Lerato Mbhiza
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, will on Thursday sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the transfer of treated water to Musina, Limpopo.
The bilateral agreement between the two countries will allow for supply of about 15 million cubic metres per annum (m3/a) which is equal to 41 Ml/d of treated water from Beitbridge Water Treatment Works in the Republic of Zimbabwe to Musina in South Africa.
The Musina Local Municipality has a total population of 132 009 people residing in 192 villages and one town, which is Musina. The area is dry with limited sources of water and largely relies on groundwater for supply.
“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.
The same day will mark the augmentation of regional cooperation as Mchunu, along with representatives from Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique – all members of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) – will endorse the amendments to the LIMCOM Agreement.
Explaining the importance of such multilateral engagement, the department said: “The agreement will enable the Ministers to adopt policies, decisions and provide guidance on the promotion and coordination of the management, development, and equitable utilisation of the shared water resources.”
Participants are expected to reaffirm their dedication to the Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin, symbolising a commitment to regional stability and prosperity.
The Water and Sanitation Ministry highlighted that the agreement will strengthen South Africa’s relations with the three riparian states which share the basin and use water from the river to support various socio-economic activities, including agriculture, tourism, energy generation, as well as for domestic use.
Minister Mchunu, accompanied by his deputies, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, alongside Vhembe District Municipality Mayor Freda Nkondo, will take part in community engagements at Musina Showgrounds.
The aim of Friday’s engagement is to provide updates on the strides made to combat the daunting water shortages in the Musina area.
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