21 Jun 2022

Representatives of the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) member states have convened in Maun to reflect on the milestone achieved in implementing the previous annual plan.

OKACOM is a river basin organisation established through OKACOM Agreement of 1994 by three riparian states of Botswana, Angola and Namibia to jointly manage water resources in the Okavango River basin.

The agreement commits member states to promote coordinated and environmentally sustainable regional water resources development while addressing the legitimate social and economic needs of each of the riparian states.

In an interview, OKACOM executive secretary, Mr Phera Ramoeli said that representatives from three member states held their annual meeting to look into progress made in the last plan, discuss and approve this year’s plan as well as to agree on activities and projects to be undertaken to improve livelihood of community members.

The five-day meeting that commenced Monday, he said, would also give them an opportunity to report back on activities and projects implemented by each member state to improve the livelihood of communities.

“The beauty of having this kind of forum is to inform and advise each other because OKACOM’s main mandate is to support and advise the governments of the three states on the best possible use of the river’s natural resources,” he stated.

Mr Ramoeli noted that OKACOM had developed a guidelines document for the countries to refer to on what to do as far as implementation of projects was concerned as the aim was to achieve socio-economic development of the basin and the communities while sustaining the health of the basin ecosystem.

He emphasised the need to take into consideration harmful factors to the basin before any activity could be implemented.

Although he appreciated development was inevitable, he underscored the need to protect the integrity of the system.

The three countries recognise the implication that developments upstream could have on the resources downstream.

The river is currently recognised as one of the few pristine in the world.

All planned projects, Mr Ramoeli said should be subjected to legal instruments of the three member states, adding that OKACOM had no direct influence on that as their mandate was to promote cooperation and ensure whatever development undertaken benefitted the communities.

A representative from Namibia, Mr Christopher Munikasu said key interest was equal utilisation of water in the basin.

Namibia, he said, demanded equal share as currently the water resource was underutilised.

He said his country was  looking to transfer the resource to such cities as Windhoek to benefit the major industries.

He said the idea was still at feasibility stage, but expressed high hopes that once approved, Namibia would be able to implement major projects to benefit the communities. BOPA