Africa must unite on prioritising water needs – Zaamwani
Ellanie SmitWINDHOEK
African leaders are calling for urgent, coordinated investment in water infrastructure, warning that climate change, population growth and outdated systems are intensifying water insecurity across the continent.Agriculture and water minister Inge Zaamwani, delivering a speech on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the African Union Water Investment Summit 2025, held last week in Cape Town, South Africa, said: “Water is not merely a development sector, it is the bloodstream of our economies, the lifeline of our communities and the guarantor of our food, health and energy security.”
She noted that too many communities in Africa still lack safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
“Too many farmers still depend on rainfed agriculture, and at the same time, rainfall has become more and more unpredictable.
“Too many industries still face operational risks due to water scarcity.”
The minister warned that without decisive action, these gaps will widen under the pressures of climate change, population growth and urbanisation.
National priority
The conference, convened by South Africa as part of its G20 presidency and jointly organised with the African Union (AU), the AU Development Agency and the African Union-Africa Water Investment Program (AU-AIP) International High-Level Panel on Water Investments, aims to mobilise at least US$30 billion a year to close Africa’s water investment gap.
It brought together African heads of state, G20 representatives, investors, ministers and development institutions under South Africa’s G20 presidency theme, ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’.
Water supply security has long been recognised as a strategic national priority for Namibia, Zaamwani said.
In line with this, the country has secured substantial investments in water infrastructure, including concessional financing from the African Development Bank and KfW.
These investments are funding projects to expand access, strengthen resilience and ensure that water remains a driver of inclusive growth, economic stability and climate adaptation for all Namibians.
For the 2025/2026 financial year, Namibia has allocated N$4.8 billion from its national budget, supplemented by concessional loans from partners for water and sanitation projects.
“We are also advancing public–private partnerships for strategic infrastructure, including a new desalination plant to serve both mining and domestic needs,” the minister said.
One voice
The minister further noted that the expected outcomes of the conference, from multibillion-dollar investment pledges to the inauguration of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, will only have meaning if leaders ensure their implementation.
“Africa’s admission into the G20 has given us a rare platform to speak with one voice. Let us use that voice to place water at the very heart of the global development and climate agenda – not as a background issue, but as a strategic driver of shared prosperity.”
African leaders are calling for urgent, coordinated investment in water infrastructure, warning that climate change, population growth and outdated systems are intensifying water insecurity across the continent.Agriculture and water minister Inge Zaamwani, delivering a speech on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the African Union Water Investment Summit 2025, held last week in Cape Town, South Africa, said: “Water is not merely a development sector, it is the bloodstream of our economies, the lifeline of our communities and the guarantor of our food, health and energy security.”
She noted that too many communities in Africa still lack safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
“Too many farmers still depend on rainfed agriculture, and at the same time, rainfall has become more and more unpredictable.
“Too many industries still face operational risks due to water scarcity.”
The minister warned that without decisive action, these gaps will widen under the pressures of climate change, population growth and urbanisation.
National priority
The conference, convened by South Africa as part of its G20 presidency and jointly organised with the African Union (AU), the AU Development Agency and the African Union-Africa Water Investment Program (AU-AIP) International High-Level Panel on Water Investments, aims to mobilise at least US$30 billion a year to close Africa’s water investment gap.
It brought together African heads of state, G20 representatives, investors, ministers and development institutions under South Africa’s G20 presidency theme, ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’.
Water supply security has long been recognised as a strategic national priority for Namibia, Zaamwani said.
In line with this, the country has secured substantial investments in water infrastructure, including concessional financing from the African Development Bank and KfW.
These investments are funding projects to expand access, strengthen resilience and ensure that water remains a driver of inclusive growth, economic stability and climate adaptation for all Namibians.
For the 2025/2026 financial year, Namibia has allocated N$4.8 billion from its national budget, supplemented by concessional loans from partners for water and sanitation projects.
“We are also advancing public–private partnerships for strategic infrastructure, including a new desalination plant to serve both mining and domestic needs,” the minister said.
One voice
The minister further noted that the expected outcomes of the conference, from multibillion-dollar investment pledges to the inauguration of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, will only have meaning if leaders ensure their implementation.
“Africa’s admission into the G20 has given us a rare platform to speak with one voice. Let us use that voice to place water at the very heart of the global development and climate agenda – not as a background issue, but as a strategic driver of shared prosperity.”
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