Water legislation to be enforced

The agriculture ministry will start enforcing the Water Resources Management Act following its enactment in late August.

It will now embark on public awareness campaigns to sensitise members of the public, minister Calle Schlettwein said.

“The ministry will also continue with compliance monitoring, while operationalising the water regulator and the water advisory council as well as basin management committees,” he said.

Efforts were underway to build capacity within the ministry to ensure the Act is enforced, Schlettwein added.

“The ministry will undertake various efforts at capacity building by training staff members of the department of water affairs with requisite skills to not only implement the Act, but to also competently management the water resources of Namibia."

Water resource management requires government to take necessary financial, institutional and legal measures to ensure sustainable access to water. Without appropriate regulatory frameworks, governmental bodies forfeit their ability to manage water allocation and protect relevant water rights, Schlettwein stressed.