Martin Endjala
Namibia’s accession on 8 June 2023 to the United Nations Water Convention, made it the first Southern African country to the organisation.
The landmark step will help Namibia to consolidate its long-standing commitment to transboundary water cooperation in Southern Africa.
By joining the convention, Namibia aims to enhance water security and foster socioeconomic development for its population of 2.5 million people.
By signing the UN Water Convention, Namibia has become the first country in southern Africa and the eighth country in Africa to join.
The Water Convention, otherwise known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, is an essential international legal framework that provides guidelines and principles for nations sharing transboundary water resources.
It aims to foster cooperation and dispute resolution mechanisms concerning water management and conservation, ensuring the equitable and sustainable utilisation of these precious resources.
The Landless People’s Movement’s Head of Human Rights, Joyce Muzengua applauded the recent decision made by Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, as a leading advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, for acceding to the Water Convention of the United Nations.
She said that this landmark decision demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the responsible management and protection of water resources for a sustainable future of the country.
Muzengua stated that the Human Rights Department has relentlessly advocated against the mining of uranium on the transboundary Stampriet Aquifer alongside communities and civil society.
“We have engaged legal bodies such as the Office of the Ombudsman in possible litigation processes given the grave nature of the possible violation of our precious resource. Mining poses significant risks to the groundwater resource and the surrounding ecosystem. Mining operations can cause contamination of the aquifer through the release of toxic chemicals. Heavy metals, and other pollutants. These contaminants can seep into the groundwater, making it unfit for human consumption and detrimental to the health of both humans and wildlife,” argued Muzengua.
The transboundary Stampriet aquifer serves as a vital water source for communal communities that have been dispossessed of their ancestral land.
These communities, traditionally are said to be reliant on agriculture and livestock rearing for their livelihoods, hence they are heavily dependent on these aquifer water resources.
Access to this water source, ensures their food security, economic stability and overall well-being. Moreover, the transboundary nature of the Stampriet aquifer provides not only a shared resource but also an opportunity for cooperation between Namibia and its neighbouring countries.
Namibia shares the aquifer with Botswana and South Africa and Muzengua is therefore emphasizing the need for collaborative management and sustainable use of this precious resource.
Through transboundary cooperation, equitable access to water can be guaranteed, strengthening regional stability and arrest fostering diplomatic relations.
Subsequently, this will enable Namibia to benefit from the expertise and guidance provided by the United Nations and collaborate with other signatory nations for better water governance, data sharing, and capacity building.
Muzengua believes access to a wider pool of knowledge and opportunities for technological advancements, will also empower the MWALR to implement progressive strategies aimed at safeguarding water resources and optimizing the use of sustainable agriculture development.
She is convinced that the Water Convention of the UN serves as a powerful tool for the protection of the Strampriet Aquifer, by implementing strict regulations and promoting sustainable water management practices.
The convention is one tool she foresees can prevent preclude mining activities that threatened the aquifer’s integrity and various collaborations between member states can foster knowledge-sharing and technical assistance, allowing for effective monitoring and management of the aquifer’s resources.
Meanwhile, Calle Schlettwein stated that Transboundary water cooperation stands as the cornerstone of our nation’s water security.
“I firmly believe that through this accession, Namibia will not only reap substantial benefits from its participation in this global legal framework but will also have the opportunity to engage with fellow members in promoting the principles of peace and equity in transboundary water sharing,” he said.
