Zambezi River Basin

achieving environmentally sound planning and management of water and related resources in the Zambezi Basin. ZACPRO 6.2 has succeeded in establishing an enabling environment and water resources management strategy for the Zambezi Basin (SADCWater Division 2008). The strategy is seen as a vital tool for cooperative and sustainable management of the water resources of this important basin. Parallel to the strategy was the development of the internet-based Zambezi Water Information System (ZAMWIS). The need for balancing efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability has resonance in southern Africa given that water has a key role in unlocking potential for economic development. Further, the majority of the population still needs to gain access to safe water and sanitation, and most people cannot afford to pay for the full cost of water. Competition for water among sectors 1 Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment. 2 Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels. 3 Women play a central role in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. 4 Water has an economic value for all IWRM is based on the Rio/Dublin Principles The Dublin Principles are relevant to the Southern African in the following context: • The prevailing semi-arid climate and the seasonal and temporal variability of rainfall make freshwater a finite and vulnerable resource in southern Africa. • The need to involve communities and other stakeholders in decision-making in order to promote the sense of ownership of a common resource that must be managed responsibly. • The fact that in both rural and urban areas, women are still responsible for household chores associated with water, and should be given a voice in the management decisions. • The need to recognise that water is an important input inmost economic activities and comes with a cost, and is essential to human dignity. Thus, it is an economic good, but also and mainly, a social good, which should be accessible to people. its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good. 

IWRM seeks to achieve a balance between economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability.

should not overlook the need to protect the environment for the benefit of future generations. Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) Negotiations for the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) agreement began in 1999. Most of the Zambezi Basin states signed the agreement in July 2004. To date seven of the eight Basin states have signed the agreement with the exception of Zambia, and six have ratified the agreement. The remaining states have shown commitment to speed up either signing or ratification. Through the ZAMCOM Agreement, the Zambezi River Basin states envisage working together to develop and manage the shared water resources of the vast basin. The agreement is designed to help the riparian states to unlock the potential of the Basin in contributing to the socio-economic development of the Basin states and the region as a whole. The Zambezi River Basin states have established an Interim Secretariat for the Zambezi Watercourse Commission. The initial responsibility of the Secretariat is to coordinate the riparian states and inform them of the expected steps needing their support towards The objective of ZAMCOM is to promote the equitable and reasonable utilization of the water resources of the Zambezi basin as well as the efficient development and management thereof. This is a practical expression of the intents of the SADC states to “foster closer cooperation for judicious, sustainable and coordinated management, protection and utilization of shared watercourses and advance the SADC agenda of regional integration and poverty alleviation” as stated in the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses. The formulation of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) strategy for the Zambezi Basin provides the basin states with a vital management tool for effective management of the shared water resources of the basin. The Rapid Assessment of Water Resources is an important first step in the formulation of the IWRM strategy. ZAMCOM Agreement

Source: SADC and SARDC 2008

Source: ZAMCOM 2011

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