Basin Closure and Issues of Scale: The Southern African Hydropolitical Complex

Abstract

Southern African countries face serious regional water scarcity constraints to economic growth and development. The water resources in the four most economically diverse countries-South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe-are approaching closure at the national level. Investigations using the concept of a Hydropolitical Complex, rather than the river basin alone, as the unit of analysis have produced a more subtle understanding of how hydrologically-constrained states are dealing with the problem. The Southern African Hydropolitical Complex (SAHPC) case suggests that where states have water constraints to future economic development options, then the incentives to seek consensual management options are high.

An overview of the content and historical context of the international freshwater agreements that South Africa has entered into with neighbouring countries

“…Limpopo, Maputo and Orange-Senqu-are approaching ''closure'', signifying that insufficient water is available for new developments if current water use patterns continue unchanged (Turton and Ashton 2008). The current situation will be aggravated if the predicted climate change impacts on the volume and frequency of rainfall and river runoff patterns are accurate (De Wit and Stankiewicz 2006).…”

A community in the Orange: the development of a multi-level water governance framework in the Orange-Senqu River basin in Southern Africa

“…The nature of co-operative arrangements reflects a shift in focus from bilateral arrangements to the creation of joint water commissions with multilateral basin-wide agreements being established in all SADC basins with a significant level of development Turton and Ashton 2008). The wide range of bilateral and basin-wide agreements signed by SADC members and their accession to important international agreements suggest that states in the region have committed themselves to strengthening inter-state co-operation and reducing the potential for disputes Turton and Ashton 2008). The role of water has been pivotal to such co-operative initiatives and to facilitating regional integration efforts.…”

Africa’s game changers and the catalysts of social and system innovation

“…Structural transformation driven by resource rents generated by the commodity boom will depend on investment in water resources and strong institutional arrangements for managing transboundary river basins. Africa will face mounting socio-political conflicts over access to and quality of water resources if these systems are further degraded (Collins 1990, Turton andAshton 2008). Accelerated economic growth, re-emerging industrial production, rapid rates of urbanization, and climate change are putting increasing pressure on water resources.…”