Navigating the Hydropolitics of the Zambezi River Basin

Justin Baker

Transboundary Waters

Spring 2012

Why is the Zambezi important?

• Basin at Risk• Historical Context –

colonialism/independence• Poverty– Climate variability and vulnerability– Population Pressure– Food Security– Natural Disasters

• Mining

Navigation through Presentation

Physical and Human Aspects of Basin

Historical Context -> ‘Hydropolitics’

International Management

Future Developments?

Discussion Questions

The Zambezi Basin

Hydrography

• Arid to Semi-arid (600 to 1200 mm annual rainfall)• Runoff of 7070 cmps into Indian Ocean (Amazon 175 000)• Natural, cyclical flooding• Lake Malawi• Two very large Dams – Kariba/Cahora Bassa

Climate Change and Variability

• Hotter, drier summers and winters• Drought is most crucial natural disaster in the basin -

>affects power production, agriculture• More variable river flow -> more uncertainty

People and Places

Angola$820018.2%1.8%

Namibia$69001.2%0.4%

Botswana$140002.8%0.1%

Zimbabwe$50016.0%25.4%

Mozambique$100011.4%8.7%

Zambia$150040.7%25.3%

Tanzania$14002.0%4.1%

Malawi$8007.7%34.3%

% Basin Area% Basin Population

People and Places

• Rural Poverty - 70% of basin• Population Pressure – 2.9% annual growth• Subsistence Agriculture – Rain fed, mostly maize• Poor agricultural practices -> Land degradation• Wildlife/Scenery -> Tourism• Mining

Hydropolitics• Colonial Politics• Geography• Treaties• Infrastructure

• Separate Management • South Africa• Apartheid • SADC• Regional power center

• Electrical Power • Interconnected grid• SA power requirements• Mining

A Tale of Two Dams

Kariba Dam• Completed under Federation of Rhodesia

and Nyasaland in 1959• Managed by ZRA• Hydropower -> Joint project• Displacement of people• Dispute over past debt

(Rhodesia/Zambia)

Cahora Bassa Dam• Completed in 1974 by Portuguese• Guaranteed Power to South Africa• Majority stake Portuguese until

recently• Dispute over past debt• Poor environmental planning

International Agreements

1. ZACPLAN– Established by SADC in 1987 with help of UNEP– 19 ambitious ‘projects’– Largely unsuccessful

2. Zambezi River Authority

3. ZAMCOM

Zambezi River Authority

“To be the premier organ for harnessing and managing the Zambezi waters for economic and social development”

• Founded in 1987 out of CAPCO• Zimbabwe/Zambia• Kariba Dam• Some success – information sharing,

cooperation between states• Limited Mission

ZAMCOM

• Zambezi Watercourse Commission• Signed in July 2004• Only ratified by 6 of 8 countries in 2011• Neither signed nor ratified by Zambia• Success is hard to judge, but framework is positive• Must incorporate more stakeholder input, avoid becoming an

ineffective bureaucracy• Can engage outside help (World Bank, UNEP, etc)

From the 2004 Agreement:“A Member State planning any programme, project or activity with regard to the Zambezi

Watercourse or which may adversely affect the Watercourse or any other Member State shall forthwith notify the Secretariat thereof and provide the Commission with all available data and information with regard thereto.”

Future Development?

• Proposals:– Pipelines (Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa)– New Dams/HEP Projects

• 30 sites• Hydroelectric power (Eskom, South Africa)• Environmental Impacts

• Funding?• How many projects can be sustained? (Victoria Falls)

Questions

1) What is the role of bilateral agreements in river basins such as the Zambezi? Should they be integrated into a basin-wide agreement, run alongside such an agreement, or neither?

2) The Zambezi Watercourse Commission, ZAMCOM, took over two decades to finalize. Is it best to have a thorough, best-case treaty after 30 years or a less effective treaty immediately? How does the aspect of time play into river basin management?

3) In a region characterized by poverty and other more important priorities, how can international water management be emphasized? Are there solutions that can work towards both ends (i.e. poverty alleviation and water management)?

4) In a region characterized by different - and often competing - interests, is a ‘carrot’ or ‘stick’ approach more appropriate?

Questions

Selected References

• Chenje, M. (2003). Hydropolitics and the quest of the Zambezi River-Basin Organization. In M. Nakayama, International Waters in Southern Africa (pp. 189-208). Tokyo: United Nations University Press.

• Mutembwa, A. (1998). Water and the Potential for Resource Conflicts in Southern Africa. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, Global Security Fellows Initiative.

• Tumbare, M. J. (2004). The Zambezi River: Its Threats and Opportunities. Brisbane, Australia: 7th River Symposium.