Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
MINISTERS MEET TO BOOST SOUTH AFRICA-TANZANIA CO-OPERATION IN WATER SECTOR
14 NOVEMBER 1996
The Minister of Water in Tanzania, Dr P Y Ng'wandu, and his South African counterpart Prof Kader Asmal, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry held a meeting in Pretoria recently at the Union Buildings. They were accompanied by senior officials from both countries to discuss water related issues common to both countries.
High on the agenda were areas of co-operation regarding exchange of water related technology, with significant potential for investment and trade in this regard being identified, as well as an exchange in information on the Water Law of each country: both countries being presently engaged in a comprehensive review of their Water Acts. Both Ministers stressed the opportunities for business to engage in joint ventures and trade with respect to water projects, equipment and materials.
Also discussed were the countries relations within the Southern African Development Community. It was emphasised that any future arrangements on shared water basins will be carried out in consultation with all affected basin States, especially within the context of the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems. The Ministers agreed that they will request the ratification of the Protocol as early as possible and appeal to the other SADC countries to do the same. The Ministers welcomed the action by the Council of Ministers at the SADC Summit in August 1996 in Maseru to elevate Water to a full sector within SADC.
The meeting was the first of its kind between the two Ministers following the end of South Africa's isolation by the International Community. The two countries will benefit substantially from today's meeting. Tanzania has good experience in the rural water supply and sanitation programme which it started fifteen years ago and likewise Tanzania will also gain a lot from South Africa's programme of community water supply and sanitation which was introduced by the new democratic Government.
In conclusion of the meeting the Ministers said: "This meeting has set a precedent for future co-operation as our countries strive to achieve adequate water supply for all our people. A new chapter in our relations has begun. Millions of poor people suffer from adverse climatic conditions and water scarcity thus we must make every effort to ease their plight. Water has become a critical resources for economic, social and environmental development. We can only meet this challenge by co-operation on both a bilateral level, as well as a multi-lateral level, through SADC".
ENQUIRIES: Peter van Niekerk Tel: (012) 299-2030 Fax: (012) 323-1532