SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON THE OCCASION OF THE 3RD TRANSBOUNDARY WATER GOVERNANCE DIALOGUE HELD FROM 24TH TO 25TH JUNE 2010, IN VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

The Chairperson, Trade Development and Integration Committee of SADC PF; (Hon. D Matongo MP)
The Vice Chairperson, Trade Development and Integration Committee of SADC PF; (Hon. Grace Maseko MP)
Hon Members of Parliament;
Our Cooperating Partners, Resource Persons
Ladies and Gentlemen,

INTRODUCTION
Allow me to welcome you all to this important dialogue. I want to express my gratitude to all the SADC Parliaments present (Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia,

Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi), SADC Secretariat Water Division and our cooperating Partners for accepting to be part of this very important policy dialogue for SADC Parliamentarians. This dialogue is a follow up to the other two dialogues held in 2007 and 2009 respectively. SADC Parliamentarians committed themselves among others:

1. to provide greater oversight on the implementation of Regional and International Protocols and the water sector in general;
2. to call upon governments to prioritise the funding of water infrastructure;
3. to urge governments to put in place effectiveness National and Regional Early Warning Systems, as a response to climate change and
4. to promote Parliaments involvement in water development and management.

Today we gather to evaluate progress made both at national and regional levels in institutionalising the above mentioned commitments and identify possible areas for future cooperation. This current dialogue confirms the importance and commitment that SADC PF and its partners places on issues of Transboundary Water development management and governance.

Hon Members, Ladies and Gentlemen

WATER SCARCITY

We all know that water and climate change are continuously becoming major concerns for SADC Countries, especially in the context of poverty alleviation and meeting the Millennium Development Goal of providing clean water to all by the year 2015. The 2006 Comprehensive Assessment Report of the International Water Management Institute informs us that with the current global water demand and increasing populations, the demand for water will outstrip the available and potential water resources. It is therefore important that water should be well managed because of its importance in our lives.

Hon Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
NEED FOR COOPERATION IN TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT

It is important to note that water resources do not coincide with administrative and political boundaries, and therefore the need for us to go beyond national interests and cooperate in Transboundary water management. For example, in the SADC Region we have rivers such as the Zambezi, the Limpopo and the Orange where severe erosion in the upper catchments have impacted negatively downstream within and across political borders. Since such kind of river basins problems cut across political borders and sovereignty, the need for cooperation between countries therefore cannot be overemphasised.

The agreement by our Governments to adopt the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems and its subsequent amendments is a major milestone in achieving regional cooperation in Transboundary Water Management. The Protocol has been instrumental in desecuritising the issue of Transboundary water management and enabled Transboundary water management institutions to be viewed as part of Regional Integration.

Hon. Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
WHY INVOLVE PARLIAMENTARIANS IN TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT

Transboundary Water Management does not only depend on specific institutions that Governments have mandated to govern water, but also other institutions of governance. One such institution of governance that should be brought in the forefront of water management is Parliament.  The involvement of Parliament in water development and management is essential as Parliamentarians are the representatives of the people who are the beneficiaries of any water development and management initiatives. Parliamentarians can be instrumental in pushing for the formulation, establishment and implementation of water policies, legislation and institutions which are crucial in ensuring responsible water utilization and management for the benefit of all SADC countries. It is therefore important that Parliamentarians should have access to basic information on Shared Water Agreements and other related policy issues so that they can make relevant laws that make Governments accountable in water development and management for the benefit of the people.  Improving water governance will thus provide one cornerstone to alleviate poverty. Parliamentarians play an important role in this respect.

Hon Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
CLIMATE CHANGE AND PARLIAMENT

During this dialogue the issues of climate change in the context of water will also be highlighted. Current scientific evidence continues to point to the inevitable fact that climate impacts are very likely to affect the already stressed water sector. The economic and social problems of most SADC countries will be exacerbated by the changes in rainfall amounts and patterns such as increased frequency of dry spells as well as increased temperatures. Although Southern African countries contribution to global carbon emissions are less compared to countries in the north, the impact of climate change on the livelihoods are affecting us harder than those in the north. Across the Region there are examples of climate change including changing rainfall patterns, reduced flow in rivers, increased frequency of drought and floods and encroachment of unfavourable vegetation types. Wide scale droughts, floods and subsequent famine and disease could reach alarming proportions.
In order to effectively plan for the effect of climate change a bottom-up based governance system, where communities and their representatives (Parliamentarians and Councillors) are regarded as active stakeholder is essential in strengthening SADCs response to climate change.

It is worth pointing out that, Members of Parliament often have little influence on upstream Executive decisions, and are poorly informed of shifts and knowledge about programs and policies aimed at addressing water and climate change issues. There is need for an all inclusive approach in dealing with issues of climate change where all stakeholders, i.e, the Executive, Parliamentarians, Civil Society, Donors and Private Sectors are provided with relevant information and cooperate and work together in exploring and develop policies and programs that can effectively address the potential dangers posed by climate change. There is therefore an urgent need for strong partnerships among all the stakeholders in order to improve water resources and provision of necessary water infrastructure and facilities. This Dialogue Session therefore provides a platform for the identification of policy instruments and approaches that would enable the development of synergies amongst different stakeholders including Parliamentarians. Parliamentarians need to be equipped with the relevant and updated information on climate change, Transboundary Water development and management so that they can play an effective role.

Hon Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

Before I conclude my remarks, I want to pose some questions for your consideration during this Workshop on Transboundary Water Development, Management and Governance;

1. What should be the focus of the Dialogue discussion?

1. Is the issue to do with limited Transboundary Water flowing in our rivers and how countries should share this limited water?
2. Are existing Transboundary Water Structures, regionally and nationally, adequate and effective in addressing the issue?
3. Is it the threat posed by climate change and how SADC countries should deal with this threat?
4. Is it the inability of SADC countries to provide adequate clean water for all its citizens and how the MDGs on providing clean water to all citizens by the year 2015 can be met?
5. In addressing these questions what should be the role of Parliamentarians? What value does the involvement of Mps bring in the development and management of Transboundary Waters?
6. What is it that the MPs need to know in order to effectively play this role?

Hon Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

IN CONCLUSION,

I want to thank our partners in particular the SADC Water Division, GTZ, INWent, UNDP and the Global Water Facility for supporting the SADC Parliamentary Forum in hosting this Dialogue session.
I sincerely appreciate this support and hope that it will continue for some time to come for the benefit of SADC Citizens.
I commit the SADC Parliamentary Forum to work closely with the Parliamentarians and our partners for the effective management of Transboundary Waters.
I wish you successful deliberations.

I THANK YOU FOR LISTERNING TO MY REMARKS

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Speech by The Secretary General Of The SADC Parliamentary Forum On The Occasion Of The 3rd Transboundary Water Governance Dialogue Held From 24th To 25th June 2010, In Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe