南部アフリカ諸国の共同体であるSADC会議の報告記事が出てきた。ボツワナの水関連省大臣の参加報告である。ザンベジ川の内陸水運事業も動くといいが。
PHK Kedikilwe returns from SADC water meeting
by Ms. Kefilwe Ramohube
20.07.2009 10:33:12 A
The Honourable Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, attended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Water Meeting held at Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre in Maputo, Mozambique on 9 July 2009. This annual meeting convened to:
* Review progress made on the implementation of the Regional Strategic
Action Plan on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which is
SADC’s blue print for the implementation of water related projects in the
region,
* Review status on decisions taken at their 2008 Meeting in Tanzania.
* Recommend issues for consideration by SADC Council and Summit
scheduled for August 2009.
Preceding the SADC Ministers meeting was the meeting of Ministers responsible for water from the Zambezi riparian states on the 8th of July 2009, which Hon Kedikilwe attended.
The Zambezi Ministers met to discuss issues relating to the river basin mainly:
The ratification of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) agreement which is designed to help the riparian states unlock the potential of the basin in contributing to the socio-economic development of the participating Member States and the region as a whole. They also discussed the establishment of the Interim Secretariat to pursue operationalising of ZAMCOM Agreement.
Ministers deliberated on various issues. Among other things,
The Ministers responsible for water noted the progress made on the SADC Hydrological Cycle Observing System (SADC HYCOS) project.
They approved the project’s phase three working document. The SADC HYCOSS project is aimed at fostering greater regional cooperation in IWRM through hydro-meteorological monitoring by collection, processing and disseminating information, including the development and operation of an IWRM resource website and database, as well as the development of hydrological products.
Since approximately 70% of the SADC population relies on groundwater, the Ministers approved the operationalisation of the Groundwater Management Institute of Southern Africa (GMISA) as a subsidiary institution of SADC that will contribute to knowledge and information on groundwater through research.
GMISA will be established at the University of Free State in South Africa in line with the SADC Subsidiarity Principle and will further contribute to continental processes through the AMCOW Groundwater Commission.
Following a request from the Ministers during the Tanzania 2008 meeting on the implementation of the Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Programme, the Ministers endorsed the creation of a fund for small infrastructure projects in Water Supply and Sanitation, designed to assist member states in the development of small scale infrastructure projects.
To improve the capacity challenges that the Water Division in the SADC secretariat is facing, the Ministers endorsed the proposed structure of a Programme Management Unit for the sector and directed the SADC secretariat to continue engaging International Cooperating Partners (ICPs) to support the unit while nurturing SADC’s overall capacity building approach through organic growth.
The Ministers considered a report on the assessment of the status of IWRM in the SADC member states conducted by Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) with support from Africa Development Bank. They endorsed the way forward which among others suggests water weeks in all Member States targeted at water using, impacting and impacted sectors especially finance and economic planning. Ministers further endorsed the convening of a joint meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Water and Finance and Economic Planning and other relevant sectors in order to further create a common understanding on the contribution of water to national economies and the socio-economic development of each country.
Regarding the Zambezi River Basin, Ministers noted progress in establishing an Interim Secretariat while awaiting the conclusion of the ZAMCOM agreement. The Ministers urged those countries that have not yet ratified the ZAMCOM agreement to do so as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that the commission is fully established as this will help unlock the opportunities the Zambezi has to offer. Ministers committed themselves to ensuring that this agreement is ratified by December 2009.
A similar challenge was noted for Limpopo basin, where Zimbabwe is still to ratify. Ministers noted and applauded progress made in respect of Permanent Okavango River Basin Commission (OKACOM) and Orange-Senqu Watercourse Commission (ORASECOM) in strengthening river basin organizations.
Zimbabwe offered to host the next SADC Ministers of water meeting in 2010. The Honorable Minister Kedikilwe arrived from Mozambique on Friday 10th July 2009.
Thank you
Ms. Kefilwe Ramohube
For Permanent Secretary
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