Zimbabwe National Water Policy.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management is the lead coordinating institution for the water and sanitation (WASH) sector in the country. Its vision is to ensure the availability of good quality and affordable water in adequate quantity for all at all times. The mission is to develop and manage a sustainable water resources sector for the country. The Ministry mandate aims to: develop policies to guide the orderly and integrated planning of the optimum development, utilization and protection of the country’s water resources in the national interest; ensure the availability of water to all citizens for primary purposes and to meet needs of aquatic and associated ecosystems particularly when there are competing demands for water; design construct and maintain medium to large size dams and water supplies to satisfy present and future water requirements; develop sustainable groundwater resources; provide raw and/or treated water to growth points, rural service centres and urban areas in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development; manage and Administer the Water Fund through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority; participate in the development and implementation of SADC and other regional and international organizations’ water resources management frameworks (pag. 4).
The overall goal of the Water Sector is to achieve sustainable use of water resources that in turn will improve: 1) Equity in access to freshwater by all Zimbabweans; 2) The efficient use of water among competing uses; 3) Provision of affordable and sustainable WASH services; 4) Environmental protection; 5) Protection of water sources, including safety of the country’s dams and groundwater; 6) Consumer and institutional viability in the water sector; 7) The economic development of the country; 8) The administration of the Water Act. Attaining these goals will restore Zimbabwe to its position as a leader in Africa with respect to the provision of water and sanitation to its population (pag. 16).
The vision for the environmental policy follows closely the national development objective of Zimbabwe. The goal of the environmental policy is: To avoid irreversible environmental processes and preserve the broad spectrum of biological diversity so as to sustain the long-term ability of natural resources to meet basic needs of people, enhance food security, reduce poverty and improve the standard of living of Zimbabweans through long-term economic growth and creation of employment (pag. 29).
This policy recognises and promotes gender equity in allocation, access and use of water as well as implementation of WASH activities (pag. 21). The Vision of the rural WASH policy in Zimbabwe is as follows: All rural Zimbabweans will have sustained access to safe and affordable water supply, sanitation services and hygiene education to improve health, livelihoods and productivity, alleviate poverty and stimulate economic growth (pag. 24). Zimbabwe’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure requires urgent rehabilitation. WSS has to be restored through a recovery strategy and expanded through a normalized strategy that derives from this NWP. Affordability of services, viability of users, transparency, accountability, commitment, decentralization of services, collaboration and coordination, equity and gender are key elements of the work ahead (pag. 31).
Climate change has increased chances of natural hazards occurring. Water related disasters account for about 90% of all disasters triggered by natural hazards. Water hazards may be a natural part of our earth system, but the disasters that sometimes arise from them should be recognized as strongly interlinked with human vulnerabilities, and are frequently of humanity’s own making. Some common water related hazards in Zimbabwe include drought, floods, cyclones, water borne disease outbreaks, pollution or contamination of water and deforestation and environmental degradation (pag. 5). Because of the critical importance of collaboration and coordination during both the recovery phase and the normalised development phase, the NAC will ensure adequate collaboration and coordination at all levels on all issues concerning WSS, including hygiene, disaster risk reduction and water related emergency response (pag. 22).
The overall goal of the Water Sector is to achieve sustainable use of water resources that in turn will improve: 1) Equity in access to freshwater by all Zimbabweans; 2) The efficient use of water among competing uses; 3) Provision of affordable and sustainable WASH services; 4) Environmental protection; 5) Protection of water sources, including safety of the country’s dams and groundwater; 6) Consumer and institutional viability in the water sector; 7) The economic development of the country; 8) The administration of the Water Act. Attaining these goals will restore Zimbabwe to its position as a leader in Africa with respect to the provision of water and sanitation to its population (pag. 16).
The vision for the environmental policy follows closely the national development objective of Zimbabwe. The goal of the environmental policy is: To avoid irreversible environmental processes and preserve the broad spectrum of biological diversity so as to sustain the long-term ability of natural resources to meet basic needs of people, enhance food security, reduce poverty and improve the standard of living of Zimbabweans through long-term economic growth and creation of employment (pag. 29).
This policy recognises and promotes gender equity in allocation, access and use of water as well as implementation of WASH activities (pag. 21). The Vision of the rural WASH policy in Zimbabwe is as follows: All rural Zimbabweans will have sustained access to safe and affordable water supply, sanitation services and hygiene education to improve health, livelihoods and productivity, alleviate poverty and stimulate economic growth (pag. 24). Zimbabwe’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure requires urgent rehabilitation. WSS has to be restored through a recovery strategy and expanded through a normalized strategy that derives from this NWP. Affordability of services, viability of users, transparency, accountability, commitment, decentralization of services, collaboration and coordination, equity and gender are key elements of the work ahead (pag. 31).
Climate change has increased chances of natural hazards occurring. Water related disasters account for about 90% of all disasters triggered by natural hazards. Water hazards may be a natural part of our earth system, but the disasters that sometimes arise from them should be recognized as strongly interlinked with human vulnerabilities, and are frequently of humanity’s own making. Some common water related hazards in Zimbabwe include drought, floods, cyclones, water borne disease outbreaks, pollution or contamination of water and deforestation and environmental degradation (pag. 5). Because of the critical importance of collaboration and coordination during both the recovery phase and the normalised development phase, the NAC will ensure adequate collaboration and coordination at all levels on all issues concerning WSS, including hygiene, disaster risk reduction and water related emergency response (pag. 22).
Attached files
Web site
Date of text
Repealed
No
Publication reference
Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management.
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No