Zambezi River Basin

5 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS Water resources form the basis of almost every aspect of life in the Zambezi River Basin. The resources drive the socio-economic, political and cultural development of the basin’s population, as well as maintaining their natural environment. Apart from sustaining a rich diversity, water resources are critical for meeting the basic needs of water supply for domestic and industrial requirements, sanitation and waste management in the basin. The need to effectively coordinate and manage water resources has therefore become a top priority in the basin to promote sustainable utilisation. The challenges of integrated and coordinated water resources development, environmental management and sustainable development, climate change adaptation, infrastructure development, and the strategies required to address these challenges underline the need for stronger regional cooperation and closer integration in the field of water management (SADCWater Division 2008). Water resources are connected in nature and that natural connection provides a metaphor that well illustrates the need for connected and coordinated management. This connectedness is reflected in the theme of SADC’s third strategic plan for the integrated development and management of water resources “Watering Life, Together, Forever”.

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