Water: Industrialisation agenda at risk
The water challenges that Namibia is currently faced with due to the prevailing drought will slow down the country’s vision to become an industrialised nation within the next 15 years.
This was said by Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Theo Diergaardt at the SADC Water Dialogue that kicked off in the capital yesterday.
Diergaardt was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture John Mutorwa.
The theme of this year’s Water Dialogue is Watering Development in SADC: The central role of water in driving industrialisation.
Diergaardt said Namibia is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa and therefore extensive water supply infrastructure is needed to ensure water security in the country for industrialisation.
Namibia’s Vision 2030 is that of a prosperous and industrialised country to be met in 15 years.
According to Diergaardt, Namibia is a net importer of agricultural food products, equipment, plants, machinery, pipes and other equipment used in the provision of water and sanitation services.
These imports are very costly as the country lacks industries which manufacture goods used in the production process, which in turn makes development and maintenance of water and sanitation services
unsustainable.
“As a developing country we believe that the expansion of factories for industrial development and manufacturing, mining production, urbanisation and population growth will lead to high sustainable growth and development which will also increase demand on water resources that is already
scarce.”
He said Namibia like most water scarce countries, is looking to take advantage of cooperation in international shared water resources to maximise the benefits derived from these shared water resources for industrial development.
He said as all Namibia’s perennial rivers are shared with its neighbours, trans-boundary water cooperation and management for Namibia with other riparian states is a must and not an option.
According to him, industrialisation in Namibia like most countries will however come at a cost of developing proper water infrastructure as water is a central pillar to any
development.
Diergaardt said this means all production processes in Namibia require water and as such, it is regarded as an engine for growth.
“It goes to follow also that a nation which is not water secure and without the proper sanitation facilities, will not be able to achieve the sustained, desired high levels of economic growth and
development.
He said Namibia has already developed an Integrated Water Security Plan for the country and is in the process of developing a Strategic Water Security Plan.
“This means as a country we have to strategise and ensure that water does not become a major constraint in pursuing our development agenda of becoming an industrialised nation by the year 2030.”
Phera Ramoedi the Senior Programme Officer in the Water Division at the SADC Secretariat said water is a critical resource in driving industrialisation as almost every industrial process requires water and water demand grows parallel with increases in the industrial base.
“Power generation, refineries, construction, agriculture, metals and mining all require large volumes of treated water in their production process.”
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the SADC Water Resources Technical Committee, Director of Water Affairs at Botswana, Dr Obolokile Obankeng says water issues in that country have become
unbearable.
“However, the same can be said for other southern African countries, but Botswana is worse off.”
He added that forecasts indicate that Botswana will likely experience the same poor rainy season as it had in the last season.
“We are in a very difficult situation and we are looking for any assistance that can be provided to us with regards to the water situation.”
According to him there are projects in the pipeline but these will only materialise in two years.
“But I wonder whether we will still be here in two
years.”
He said Windhoek is fortunate because it foresaw the future and started recycling water decades ago.
ELLANIE SMIT
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