The position of world continents tells us more of disadvantages as related to climate vulnerability some regions are like.
The African continent is just at the center of sundry environmental challenges even though it is part and parcel of the Great Lakes Region the likes of lakes Kariba, Malawi, Tanganyika, Kivu, Edward and others.
Turning eyes to politics, budgeting on military strategies and taking long to un-fold, taking focus on leadership opportunities pulls the continent down.
Unlike Asia and America, Africa scratches itself on savanna land but rich in minerals and some opulent resources.
This tells us about several countries off the coast, countries crossed by the line of equator. Africa is surrounded by continents which otherwise tells more about her scramble and partition, colonisation and under-development in the hands of erstwhile colonialists.
This might be the number one reason why those who take on its leadership ride on political aggrandizement, avarice and opulence long in power, dwelling on what remains their pinnacles in fortitude of monarchism.
What then can Africa do?
This is time for Africa to talk more about thorny environmental issues like global warming which result in depletion of the ozone layer, this as result of depleting substances like chloro-floro-carbons and methane.
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It is a fact buttressed by activities on the ground that Africa is more affected by climate change as compared to the rest of the world.
This fact leaves Africa disadvantaged and prone to hunger, starvation in families and famine as a region.
Africa must bore its head to look at environmental issues more on climate and its change, be resilient against global warming and put across discussions of water on the ground. Africa must take strong focus on Environmental sustainability in water resources management.
The conceptual framework must be part of the African-Union to discuss first come challenging issues rather than looking still at political bloody thirst issues mounting debilitating challenges at hand.
Sadc and other regional organizations try to address water resources management, but the resonating issue ascends as political talks take centre stage.
This is manifested by high level meetings where presidium, ministerial and parliamentary sessions take almost ¾ of time strategizing on their next election, how to over-throw and conquer opposition and making more effort and turn-out for politburo meetings. Such scenarios are common in Zimbabwean politics. Under such incidents ministers tasked for water meetings are found absent.
Most of their absenteeism is caused by emergent politburos. Such is an example of what African countries are like.
Despite ground-breaking water programmes shelved on ground, like the April 15 Zamco and FAO [UN] memorandum of understanding on water resources management on the Zambezi valley and the agreement that established the Limpopo Watercourse Commission [LIMCOM] many African cities feel the brunt of water challenges.
International organisations memorandums of understanding on Water resources are vital tools in the day-to-day management of water resources during climate-change.
Water resources management on the Zambezi Water-Course Region remains vital in the achievement of goals like those of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 2 on Zero-Hunger.
It is therefore crucial for African countries to divert bouquet of resources towards promoting water resources management to win on certain goals.
Some important goals are goal Number 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation and Goal 13 on Climate Action.
The April 15 memorandum of agreement is a partnership to foster resilience and sustainable development within the Zambezi Water-Course region.
The memorandum addresses climate change, water management and food security.
The Zamcom strategic plan for watercourse 2018 to 2040 is a program for integrated development and adaptation to climate change in the Zambezi River basin [PIDACC].
The Zambezi River Investment Plan according to Patrice Talla, FAO sub-regional co-ordinator for Southern Africa, is meant to address pressing challenges, promote sustainable development for well-being of communities in the Zambezi River basin.
The well-being of communities is centered on proper water management for food security and nutrition.
These are innovative and inclusive activities meant to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Zamcom executive secretary Felix Ngamlagos sees this as a positive drive towards building resilience against climate change.
Water management plans for communities enhance resilience of communities and institutions against shocks of climate change.
This, in the long run, builds strong and vibrant communities learning, capacitated and driven by institutions to be resilient against climate change shocks in communities.
The move is a weapon to reduce vulnerability in already poverty impacted communities.
Improving integrated data and information for water and related resources management is pretty enough to educate communities, bringing awareness, sensitisation and advocacy on water resources management.
The support for infrastructure for sustainable agriculture production and climate change adaptation is a move which calls for the management of ground and under-ground water management, tapping water from underground, harvesting rainwater in summer and preservation and conservation of water reservoirs in rural areas.
The promotion of land management integration is a brilliant step taken towards good management of water and natural resources to enhance food security in Africa.
There is a broad scope on the development of projects along the main rivers of Africa.
This can be a poverty amelioration giant step towards aggressive utilization of water resources for the well-being of domestic uses, industrial supply for manufacturing, electricity generation, consumption, drinking, laundry, Agricultural schemes development through irrigation and water for several sectors ranging from mining , industry , tourism and others .
The Sadc Protocol on Share Watercourses of 2000 seeks to foster close and coordinated co-operation in the management, protection and utilization of shared water courses.
In March amid celebrations of World Water Day our ministers responsible for water from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe signed an amendment to the 2003 agreement which brings co-operation in the unison to manage the water basin in the region.
Effective management of the river basin may one day see the brilliant and refulgent light if the Limpopo River is utilized for several generations ranging from HEP, hydro-electrical power, joint projects of community co-operation on irrigation of cereals, horticulture and animal husbandry along the river basin.
Beitbridge, part of region 5 and 6 is dry, arid and un-productive. It is intelligent enough to plan animal husbandry projects to keep animals beneficial to the country.
AU must pay more attention on vital contemporary issues rather than politics.
African countries have a path of liberation struggle, a retrospect and mind- boggling political vestige which resides in their heritage archives.
Politics has long back in political history played a part.
In introspective glee of vision, the continent must pay attention to immediate challenges like climate change, food security and nutrition, ending poverty and hunger, starvation in families and famine.
The African Union has come of age to settle off down the drain issues which cause suffering.
There is no Economic Democracy close to half of its journey looking at Africa’s ladder for social and economic growth.
Economic emancipation is felt in plutocratic societies of the continent.
In fact, the African majority live on less than a dollar a day, a financial definition of poverty of the UN in connotative terms.
A lot of disturbing incidents relating to corruption, money laundering, capital flight, nepotism, mismanagement of financial and natural resources and political avarice takes to risk those in penury and vulnerability in the African continent.
*Nevson Mpofu is a lecturer of community development, published writer and practicing journalist. Contact him on nmnevsonmpofu755@gmail.com
These weekly articles are coordinated by Lovemore Kadenge, an indpendent consultant, managing consultant of Zawale Consultants (Private) Limited, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Soceity (ZES),and past president of the Chartered Governance & Accontancy Institute in Zimbabwe (CGI Zimbabwe). Email - kadenge.zes@gmail.com or Mobile No +263 772 382 85
