28 May 2013

Officials from the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources will join Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for water on May 30, in Luanda, Angola.

The SADC meeting will review progress on the implementation of the third phase of the Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development (RSAP III) 2011-2015. 

A press release from SADC states that the ministers approved the third phase of the RSAP at their meeting held in 2011 in Maseru, Lesotho, as a document to guide implementation of water related activities in the region.

It further states that the RSAP is the framework for action to achieve the sustainable development of water resources in the region through the development of water infrastructures on the basis of sound water governance and water management. 

The release says the RSAP III serves as a work plan to guide the development and implementation of activities in the SADC water sector for the period 2011–2015.

“The ministers will also review the status of implementation of projects in the various river basins in the SADC region (Okavango, Limpopo, Orange/Senqu, Buzi, Save, Ruvuma, Zambezi and Incomati/Maputo),” says the release.

It says the minister’s meeting will be preceded by a meeting of senior officials from the respective ministries responsible for water. Also meeting on the sidelines of the main minister’s meeting will be ministers responsible for the Zambezi, Limpopo and Okavango river basins.

Leading the Botswana delegation, will be the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Mr Kgomotso Abi. Other officials will include the director of water affairs, Dr Obolokile Obakeng and the deputy director, Ms Tracy Molefi responsible for international waters. ENDS