By Wallace Mawire,in Windhoek, Namibia
Namibia. (News of The South) – Drought-prone Namibia is in the process of developing a strategic water security plan to ensure that water does not become a major constraint in pursuing the country’s developmental agenda of becoming an industrialised nation by the year 2030, according to Theo Diergaarat said, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
Diergaarat made the announcement at the official opening of the 7th SADC multi-stakeholder water dialogue being hosted by the country under the theme : Watering development in SADC: The central role of water in driving industrialisation.
Diergaarat says that Namibia is one of the driest countries in sub- Saharan Africa highlighting the need for extensive water supply infrastructure to ensure water security in the country for industrialisation.
He adds that the country’s vision 2030 is of becoming a prosperous and industrialised country to be met in 15 years to come.
“Our country is a net importer of agricultural food products, equipment, plants,machinery,pipes and other parts used in the provision of water and sanitation services.These imports are very costly as we lack industries which manufacture goods used in the production
process which in turn makes the development and maintenance of water and sanitation services unsustainable,’ Diergaarat said.
He added that as a developing country the expansion of factories for industrial development and manufacturing, mining production, urbanisation and population growth will lead to high sustained economic growth and development which in turn will lead to increased demand on scarce water resources.
Diergaarat also said that Namibia had already developed an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plan which is supported by a legal framework.
Namibia like most African water scarce countries is reported to be looking at taking advantage of cooperation in international shared
water resources so as to maximise on the benefits derived from the shared water resources for industrial development.
“Namibia is faced with water challenges given the drought and water scarcity our country is currently experiencing and will slow down our vision towards being an industrialised nation fifteen years from now.
As all our perennial rivers are shared with our neighbours, transboundary water cooperation and management for Namibia with other riparian states is a must and not an option,”Diergarat said.
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