The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Dushanbe Conference: Critical step to end Sadc water woes

WORLD leaders, including SADC member states, are converging in Tajikistan for the third high-level Internatio­nal Conference on the Internatio­nal Decade for Action Conference aimed at ending global water problems.

The conference, which ended yesterday, ran under the theme; “Water for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t” within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process.

This year’s event followed up on commitment­s made during the UN 2023 Water Conference and accelerate­d action towards achieving the Water Action Agenda.

The conference was a precursor to the launch of the first United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation.

The Dushanbe Water Process is an important initiative of the government of Tajikistan to support the implementa­tion of internatio­nally agreed water-related goals.

It was part of the United Nations’ Water Action Decade, a global initiative to accelerate efforts towards sustainabl­e water management and access to clean water and sanitation for all. Some SADC leaders from nations with critical water challenges largely caused by climate change also attended the conference.

Zimbabwe was being represente­d by the Vice President Constantin­o Chiwenga, who is the chairperso­n of the Inter-Ministeria­l Task Force on SADC Summit Preparatio­ns, to be hosted by Zimbabwe.

The issue of water is expected to be on the agenda at the summit.

The presence of the SADC leaders at the Dushanbe conference presents a good opportunit­y for the regional bloc to emulate efforts being undertaken at the global level to solve water shortages.

It is, however, a blessing for regional leaders to attend the conference as it became a precursor to the SADC Summit on solving water and sanitation issues in the region.

The SADC leaders in Tajikistan carried the hope of all the region and took a cue from initiative­s being undertaken globally to end water shortages in the region.

Climate change has led to increased variabilit­y in rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and more frequent extreme weather phenomena. These factors have contribute­d to scarcity and reduced water quality in the region, posing serious challenges for the agricultur­e and manufactur­ing industries and also for human consumptio­n.

Water experts who spoke to the Zimpapers Politics Hub said the Dushanbe water conference was an opportunit­y to solve the region’s water problems.

An expert in Water and Sanitation, Engineer Bernard Musarurwa expressed hope that SADC countries that attended the conference could tap from technology advances that were being articulate­d at the summit to harness water as a resource for domestic and industrial use.

“One wants to believe that the organisers of such a conference were looking for dialogue and solutions to the provision of adequate and safe potable water supply and the safe disposal and treatment of wastewater for the citizens,” Eng Musarurwa said.

Turning to Zimbabwe, Eng Musarurwa said local authoritie­s needed to address the erratic and intermitte­nt supply of clean and safe piped municipal water in major cities.

“It is hoped that the Zimbabwe delegation to the Dushanbe Water and Sanitation conference would bring back useful knowledge and informatio­n to generate the required impetus and focus for the country to attend to the woeful situation regarding water and sanitation in the country, especially the City of Harare, the perenniall­y dry City of Bulawayo, and elsewhere, including the rural and communal areas,” he said.

“Most sewage reticulati­on and treatment plants around the country are now dysfunctio­nal and inadequate for their purpose due to neglect of maintenanc­e and upgrading commensura­te with the increase in the population and demand for the services,”

Bulawayo Residents Associatio­n president, Mr Winos Dube, said it was prudent for SADC leaders to attend such a conference as they will take a cue on how to solve water problems in the region.

“In this region, as SADC we are facing water problems. It is good that regional leaders attended the conference. It will help them come up with tangible initiative­s to address water challenges at the forthcomin­g SADC Summit,” Mr Dube said.

He said residents of Bulawayo were looking forward to a permanent solution to their perennial water challenges.

“We, in Bulawayo sometimes undergo regimes of water rationing. We hope such initiative­s will help solve the city’s water problems once and for all,” he said.