ZAMCOM Ministers seek efficient management of Zambezi water
WINDHOEK: ZAMBEZI Watercourse Ministers meet in Windhoek, Namibia today, 15th May, to discuss activities of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM). Namibia is the current Chair of ZAMCOM.
The ZAMCOM Council of Ministers (CoM) meeting will transact ZAMCOM business, including adoption of policies and decisions, and provide necessary guidance on the promotion, support, and coordination of the efficient management and sustainable development of the water resources of the Zambezi Watercourse.
The Ministers will be updated on progress made in resource mobilization to fund various projects that the Commission is implementing.
ZAMCOM is currently implementing the Strategic Plan for the Zambezi (ZSP 2018-2040). One flagship programme under implementation of the ZSP is the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Zambezi Watercourse (PIDACC Zambezi).
PIDACC Zambezi, being implemented at both national and regional levels is financially and technically supported by the Member States, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and other ZAMCOM Strategic Partners.
The Commission, with financial support of 1m/- US dollars from the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) has prepared a Zambezi Regional Investment Plan on Nature, People and Climate. The Investment Plan was approved in February this year with a commitment of 60m/- US dollars = million from the CIF and more funding from the AfDB and the World Bank to be mobilised.
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Another initiative being implemented is the Swedish Krona 8.0m Krona 735,000 US Dollars) project titled, “Study on Advancing Water Storage Capacity in the Zambezi Watercourse: Selection and pre-feasibility studies of medium-sized infrastructure projects” which is being financed by the Swedfund will be launched.
“As we roll out implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Zambezi Watercourse, our main focus is to mobilize resources necessary for realisation of the desired development objectives, social and economic benefits to the communities in the Zambezi Watercourse,” said ZAMCOM Executive Secretary, Felix Ngamlagosi.
An update on the financial contributions of the Member States to ZAMCOM and the financial position of the Commission will also be provided at the meeting.
ZAMCOM has a three-tier governance structure, with the CoM being the supreme decision-making body. The Council comprises ministers responsible for water in the Zambezi Riparian States that share the Zambezi Watercourse which are Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
ZAMCOM Council of Ministers meets annually for its ordinary meeting and can hold extraordinary meetings when necessary to address urgent matters.
The ZAMCOM Technical Committee (ZAMTEC) which is responsible for advising and overseeing the implementation of policies and decisions of the Council are second in the governance structure.
The ZAMCOM Secretariat, which is the last in the tier, is responsible for providing administrative and technical services to the Council under the supervision of ZAMTEC.
The United Republic of Tanzania will take over as the rotational Chair of the Council of Ministers from the Republic of Namibia at the end of the meeting. The Council of Ministers meeting was preceded by an an ordinary meeting of ZAMTEC from 12-13 May as part of preparations for Council.
ABOUT ZAMCOM
The Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) is an intergovernmental organization established in by eight (8) Riparian States that share the Zambezi Watercourse through the ZAMCOM Agreement of 2004. The main objective of ZAMCOM is “to promote the equitable and reasonable utilization of the water resources of the Zambezi Watercourse as well as the efficient management and sustainable development thereof”.
