SA government partners with Zimbabwe for water trade agreement

In an upcoming event set for Thursday, 14 March, Senzo Mchunu, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, alongside his Zimbabwe counterpart, Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, will convene to sign a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the upcoming water trade agreement.

This agreement aims to address the pressing water scarcity issues plaguing Musina Town, South Africa, through the transfer of treated water from the Beitbridge Water Treatment Works in Zimbabwe.

The bilateral agreement, facilitating the transfer of approximately 15 million cubic meters per annum, equivalent to 41 megaliters of water per day, aims to bolster water supply to the dry Musina area.

MUSINA RELIES ON GROUNDWATER SOURCES

With a population of 132 009 spread across 192 villages and one town, Musina relies heavily on groundwater sources for sustenance.

Last year, during the National Provincial Week of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), officials highlighted the challenges faced by Musina residents. Factors such as leakages in the bulk water pipeline, vandalism, load-shedding, and aging infrastructure rendered the current water supply unsustainable.

Wiseman Maluleke, Director of Water Services at Vhembe District Municipality, emphasised the reliance on boreholes, connected to an 8.1-kilometer bulk water pipeline, which channels raw water to the Nwanedi Water Treatment Works for purification.

The treated water then feeds various reservoirs connected to the reticulation systems serving the area.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE STRENGTHEN RELATIONS IN WATER TRADE AGREEMENT

The agreement builds upon the 2015 bilateral agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe on Co-operation on Water Resources Management.

“South Africa and Zimbabwe signed a bilateral agreement on Co-operation on Water Resources Management and the Establishment and Functioning of the Joint Water Commission (JWC) in 2015,” the department said in a statement.

Simultaneously, Minister Mchunu, alongside counterparts from Botswana and Mozambique, members of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), will sign an amended LIMCOM Agreement.

This agreement will facilitate policy adoption, decision-making, and guidance for the equitable utilisation of shared water resources, promoting sustainable development.

Moreover, these signings coincide with National Water Month, part of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s efforts aligned with World Water Day, as spearheaded by the United Nations.