SADC

1. RATIFICATION OF THE LIMPOPO WATERCOURSE AGREEMENTPresented by Ms. R. Moloi – International Development CooperationMs. M. Setwaba – Legal Services

2. SADC • Shared Watercourses in Neighbouring States: • ORASECOM • LIMCOM • TPTC • JPTC • PWC with Namibia • JWC with Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique • Lesotho Highlands Water Commission • Multilateral Relations • (SADC, African Union, NEPAD)

3. Limpopo Basin

4. Member States • Botswana • Mozambique • South Africa • Zimbabwe

5. Objectives of LIMCOM • Advise the Parties and provide recommendations on the uses of the Waters of the Limpopo river; • manage aspects related to the efficient and effective collection, processing and dissemination of data and information with regard to the Limpopo; • development of water infrastructure and the major investment in infrastructure programmes such as dams; • promote regional co-operation and strengthening relationship amongst the four countries • act as an instrument to facilitate the sharing of benefits amongst the four countries. • Institutionalisation of cooperation in the integrated management of shared watercourses. • Promotion of stakeholder participation in decision-making.

6. Anticipated Benefits • The Joint Limpopo Basin Study, a water resource assessment study of the whole basin. • Provision of advise to Parties on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) • Interfacing with other bilateral structures dealing with the basin like the Joint Permanent Technical Committee (JPTC) between South Africa and Botswana • An instrument of leveraging Official Development Assistance (ODA) into the Limpopo Basin

7. Secretariat It is envisaged that LIMCOM will establish a Secretariat consisting of 4 officials: i.e.: • Executive Secretariat • Financial Officer • Technical Officer • Administrative Assistant The Secretariat will provide secretarial support to the Commission and will manage projects on behalf of the Commission.

8. Envisaged Projects Initially the projects will focus on water resource assessment and the development of a basin plan for the Limpopo. The management plan will address issues like water sharing, flood management, drought management and pollution incidents. The focus may change later to the development of joint water resource development projects.

9. Funding It is envisaged that the 4 member states will be responsible to fund the cost of the Secretariat, but that significant financial resources from donors will be made available to finance the projects of the Commission. • Donor Funding • German Government to fund 1st Phase of the Limpopo Basin Study

10. Commissioners The following officials represent DWAF on the Commission: - Mr. R. Tekateka – Member / Leader Mr. S. Mbedzi – Member Mr. F. Ngoatje – Member (Resigned)

11. Current Plans South Africa • Proposed Phase II of the Olifants River Water Resource Development Project (De Hoop Dam) Mozambique • Rehabilitation of Massingir Dam in Mozambique • Proposed establishment of a flow measuring stations on the Olifants River upstream of Massingir Dam • Construction of Mapai Dam

12. Current Plans Botswana • Proposed Dikgatlhong Dam in the Lowe Shashe River Development in Botswana • Proposed Lotsane Dam in the Lotsane River • Proposed Thuni Dam in the Thuni River • Ntimbale Dam on the Tati River Zimbabwe • No planned measures in the Limpopo.

13. Other Projects • GEF Projects on Protection and Strategic Use of Groundwater in the Drought Prone Areas of the SADC Region: Ground Water Analysis of the Limpopo • UN HABITAT Project Sustainable Land Use Planning for Integrated Land and Water Management for Disaster Preparedness and Vulnerability Reduction in the Lower Limpopo River Basin • IUCN Project on Environmental Flows in the Limpopo