News / National
Zimbabwe objects Botswana's plans to draw water from Zambezi
13 Mar 2011 at 15:35hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE has objected to Botswana's plans to draw water from upper Zambezi, a development that is likely to strain relations between the two countries. In a question and answer session in the House of Assembly recently, Water Resources Development and Management Minister, Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo, said the message has already been communicated to the authorities in the neighbouring country.
The minister revealed that the two countries are negotiating a joint commission on water that might take the objection into account.
Botswana's plans to water Greater Gaborone comes at a time when Zimbabwe has failed to draw water from the mighty Zambezi, despite having first mooted the plans to supply the resource to drought-hit areas in Matabeleland provinces in 1912.
"We as a country have received an environment impact assessment. We have studied it and we advised that it will be inappropriate for Botswana to draw water from upper Zambezi because that would affect the falls at Victoria Falls itself," Sipepa-Nkomo said.
He added that government has advised Botswana to instead build reservoirs at the confluence of the Tshobe and Zambezi rivers and draw water when it is high in tide.
"When it is low tide or low flood they will not be allowed to draw water . . . We are confident that our discussions will result in an amicable use of the water at Zambezi without affecting the fall at the Victoria Falls," the minister said in response to a question by ZANU-PF Mbire lawmaker, Paul Mazikana.
The government's objection follows a recent failed bid by Botswana to draw water from the Lesotho highlands ' Gaborone was told that the project would be considered around 2030, based on water demands for South Africa.
Back to the Parliament session, Sipepa-Nkomo said many dams in the country have not been maintained for a long period and in the current national budget, Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, provided funds to maintain about 25 dams out of 3 851 dams.
The government would also champion the Zambezi water project, he said.
"This long-term plan sets its sight on the Zambezi River . . . My ministry is keen to get work going on this long-term water supply solution for the City of Bulawayo and believes that the government will continue to support the project through resource allocation for project execution," Nkomo said.
In relation to Matabeleland, the United Nations Children's Fund has provided funds to rehabilitate some dams, Nkomo revealed
The minister revealed that the two countries are negotiating a joint commission on water that might take the objection into account.
Botswana's plans to water Greater Gaborone comes at a time when Zimbabwe has failed to draw water from the mighty Zambezi, despite having first mooted the plans to supply the resource to drought-hit areas in Matabeleland provinces in 1912.
"We as a country have received an environment impact assessment. We have studied it and we advised that it will be inappropriate for Botswana to draw water from upper Zambezi because that would affect the falls at Victoria Falls itself," Sipepa-Nkomo said.
He added that government has advised Botswana to instead build reservoirs at the confluence of the Tshobe and Zambezi rivers and draw water when it is high in tide.
"When it is low tide or low flood they will not be allowed to draw water . . . We are confident that our discussions will result in an amicable use of the water at Zambezi without affecting the fall at the Victoria Falls," the minister said in response to a question by ZANU-PF Mbire lawmaker, Paul Mazikana.
The government's objection follows a recent failed bid by Botswana to draw water from the Lesotho highlands ' Gaborone was told that the project would be considered around 2030, based on water demands for South Africa.
Back to the Parliament session, Sipepa-Nkomo said many dams in the country have not been maintained for a long period and in the current national budget, Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, provided funds to maintain about 25 dams out of 3 851 dams.
The government would also champion the Zambezi water project, he said.
"This long-term plan sets its sight on the Zambezi River . . . My ministry is keen to get work going on this long-term water supply solution for the City of Bulawayo and believes that the government will continue to support the project through resource allocation for project execution," Nkomo said.
In relation to Matabeleland, the United Nations Children's Fund has provided funds to rehabilitate some dams, Nkomo revealed
Source - FinGaz
