenced, I would like to emphasise that the National Task Team expects the final strategy document before the end of the second quarter of 2013. An action plan should also be developed in the process to operationalise the strategy,” he said.
Mr Musukutwa re-affirmed Government’s commitment towards issues on global climate change.
“Through the years, Zimbabwe has demonstrated its willingness to preserve the Global Climate for the good of the present and future generations through meeting our obligations under the Climate Change Convention,” he said.
Online Reporter