05 May 2014

In her quest to provide potable water to its citizenry, Botswana has signed agreements with her neighbours. BOPA looks closely at the four guiding treaties of sourcing of water next door.
ORASECOM

The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) promotes equitable and sustainable development of the resources of the Orange-Senqu River.

It also provides a forum for consultation and coordination between the riparian states to promote integrated water resources management and development within the basin.

Its goals are to develop a comprehensive perspective of the basin, study the present and planned future uses of the river system and determine the requirements for flow monitoring and flood management.

The total Orange-Senqu River basin extends over four countries, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa whose 79 000 km² is in Botswana.
OKACOM

The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission advises the three riparian states of Botswana, Angola and Namibia about the best possible use of the river’s natural resources.

The OKACOM Agreement (1994) commits member states to promote a coordinated and environmentally sustainable regional water resources development, while addressing legitimate social and economic needs of each of the riparian states.

The three countries recognise implications that developments upstream of the river can have on resources downstream. Most of the river is currently undeveloped and is recognised as one of the few “near pristine” rivers in the world.

Namibia and Botswana are two of the driest countries in southern Africa, and the Okavango River plays an important role not only in the lives of local populations residing along the river but also at national level.

Water-based tourism is the second largest foreign currency earner for Botswana, and most tourism activities are centred on the delta system, which forms part of the larger Okavango River system.

The river sustains over half a million people who use plants and animal resources found in the river to support livelihoods.

OKACOM approach is based on equitable allocation, sustainable utilisation, sound environmental management and sharing of benefits.

The 1994 OKACOM Agreement gives it legal responsibility to determine long term safe yield of the river basin, estimate reasonable demand from the consumers, prepare criteria for conservation, equitable allocation and sustainable utilisation of water.
ZAMCOM

The Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) is a river basin organisation set up by countries that share the Zambezi River Basin and serves as a water management organisation for the entire geographical area, as stipulated in the 2004 ZAMCOM Agreement and in accordance with the revised 2000 SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses.

Its main objective is to promote the equitable and reasonable utilisation of the water resources of the Zambezi Watercourse as well as efficient management and sustainable development thereof.

The riparian states to the Zambezi River Basin are Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

As outlined in the agreement, ZAMCOM functions include, among others, collecting, evaluating and disseminating all data and information on the Zambezi Watercourse for implementation of the agreement.

It also advises member states on planning, management, utilisation, development, protection and conservation of the Zambezi Watercourse as well as on the role and position of the public with regard to such activities and the possible impact thereof on social and cultural heritage matters.

ZAMCOM advises member states on measures necessary for avoidance of disputes and assists in resolution of conflicts among member states with regard to planning, management, utilisation, development, protection and conservation of the Zambezi Watercourse.
LIMCOM

The Limpopo River Basin is shared by four countries Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and has a total catchment area of approximately 408,000 km².

The catchment characteristics are very diverse covering different climatic and topographic zones as well as land use types, including protected areas.

Also the social and economic development features are highly diverse.

The commitment of the riparian states managing their water resources together dates back to 1986, when the “Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee” was jointly established.

In 2003 this cooperation was fostered through the multilateral agreement to establish the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM).

The functions of the LIMCOM Council include determining long term safe yield of available water from Limpopo and equitable and reasonable utilisation of the Limpopo to support sustainable development in the territory of each contracting party and harmonisation of their policies related thereto.

It also has to determine the extent to which inhabitants in the territory of each of the contracting parties concerned shall participate in planning, utilisation, sustainable development, protection and conservation of the Limpopo and possible impact on social and cultural heritage matters.

LIMCOM has to set out contingency plans and measures for preventing and responding to harmful conditions whether resulting from natural causes such as drought or human conduct as well as emergency situations that result suddenly from natural causes such as floods or human conduct such as industrial accidents. Ends