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Mozambique wants ZAMCOM to be a leading example of water resources management
3:30 CAT | 29 Apr 2024
Image: Ministro das Obras Públicas, Habitação e Recursos Hídricos
The city of Tete hosted the 11th meeting of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) from April 25th to 26th, convened to debate the promotion, use and sustainable management of water resources in this basin, which is of capital importance for the countries of the region.
This event took place at a time when Mozambique and the Southern Region have been facing climate change characterised by intense rains, strong winds and prolonged periods of drought, phenomena that require coordinated actions between member countries to promote peace and well-being among the people who live in the shared basins.
In this context, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources and outgoing Chair of the Zambezi River Basin Commission, ZAMCOM Carlos Mesquita, highlighted the signing of the Financing Agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the implementation of the Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation for Climate Change in Zambezi River Basin (PIDACC), which has already started in two ZAMCOM riparian states – namely Mozambique and Zambia.
Through PIDACC, “the total resources mobilized through AfDB reached the amount of around US$17 million. Furthermore, six countries, namely Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, presented letters of endorsement and project proposals for financing from the AfDB, within the scope of Phase 2 of PIDACC,” Mesquita said.
For Carlos Mesquita, given the magnitude of the Zambezi river basin, which currently has “more than 40 million inhabitants and is the fourth largest in Africa with an area of 1.32 million square kilometres, shared between eight countries”, it is important “that we continue to design flexible management strategies and taking advantage and building on the potential that this region has to contribute to socio-economic development”.
To highlight the basin’s strategic importance, Carlos Mesquita cited the Cahora Bassa Dam “located in the terminal section of the middle Zambezi, with a maximum water storage capacity of 63 km, being the 12th largest in the world and the 5th largest in Africa, this being one of the great hydraulic uses that Mozambique has”, having an extensive package for the practice of agriculture on different scales, availability of water for human supply, hydroelectricity production, industry, aquaculture, mining and tourism.
The meeting also highlighted some ZAMCOM achievements, such as the signing of financing agreements for development and adaptation programs to climate change in the Zambezi basin.
Minister Mesquita recognized the challenges faced by the region, such as poverty, natural disasters and environmental degradation, and asked the member countries of the Zambezi Commission to continue joining efforts and seeking partnerships to implement joint projects that contribute to the development of communities.
ZAMCOM was established in 2014 and brings together eight Riparian States that share the Zambezi river basin: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ZAMCOM promotes and coordinates the cooperative management and development of the Zambezi watercourse in an equitable, efficient and sustainable manner. The Commission is headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe.
ZANCOM was chaired by Mozambique until last week, when Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, assumed the chairmanship.
He took over from Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of Mozambique.
We attended a successful ZAMCOM meeting in the town of Tete, Mozambique. This included a visit to Cahora Bassa dam and power station. An incredible peace of infrastructure now completely owned and operated by Mozambique. Great achievement of taking over control. pic.twitter.com/1bjlXs98w5
— Calle Schlettwein (@CHGSchlettwein) April 27, 2024
Source: Ministério das Obras Públicas, Habitação e Recursos Hídricos / Media Release
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