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1.REVIEW OF THE
REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES SITUATION
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1.1 In the realisation of the
importance of water in the region in achieving the strategic
and development objective of SADC of alleviating poverty, food
security and industrial development, the Water Sector has
committed itself towards meeting the challenge of providing
adequate water service and supply as well as the protection of
the environment.
1.2 In this event, a decision was made to bring forces
together to develop a holistic regional strategic approach to
the integrated water resources management and development in
the region. This resulted in the formulation of the Regional
Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) containing 31 priority
interventions. The Water Sector also moved a step ahead
towards achieving the integration of the regional economy by
ratifying the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems and
reaching consensus on the amendments thereof. The member
States are now prepared to implement the Protocol which is
intended to provide an opportunity to prevent the occurrence
of conflicts over the region's shared waters.
1.3 Several other Projects and Programmes were initiated in an
effort to address challenges faced by the Sector such as
floods, droughts, pollution and water supply and sanitation.
These are SADC Hydrological Cycle Observing Systems
(SADC-HYCOS), The Groundwater Management Programme for the
SADC Regions, The Project to Control Infestation and
Translocation of Aquatic Weeds and The Programme on Water
Supply and Sanitation for the SADC Region.
1.4 The Water Sector, through its Water Resources Technical
Committee (WRTC) has appointed four Technical Sub-committee
to, among other things, oversee the implementation of these
Projects/programmes. These Sub-committees meet at least once a
year and are also charged with the responsibility of assessing
the current situation of water resources as affected by
climatic conditions. The summaries provided below reflect the
regional situation as presented by the member States who
attended the Sub-committee meetings for the year under review.
1.5 The Sub-committee for Surface Hydrology: Present at the
Sub-committee were Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For the
period under review, some member States experienced uneven
distribution of rainfall with some remarkable disasters caused
by floods. There was a Cyclone Eline that covered part of
Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a
result, serious floods were experienced which resulted in loss
of human lives and livestock as well as destruction of
properties, crops, and infrastructures. Many peoples had to be
displaced due to the total destruction of their towns and
villages. According to hydrological analysis this flood
occurrence is a one in more infor needed here regarding
estimation of flood occurances in the basins of limpopo and
others.
1.6 The Sub-committee for Water Supply and Sanitation: Present
at the Sub-committee were Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South
Africa and Swaziland. The focus of the Sub-committee has been
on the Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation in the SADC
Region. An overview of the water supply and sanitation in the
region is not well-developed for better presentation. This has
necessitated the need for situation analysis study in the
region which highlight common issues of water supply and
sanitation that warrants cooperation and concerted efforts in
resolving.
The limited overview of water supply and save sanitation in
the region indicates that the majority of member States have
urban and rural population water supply coverage of more than
40%. While the situation with sanitation is less favourable
with the majority of the countries recording more than 30%
coverage both in rural and urban areas. However, a number of
member States are planning to increase the coverage by the
year 2010.
1.7 The Sub-committee for Water Quality and Aquatic Weeds:
Present at the Sub-committee meeting were …………… It
is noticed that problem of water pollution is prevails in the
region as seen in the contamination of boreholes with records
of high nitrate levels. Land fills, wet textile industries
such as leather tanning also pose a problem of water
pollution. The levels of contamination in some water bodies
such as Lake Malawi/Nyasa, are so high that fish kills were
experienced.
There is also a problem of inadequate institutional frameworks
for water quality monitoring in a number of member States.
However, the level of development in terms of water quality
monitoring as well as management varies from country to
country with some countries being in the process of
establishing them while others are still relying on inadequate
facilities and fewer personnel.
Regarding the aquatic weeds, biological control is still
encouraged, however, a comprehensive approach where awareness,
early warning, physical and chemical removal of the weeds are
employed to deal with the problem are emphasised.
1.8 Sub-committee for Hydrogeology: Present at the
Sub-committee were Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland,
Namibia and Mozambique. There are different activities taking
place regarding the development and management of groundwater
resources in member States. There is a general decline of
water levels as shown by monitored boreholes and also the
decline in the quality of water as in many cases levels of
nitrates are high. The monitoring assessments also show low
replenishment rate of the aquifers as well as low productivity
of boreholes.
Some member States are undergoing institutional reform while
others are improving and/or updating their hydrogeological
maps as well as their national groundwater information
systems.
2. REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME
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