Zambia refuses to share Zambezi water with other countries
Bulawayo, May 22, 2010 – Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries are facing a hard time persuading Zambia to sign and ratify the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) Protocol which will allow all the countries in the region to tap water from the Zambezi river.
Zambia has since 2004 refused to sign and ratify the protocol.
Even the SADC Ministers of Water meeting that took place in Bulawayo failed to break the impasse. The ministers were expected to meet behind closed doors later on the issue.
Zambia has been refusing to sign the Zamcom protocol on the basis that 75 percent of the Zambezi River basin is in Zambia and they also contribute 42 percent of Zambezi River water. Zambia wants those aspects to be captured and factored in when it comes to water abstraction from the Zambezi River, something not currently considered in the standing protocol.
The Zamcom protocol will see Zimbabwe and seven other Southern African Development Community (SADC) states being in a position to draw water from the Zambezi River.
The Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, said; “At the moment Zambia has still not signed and ratified the protocol but talks are still on-going to make sure that they sign and ratify the protocol. At the moment I will not give further details.”
Zimbabwe plans to draw water under the ambitious Matabeleland Zambezi water project but the country will need all the countries that draw water from the Zambezi river to consent to Zimbabwe drawing water from the river.
Currently, seven of the eight countries have signed the protocol, but only four out of the seven have ratified it.
Ratification is the adoption of the protocol by each of the countries’ parliaments.
The SADC ministers’ water conference ended in Bulawayo on Friday afternoon and was officially opened by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Water ministers from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola attended the conference which was held under the theme: ‘Communicating regional water challenges for a dynamic takeoff to meet the Millennium Development Goals.’
Click here to read the origin and purpose of ZAMCOM :http://www.sardc.net/editorial/sadctoday/v7-3-8-04/zambezi.htm
34 Responses to Zambia refuses to share Zambezi water with other countries
Go Social
It is important that people understand this whole process. To start with, I think the story is very misleading and not reflective of Zambia’s official position. it would be nice if Zambia gave its official position rather than leave it to people to just speculate using information they get in the corridors – which could be true!!!
What people need to know is that Zambia was part of the negotiations that took place during the drafting of this document and if they had reservations, they should have made them known unless the representatives were not active enough and never gave feedback. This issue is indicative of how people who take part in negotiations, just dont pay attention to certain details and just do the hear, hear, hear,thing without comprehending the implications. Let people please question what the people who attended the MANY negotiation sessions were telling the country in between those negotiations!!!!
Kusanga - June 1, 2010
11:44
I agree with shu shu shu that the suggestion and headline that zambia has refused to share the zambezi river is not true and therefore should be considered null.Zambezi is an International water course and signing the ZAMCOM agreement will have adverse effects on the courntry’s welbeing. In as much as Zambia would want to share the zambezi waters, the guiding principles stipulated in the agreement should be fair enough for all the riparian states. I foresee the convention coming into force especially if all the 7 watercourse states ratify the agreement of which i’m sure 2/3 are going to do, but i mean they can not just impose the terms on us.Thats the reason we need lawyers specialising in national/international water law. Awe mwandi…!
Tee Mu - May 30, 2010
00:39
Areaboy, Kibakimani and others
Lets say a prayer, or better still, let us call upon our ancestors,
to prevail upon this looming tragedy.
Let us summon them from hundreds of years past.
They must come to our aid.
For they must know that NO WATER = NO ZED and therefore no evidence that they have lived.
We shall all become extinct! Assimilated by other dominant peoples. We shall be called Zimbabweans or something like that!
The prayer/summon is simple. let us prevail in truth and fairness. We need a better kind of leadership, here with-in ZED. An insulting ponitless leadership is not what we need right now.
Cwaters - May 28, 2010
18:19
Let them drink mabisi.
Pum Pum Pum - May 25, 2010
08:04
This is a wake-up call to add value to our natural resources. Kibakiman and Cwaters, I think you’ve nailed it. This is a serious matter that should not be brushed aside, otherwise future generations will pay dearly whilst Zambia’s neighbours have the last laugh. The time to act on the matters you have articulated is now since we appear to hold the advantage.
Areaboy - May 24, 2010
18:29
Cwaters
Comming to think of it, why should Southern province starve bucause there is no rain yet they have the mighty Zambezi in their vicinity? Why should we be sending relief food to malambo when there is plenty water from the Luangwa there? Why cant we turn the barotse plains into Africa’s largest rice fields, why cant the swamps upnorth be turned into africa’s largest sugar plantations.
What then reall are we protecting when we cant use what we have?
Kibakimani - May 24, 2010
18:01
People. ….It is not enough to merely with hold a sigature. Zambia must act now…. Zambia needs to take full control of the situation. Zambia can do this by doing two things. First (Infrastrucutre development) it must invest in major water storage developments(reservoirs/dams, especially upstream) and control river flows (through river training and river gates). Secondly,it must maximise the use of the water interally. A country that can not control its water resources is not a country worth talking about. Land without water is rendered useless. In other words water is property. Water has a value. water is money. You can not claim proper ownership of it if you can not control it and use it. As an example, Egypt claims ownership of the Nile river . They control it and they use it. And they have enough military clout and international influence to maintain that control. Other countries where Nile river is comes from, uganda,kenya, ethiopia, etc. Do not have real control and are not being allowed to use this water. As at today they let the water pass through their boundaries whilst Egypt uses it and sells egytian cotton to the rest of the World. Egypt gets richer and stronger in all respects. The other countres reamin poorer and weeker in all respects. For Egypt water is considered as a matter of national security. I suspect that this position is true for Zimbabwe, South African and a few other southern states. They treat the control of water as a matter of national security. Zimbabwe is already benefiting more from the Zambezi river than Zambia. Zambia is not alive to this observation. Zambia appears to be asleep. And it will pay dearly.
It is upon the basis of Zambia’s ability to control and use the water that it can then engage with other countries to trade the water for other economic returns or benefits, such as access to the sea ports, trade, cash for water…etc.
So Wake up Zambia!
Cwaters - May 24, 2010
15:36
Mr mwanza
South Africa too is eying the Zambezi waters, thats what the problem is?
Kibakimani - May 24, 2010
12:30
The issue is about abstracting water from the Zambezi River into countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia where water is scarce. If this is the case, there are basic questions that need answers:
1. How much water would be abstracted for each of these countries in need? How will such abstraction affect the flow of water in the Zambezi River?
2. What would be the effect of such abstraction on (a) Victoria Falls and its Hydropower Station feeding Zambia and Zimbabwe; (b) Lake Kariba and its Hydropower Station feeding Zambia and Zimbabwe; (c) Cahora Bassa Dam and its Hydropower Station in Mozambique feeding Mozambique, South Africa and others; (d) Proposed future developments of Batoka Dam and its Hydropower Station to feed Zambia and Zimbabwe?
3. What would happen to the ecosystem in the catchment area of the Zambezi Basin all the way from Kaleni Hills to the Indian Ocean?
Someone should provide answers to these and other concerns. Or is there something I do not understand, a lay man that I am?
M. Mwanza - May 24, 2010
11:32
There is currently controversy on another important African waterway: the Nile. Because of some unwise signatures scores of years ago, Uganda has difficulty abstracting water from the Nile because Egypt has some strange legal right.
The Zambezi protocol must only be signed when we are sure that Zambia’s special rights are fully recognised in it. Zambians should have a veto on any use of the waters of the Zambezi by any of the other countries beyond a certain amount. Similar protocols should be developed for the other Southern African waterways so that Zambia may also abstract water from those rivers as necessary.
Diplomacy will be vital in handling this matter as wars have been fought on far less important matters…
John Banda - May 24, 2010
11:27
Not even being born in Zimbabwe should make RB consider for a moment to sign away our HERITAGE.
By the Way - May 24, 2010
11:03
This water use agreement is half-cooked. How come they’re haven’t included some relevant issues like recognizing that Zedland contributes 42% of the water and 75% is in Zedland. They’re trying to hoodwink us into signing a one-sided agreement.
After we developed their cities using our copper in the colonial days, and then liberated them from Ian Douglas Smith using our hard-earned resources – what gratitude have we received in turn? Zero, zilch, ok… I lie, we have received hatred and hostilities.
Now that we are less poorer than them, they come to us with tales of woe. We’ve been bitten twice before and we are not falling for this one. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIGN THIS TREATY. There, now I said it.
Ricky Bobby? - May 24, 2010
08:40
One thing that needs understanding is that we are not the sole owners of the Zambezi river, much as the Zambezi collects most of its waters from Zambia, it will be important to remeber that some of it also comes from angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, malawi and Mozambique. What ever decision we may come up would affect the other co-owners of the river, therefore it will be important to have a common understanding on our stakes in the river.
The important thing therefore is that before signing, Zambia should impress upon the other parties to recognise her special place in this co-ownership of the river, and therefore should provide for the same in the protocol. There is nothing like refusing, the others should just recognise our special cake.
Kibakimani - May 24, 2010
08:31
Imwe bantu, we sacrificed enough during the liberation of Southern Africa, should we also give away even the little we have as a country. One day you will call yourself Zambian the next day you will be asked if Zambia even existed or was it a province of South Africa, the reason why I say so is because they say all the copper especially the products come from Zimbabwe. Yes!!! we should keep sharing very soon even the copper mines in Zambia will be shared with neighbours in the region, because we will not know how they claimed the land as theirs. Kaunda liberated the neighbouring countries, the question is, what have we benefited from this, absolutely nothing apart from hostile interaction and ending up as one of the poorest countries on earth.
Good luck guys, we want to mother every country in the region.
Thermometer - May 23, 2010
21:30
These people only considers Zambia as a partner when they want something from us. It be refuge from conflicts, ruthless thugs in their govts, or our natural resources. Zimbabweans are sort of people who seem to be immune to gratitude. These people always flood Zambia when they are in trouble and yet treat us like leppers when we visit that “God forsaken” country. Even now, we hear stories of poor Zambians getting shot on sight when they mistakenly stray into Zimbabwean waters. What more if we start concerting to exclusive water rights these people are asking for? I can only immagine what future generations of Zambians will have to deal with—a war wouldn’t be imposible to immagine between these countries. I don’t know much about these other countries, but Zimbabwe has a very unneighboury attitude towards others. As Zambians, we shouldn’t tie our grandchildren to some agreement that does not recognize our rightful place in these matters. If the Zambezi river is about 75% Zambian origin, Zambia should have some “VITEO” power included in these agreements. Without that, Zambia should not, even for a second, think about selling our rights away just because these countries are our neighbors—-NO!!!!!!
Yambayamba - May 23, 2010
20:30
To suggest that Zambia has refused to share the waters of the Zambezi is a lie. Where is Zimbabwe generating the bulk of its electricity if not from the water of the Zambezi. What about Mozambique with its Cabora Basa dam on the Zambezi? As a student of water management in Zimbabwe, I have come to realise that Zambia needs to be very alert on the water issue as countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana and even South Africa are looking to the Zambezi as a source of the future water supply. Plans are afoot to abstract water from the Zambezi to as far as South Africa considering that South Africa has committed all its water resources. Currently South Africa is getting water from Swaziland and Lesotho and has a dispute with Mozambique over the Inkomati. Namibia and Botswana are already benefiting from the Zambezi through the Chobe which is actually a backwater of the Zambezi up to the Kasikili Islands over which Botswana and Namibia nearly fought. Consider also that sharing of the Zambezi also extends as far as the tributaries which include rivers like the Kafue, Luangwa, Shire and other major tributaries of the Zambezi. This is why people talk of the Zambezi International water course not just the Zambezi River.
Shu Shu Shu - May 23, 2010
13:05
This is thebest thing that Zambia has ever done. Plse dont dont sign this agreement.Currently, countries on the nile basin are about to go to war because of water. Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya,Sudan, Burundi and otehrs have problems with Egypt over the use of the water on the river Nile because of an agreement that was signed in 1929.
Zambia plse dont entertain this agreement for the benefit of our grand children and grand grand children who are yet to be born. Its a wake up call for Zambia. If we are notcareful, next they will say since we share the Zambezi, lets also share the Victoria Falls and all the tourist earnings. Stupid idiots! Why can they share the Congo River, Limpopo rive and Orange river.
In simple language, Zambezi is our natural gift from God. Everything is possible. Since rainfall is abundant, let these countries tap natural rainwater and make their own rivers. Mwabomba bane. Dont entertain them at all! I know Zimbabweans are blogging here. Go to hell you Zimbabweans. We can survive without you. Rember what we did when you declared UDI. Dont ubderate us ba mambala.
Cyber Star - May 23, 2010
12:29
Zimbabwe had plenty of water AND irrigation equipment that is now sitting unused and abandoned on the farms grabbed by Mugabes friends and cronies! Now they want more. For what? they are not even using what they have already got!
Limnothrissa - May 23, 2010
12:26
zambezi belongs to us also. Botswana will tap from the zambezi. We also have a stake. A significant amount of water from chobe river fills the zambezi, that means we can tap. Zambezi forms a boundary between Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and other countries. These countries have water rights. But Botswana is faced with water shotages and she can not just tap from chobe without approval from other countries.
Just like Zimbabwe, Botswana also have ambitious projects that will need waters from zambezi.
Thabo - May 23, 2010
12:12
I agree with Mashimba and Areaboy. Zambia should not sign and ratify this protocol.
Perhaps Zambia could/should pump the Zambezi water into the farmlands in the Southern Province and become the bread basket of Africa. Hows that for an idea?!
Rosemary - May 23, 2010
10:47
If this ZAMCOM thing is signed Zed is doomed. we are a landlocked country. Naturally we are at a disadavntage. If these people let this deal through I am sure the reprocussions will show and to great extent.
Jahman - May 23, 2010
10:06
People please let’s share this resource. Our brothers are in need
Osho - May 22, 2010
22:13
If u zembiens wont sein then tek this zambezi thing away frm our kentry , it shuduntu pes thru zimbabwe
Joe king - May 22, 2010
21:11
Please don’t share the water, the water in the Zambezi river is our natural resources, since when did we start sharing natural resources through protocols? Can you imagine Zimbabwe or Botswana allowing other countries to mine their diamonds for free? it can never happen. IF THEY WANT OUR WATER, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. Yes, we can sell them the water if they want it that much.
Mashimba - May 22, 2010
19:47
Zambians are short when they stray in the Zimbabwan waters to fish; why do they want our water when they treat us the way they do. are we so foolish as chimbwi na kalulu what is wrong with Zambians
nshilmubemba - May 22, 2010
17:48
Ok,let Zimbabwens continue pursuing their maize from us as we keep our Zambezi water.
Chief justice - May 22, 2010
17:40
ahh! I thought Zambezi waters like air, belong to God, only when you treat it does it become your property.
Ministers wont sign because there is no personal benefit, sembe bana saina kudala. Maibala Zamtel, and ZESCO fibre network?
Lets share what we have with our friends, they will inturn bless us. Zambia has abundant water, most of it just goes to waste.
Alistoto - May 22, 2010
17:27
Imilandile yakutilati,we are still disusing this behind closed door iri iyatumpa.Who are you discusing with?The people of zambia or these other states.There is no maters of deal or no deal,these guys think tuli aba tulo.They shoudnt be any sighning until the people of Zambia have a say aboult this,which is already a NO!!!!!
Zec - May 22, 2010
16:51
‘The Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) Protocol which will allow all the countries in the region to tap water from the Zambezi river’ ATASE, Kupusa. Why can’t you tap water from your own rivers. This is how countries are tricked.
Jean Phiri - May 22, 2010
16:33
Why do these people want the water from Zambezi? Are we asking for water from Limpompo? There is something fishy here. Don’t sign this protocol. Zambezi is too dear to Zambia. We can’t allow everybody to just come and drink. No, let the government first publish that paper we debate and anlayse it
Chelo - May 22, 2010
16:29
l donnt see the problem in sharing water with other countries.cause we a like brothers and sisters.water is from god.unless they used it to make biological weapons.
michael - May 22, 2010
16:18
Imagine Zimbabwe was Zambia. What would they have done? After their independence they did not want to have anything with Zambia. The Kariba Dam will dry up if you are playing you people in government. Then there will be no power. Zambezi is our river. Let them just use the river for irrigation along its banks, no more. Kwasila. DO NOT SIGN THIS PROTOCOL PLEASE, PLEASE.
By the Way - May 22, 2010
15:47
They should not sign and ratify this protocol, it is not in the interest of Zambia.
Thermometer - May 22, 2010
15:44
Before we put any pen to paper make sure that Zambia’s interests are protected. We have been screwed all too often in the past. No need to rush to sign anything.
Areaboy - May 22, 2010
15:30