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WATER POLITICS

From the Sunday Standard, news that Botswana and South Africa recently extended their bilateral relations by signing a cross boarder water agreement, aimed at improving the living standards of the people of the two southern African states.  As the article notes:

“…The two countries, which share a long border, are signatories to two shared river basin institutions for the Limpopo and Orange-Senqu.

…Vulnerable to sporadic intermittent droughts the countries take cognizance of the fact there is not enough water in both countries with sometimes water available in one of the countries.
 This led to ordinary people, especially farmers to help each other promoting illegal cross boarder water supply.

 Road contractors, building the road from Bokspits, needed water and requested the government of Botswana to facilitate on their behalf for water from South Africa.

 “Our historical and cultural ties which extend beyond the shared watercourses between the two countries partly inform our signing an Agreement this morning,” the minister said, adding, “Our people along the border share more than just water resources. They do share common language and traditional leadership.

 This signing ceremony is, therefore, a further endorsement of our existing relationships that not only ensure access to water but also provides mechanism that facilitate that process….“