STRATEGICPLANFORTHEZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE STRATEGICPLANFORTHEZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE
The Zambezi Basin itself is home to over 40 In the context of the of the ZAMCOM ZAMCOM million people and projected to be 51 million Agreement, the Strategic Plan for the by 2025. Going forward, therefore, the Zambezi Watercourse is defined as a, mounting socio-economic pressures on the basin will require a better basin-wide “……..development plan comprising a understanding and agreement on the basin's general planning tool and process for the opportunities and challenges; and the joint i d e n t i fi c a t i o n , c a t e g o r i z a t i o n a n d STRATEGICPLANFORTHE description of a sustainable development prioritization of projects and programmes for space for the basin that will meet national the efficient management and sustainable ZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE and basin-wide objectives without compromising ecosystems or indeed development of the Zambezi Watercourse” undermining the development aspirations of ZambeziRiverBasin one state by another. TANZANIA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ZAMBIA ANGOLA MALAWI zi be am Z LUNGÚE BUNGO UPPER ZAMBEZI LUANGWA The Strategic Plan for the Zambezi KABOMPO L SHIRE RIVER & ungue Bun o g mp a LAKE MALAWI/ o o w b ng NIASSA/NYASA a ua MOZAMBIQUE Watercourse is expected to contribute to K L C ua n d providing a basis for harmonized, basin-wide o LUANGINGA KAFUE e
Kafu S BAROTSE MUPATA h i r Angola Botswana Malawi Mozambique Namibia Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe TETE e
Za cooperation in the management and m oe b az ez CUANDO/CHOBE i M Elevation
development of the water resources of the 3 000 KARIBA NAMIBIA ZAMBEZI 2 000 DELTA Shang an Win-win cooperation/ Cooperacao, ganhas tu, ganho eu Zambezi watercourse. 1 500 i 1 000 500 BACKGROUND 200 BOTSWANA ZIMBABWE 100 0 Metres Source: Natural Earth 2011, accessed online The objective of ZAMCOM is to promote the Figure1:TheZambeziRiverBasinandRiparianStates equitable and reasonable utilization of the What exactly is the Strategic Plan for the water resources of the Zambezi Watercourse Zambezi Watercourse and why is it How will the Strategic Plan for the Zambezi as well as the efficient management and important? Watercourse be developed? What will be the sustainable development thereof. In that major steps? regard, some of the functions of the River basin planning is crucial for successfully Commission include promoting, supporting, managing and developing shared water The Strategic Plan for the Zambezi c o o r d i n a t i n g a n d h a r m o n i z i n g t h e resources as it allows for the coordinated Watercourse will be developed in a and integrated implementation of activities management and development of the water cooperative and consultative manner based in the context of efficient management and resources of the Zambezi Watercourse; as on generally accepted planning cycles and well as advising Riparian States on the sustainable development. River basin planning also allows for cooperation among processes. Some of the major steps are planning, management, utilization, riparian states and the identification and expected to include conducting a d e v e l o p m e n t , p r o t e c t i o n a n d implementation of projects and situation analysis and developing c o n s e r v a t i o n o f t h e Z a m b e z i programmes that provide sustainable strategic directions; consideration of Watercourse. b e n e fi t s f r o m a b a s i n - w i d e national and basin level objectives, perspective. STRATEGICPLANFORTHEZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE STRATEGICPLANFORTHEZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE STRATEGICPLANFORTHEZAMBEZIWATERCOURSE
ZAMCOM ZAMCOM ZAMCOM sector development plans, infrastructure How is the Strategic Plan for the Zambezi As demand for water, energy and food inventories; and basin development Watercourse expected to be implemented? increases due to population growth and scenarios. The final stages of the process will rising standards of living, so will the The implementation of the Strategic Plan for include consideration of basin investment challenges and interconnectedness the Zambezi Watercourse is expected to be between and among the various sectors. scenarios and preparation of the actual done in a cyclic and adaptive manner as shown Improved and better coordinated Strategic Plan for the Zambezi Watercourse in Figure 2. management and development of water as informed by the preceding stages. Basin Vision and resources will therefore become an Objectives imperative rather than an option. The plan
Basin Plan Re-planning will lay a firm foundation for more What is the status of development of the systematic, cooperative and tangible
Strategic Plan for the Zambezi Watercourse Implementation actions aimed at addressing the emerging and how long will it take to develop it? Review socio-economic challenges in the basin
Refinement and the region in an efficient and The development of the Strategic Plan for the Situation Monitoring and sustainable manner. Zambezi Watercourse will commence in 2016 Assessment Review and end in 2018. The Strategic Plan will build For further information, please contact the on a substantial body of previous basin-wide Figure 2: Adaptive and Cycle Planning and Implementation studies, assessments and strategies ZAMCOM Secretariate at: including: What will be the benefits to the Riparian ZAMBEZI WATERCOURSE COMMISSION States and the Southern African region? · The Zambezi Basin IWRM Strategy (2008), 128 Samora Machel Avenue · The Multi-Sector Investment Opportunities The Zambezi Watercourse is one of the most P.O. Box Cy118 Analysis in the Zambezi River Basin (2010), Harare, Zimbabwe. · The Dam Synchronisation and Flood diverse and valuable natural resources in Africa. Its waters are critical to sustainable Releases in the Zambezi River Basin Project Tel: +263 253 361-3 (2011), The Dam Synchronisation and Flood economic growth and poverty reduction in Voip: +263 8677 000 313 Releases in the Zambezi River Basin Project the region. In addition to meeting the basic Alternative email: [email protected] (2011), needs of more than 40 million people and Website: www.zambezicommission.org · The Zambezi Basin Atlas of a Changing sustaining a rich and diverse natural Environment (2012), and environment, the river plays a central role in · The Zambezi Basin Environment Outlook the economies of not only the eight riparian (2015) countries but the region as a whole. It is an important water resources system in terms of energy generation, food production, ecosystems services, etc.