COMMUNIQUE
Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Water
27 – 30 May 2013
Alvalade Hotel, Luanda, Angola
Ministers responsible for the Water Sector from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) met on 30th May 2013 in Luanda, Angola. The Minister of Energy and Water for the Republic of Angola Honorable João Baptista Borges hosted the meeting. The Ministers meeting was preceded by meetings of Senior Officials and the Zambezi Council of Ministers.
In attendance were Ministers from: The Republic of Angola, The Kingdom of Lesotho, The Republic of Namibia, The Republic of South Africa, The Kingdom of Swaziland, The United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Republic of Botswana was represented by the High Commissioner in Namibia, while the Republic of Mozambique was represented by the country’s Ambassador in Angola and Zambia was represented by the Deputy Minister. The Republics of DRC, Malawi, Mauritius and Seychelles were absent.
The SADC Secretariat delegation was headed by Mr Freddie Motlhatlhedi, the Senior Programme Officer for Energy in the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services.
The Ministers met to review progress on the implementation of the third phase of the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development (RSAP III) 2011-2015, which is the framework for action to achieve the sustainable development of water resources in the region through the development of water infrastructures on the basis of sound water governance and water management.
The Ministers also reviewed the status of implementation of projects in the various river Basins in the SADC Region, namely the Okavango, Limpopo, Orange-Senqu, Buzi, Save, Ruvuma, Zambezi, Kunene, Cuvelai, Incomati/Maputo and Pungwe, and commended the state parties of the basins for the progress made in implementing various projects.
In his welcome remarks Hon. Borges emphasized the importance of cooperation in the management and development of water resources for the SADC region to realize regional economic integration and poverty alleviation. He said the government of Angola was happy to host the meeting at a time when the country was undergoing rehabilitation of various infrastructures.
Speaking on behalf of the SADC Secretariat Mr. Freddie Motlhatlhedi highlighted some of the progress made by the Water Sector in implementing the RSAP III in the areas of Water Governance, Water Infrastructure and Water management.
Mr. Motlhatlhedi said a number of River Basin Institutions are being established and strengthened, and priority Water Infrastructure Development Programmes were near completion. He added that the SADC region needed a Water Sector Plan that mainstreamed gender issues and was responsive to the needs of the people.
The Ministers noted progress made in implementing the RSAP III, approved the Water Programme Priority activities for the financial year 2014/15 as the basis for the development of the Sectors annual plan and budget, and directed that the final implementation of the Water Programme should take cognizance of the recommendations of the Regional Indicative Strategic Plan (RISDP) Mid-Term Review which was currently underway.
On the overall RSAP III implementation, the Ministers noted that remarkable good progress was registered under Water Governance such as the establishment of the Zambezi Water Commission (ZAMCOM) and Limpopo Water Commission (LIMCOM) Organs, as well as the training of Water Professionals in Negotiations Skills and Integrity in the water sector.
One of the highlights at the meeting was the adoption by the ZAMCOM Council for the Government of Zimbabwe to host the permanent ZAMCOM Secretariat.
Under Water Infrastructure the Ministers noted progress made especially in setting up and commissioning of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) pilot projects in a number of Member States which collectively shared the Orange-Senqu, Limpopo, Buzi, Save and Ruvuma river basins.
The Ministers noted the Regional Water and Sanitation Fund established by SADC Secretariat to facilitate implementation of priority regional and cross-border water infrastructure projects included in the Regional Infrastructure Master Plan and urged Member States to utilize the funds accordingly.
The Ministers also noted that the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan 2013-2027 was approved by Summit at its meeting held in August 2012 in Maputo, Mozambique. They urged Member States to facilitate the implementation of the various strategic Water infrastructures projects in the Master Plan within their respective countries as appropriate.
On the SADC HYCOS Programme, the Ministers noted that following the closure of the Phase II of the SADC HYCOS Project, Secretariat embarked on a process of resource mobilization to implement the Phase III of SADC HYCOS. However, no firm commitments were received from Cooperating Partners to fund the HYCOS activities. The Ministers reiterated that Member States had the responsibility to maintain the SADC HYCOS stations as an integral part of their national hydrological network by ensuring that adequate budget was made available to operate the equipment.
The Ministers noted the commendable work performed by the staff from the SADC Secretariat and urged them to continue with the same spirit.
In a vote of thanks, the Hon Minister from Zimbabwe Hon. S Nkomo thanked the Government of Angola for hosting the meeting and the good hospitality rendered to the Ministers during their deliberations and stay in Luanda.
30th May 2013
Alvalade Hotel, Luanda, Angola
Source: www.sadc.int
