At Maputo, Mozambique, July 24, 2014, it was a historic day in the calendar of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM). Following the finalization of the process of ratification of the Agreement for the establishment of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission, the much awaited LIMCOM Official Launch took place in Maputo.

The Ceremony was attended by the Ministers Responsible for water of the Republic of Botswana (Hon. Onkokame Kitso Mokaila), Republic of Mozambique (Hon. Cadmiel Mutemba), Republic of South Africa (H.E. Brian Ritter, Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa in Mozambique) and Republic of Zimbabwe (Hon. Saviour Kasukuwere, MP). The ceremony was also attended by LIMCOM Commissioners of the four Member States, SADC Representatives, Cooperating Partners, Representatives of the River Basin Organizations, Departments of Water from SADC, International Organizations and NGOs.

The pinnacle of the event was the signing ceremony of the Host Agreement, between the government of the Republic of Mozambique, represented by Hon. Cadmiel Mutemba, Minister of Public Works and Housing and the current Chairman of LIMCOM represented by Hon. Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Botswana.

The Ministers, on their remarks, said that this was a very memorable occasion as the make-up of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission and reaffirmed LIMCOM’s and Member States commitment to the promotion and implementation of the SADC Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses, which objective is to foster closer cooperation for judicious, sustainable and coordinated management, protection and utilization of shared watercourses and advance the SADC agenda of regional integration and poverty alleviation.

Hon. Cadmiel Mutemba on his remarks indicated that the government of Mozambique, as the host of the LIMCOM Permanent Secretariat, commits to avail all the necessary support to LIMCOM for its best operation