Africa water resources not properly managed – expert

Africa has put little effort in the conservation and management of water resources, thus resulting into water pollution and hyacinth, an expert has said.Alex Simalabwi, the global coordinator, water and climate programme at Global Water Partnership (GWP), made the remarks yesterday on the sidelines of the fifth Water, Climate Development Programme (WACDEP) Technical Coordination forum in Kigali.GWP is an international network created to foster an integrated approach to water resources management. The organisation is based in Stockholm, Sweden and advocates for a “water secure world. “African governments should go beyond speeches and making declarations to implementation. We are tired of the declarations that are not implemented at all,” he said.“The harm done by extreme weather caused by climate change is made worse by the fact that water resources are poorly managed in Africa.”Simalabwi stated that water programme is a commitment made by the AU Heads of State in 2008 and is being implemented by the AU council of ministers on water and GWP. “They declared water adaptation and supply measures to ensure the proper management of water resources across Africa to boost investments in water that can support economic development, but little effort has been made to achieve the set goals,” he explained.The five-day forum that has drawn 30 delegates from Southern Africa, West Africa, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, and North Africa will review mechanisms in place to ensure improved water management in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Burundi, Mozambique, Tunisia, Cameroon and Burkina faso. The WACDEP is implemented in eight countries in Africa. In Eastern Africa, WACDEP is implemented in River Kagera Basin (regional level), Rwanda-Burundi (country level) specifically around lake Cyohoha (community level) in Bugesera District, Eastern Province.Green growthSimalabwi lauded Rwanda for taking the lead in conserving and protecting water resources, saying Bugesera region is one of the main case study projects that have happened across the African continent in the eight countries.“Bugesera region is leading the way and Rwanda has put in place a national green growth strategy and a climate change fund. The government has also put in place strong measures to ensure climate resilient development,” he noted.Rwanda allocated £1.7 million (around Rwf 1.7 billion) of domestic resources as it continues to mobilise funds to kick-start the climate change fund.According to Caroline Kayonga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, challenges faced by the water and natural resources sector are immense which need strong partnership to address.“Challenges like overpopulation, increasing deforestation, unplanned settlements, lack of waste treatment facilities, inappropriate land use and agriculture practices still pose a threat to improved water resource management,” she explained.However, Vincent de Paul Kabalisa, the deputy director general of water resources department in the Ministry of Natural Resources said: “We have put in place mechanisms to ensure sustainable water resource management in the country and are embarking on a survey to ascertain the volume of water in Rwanda for effective management.”According to South Africa-based scientist Dr. Mary Galvin, by 2020, it is estimated that (up to) 250 million Africans will be exposed to increased water stress by 2020.Leading climatologists say that, large parts of Africa could warm by as much as four degrees centigrade (C) by 2100. But an increase of just one degree C will have “terrible” consequences for the continent’s water sources and the people who rely on them to survive.

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Africa water resources not properly managed – expert