Zimbabwe Joins UN Water Conventions to Strengthen Transboundary Water Cooperation

"Zimbabwe's accession sends a strong message to neighboring countries about the importance of transboundary water management," Masuka stated.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Geneva | Updated: 24-07-2024 17:49 IST | Created: 24-07-2024 17:49 IST
Zimbabwe Joins UN Water Conventions to Strengthen Transboundary Water Cooperation
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Zimbabwe has officially joined the 1992 UN Water Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, becoming the 54th Party to the treaty and the 11th African nation to sign on. This move highlights Zimbabwe's commitment to addressing its pressing water challenges and reinforces its role in regional water cooperation amid Southern Africa's extreme water stress exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.

The accession was confirmed during a national workshop held in Harare on June 17-18, 2024. Alongside joining the 1992 Convention, Zimbabwe has also acceded to the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, making it the 39th Party to this treaty. This dual accession positions Zimbabwe to benefit from enhanced transboundary water resources management.

Hon. Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, emphasized that the country’s accession is a significant step towards regional water cooperation, potentially encouraging other nations to follow suit. "Zimbabwe's accession sends a strong message to neighboring countries about the importance of transboundary water management," Masuka stated.

The UN Water Convention, serviced by the UNECE, provides a comprehensive legal and intergovernmental framework for managing shared water resources. Zimbabwe’s participation will strengthen existing basin agreements and regional cooperation frameworks, such as the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission (BUPUSACOM), the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), and the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM).

Zimbabwe has made substantial progress in transboundary water cooperation, with 90.4% of its shared basins covered by operational agreements as of 2023, up from 69.9% in 2020. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in data collection, groundwater management, and other areas, where the UN global water conventions offer valuable tools and guidance.

The Secretary to the Water Convention, Ms. Sonja Koeppel, praised Zimbabwe’s swift accession, calling it a testament to the country’s dedication to enhancing transboundary water cooperation. Zimbabwe’s accession will be highlighted at the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Water Convention, scheduled for October 23-25 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The MOP is the premier international forum for advancing the transboundary water cooperation agenda, expected to gather around 500 representatives from ministries, joint bodies, international organizations, and academia from approximately 80 countries.

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