Water makes the world go round; its importance for the sustenance of all life on earth can never be overstated. Without it even the strongest economies today would be brought to their knees. Majority of jobs worldwide depend on water – both in the small to medium enterprises and big corporations.

Unfortunately, water is fast becoming a scarce commodity worldwide.

Take a good look around, taps are running dry at record speed and the cost of water seems to be increasing by the day. What was once a necessity is now quickly turning into a luxurious commodity for many African households. 

World Water Day is an opportunity for governments and stakeholders to focus their attention to fresh water resources, their preservation and sustainable management. The theme for this year’s World Water Day celebration: water and jobs, endeavors to show how enough quantity and quality of water can change worker’s lives and livelihoods and even transform societies and economies. With enough quality water, it is argued that people who depend on it for livelihoods can reap more benefits from their work and consequently contribute to national economic development. 

I contend that the scarcity of quality water however, has a deeper impact on people’s lives and the achievement of national socio-economic development goals. In Africa, the impact is best evaluated at the grassroots level with families who depend on agriculture - a mainstay activity for most African families – for their daily bread. Water scarcity has not only affected livelihoods but also the wellbeing of families; the very fabric of society. 

The more water becomes scarce in these agricultural areas, the more it rises up the "ladder of priority” in comparison to other priorities such as education and women empowerment. Despite governments’ efforts to provide quality education to every boy and girl (whether it is either free primary or secondary education or both), it is not uncommon in Africa to find boys and girls spending their entire days fetching water for agricultural or household use on school going days. 

The decision by parents to withdraw children from school is a natural one for most because water is so scarce and they have to trek longer distances to fetch it. To them, their children are simply a blessing from the Almighty – sent to help them save their crops and lives by travelling the long journeys to fetch water.

On the subject of education, they know it is important; governments have invested healthily on sensitizing them on the importance of education, especially education of the girl child. Nevertheless, it’s a tough choice to make: education or life? Perhaps one day when they have enough water - never mind its quality - they can "afford” the education. Then they won’t need their little ones to spend their days trekking in search of water. 

In this perilous environment where child labor thrives unabated, progress made in empowering women is also stunted or reversed in some cases. Ancient regressive ideas on masculinity come alive and become dominant as roles have to be divided between the boys and girls. While the boy goes to the farm, the girl is confined to household chores – her traditional place in the home. The girl no longer viewed as an equal to her brother, it is only a matter of time before she is indoctrinated with unbiased views of who she is supposed to be and her place in society; essentially undoing all the progress made to date on women empowerment. 

Water or lack of it is having much greater consequences on peoples’ lives and the progress of national socio-economic development of countries. The real question that governments should ponder as we celebrate World Water Day this year is how do we get enough quality water closer to all people especially in rural areas? 

The socio-economic impact of water is inseparable from achievement of national development goals of African states. Notwithstanding that enough quality water will bring about secured livelihoods and increased contribution to economic development. It is vital that due deliberation is given to the negative consequences of water scarcity especially in rural areas and even urban slum areas where the circumstances are similar.

The writer is a social commentator based in Kigali