Maputo, 3 Aug (AIM) – The governments of Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi have signed an agreement aimed at establishing the Ruvuma River Basin Commission, which will be responsible for managing water resources shared by the three countries.
The agreement, which symbolizes the ongoing regional commitment to integrated, equitable, and sustainable governance of transboundary waters, was formalized during a ministerial meeting held last week in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
According to Plácido Pereira, Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado, the creation of the Commission reflects the political will of our states to make water an instrument of regional integration, peace, sustainable development, and shared prosperity for the communities living along the Ruvuma Basin.
He explained that during the period in which Mozambique led the process, significant progress was made in consolidating institutional coordination mechanisms among the three countries.
“Key achievements include enhanced sharing of hydrological and environmental data; the development of joint systems for water quality monitoring and early warning for droughts and floods; and the definition of strategies to mobilize financial resources for implementing major projects within the river basin”, he said.
In officially handing over leadership to Tanzania, Mozambique expressed confidence that the new chairmanship would continue implementing the Ruvuma Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy, thereby strengthening multi-sectoral cooperation, climate change adaptation, and the Commission’s institutional capacity.
The meeting brought together high-level officials from the three countries, including the Minister of Water of Tanzania, Jumaa Aweso; Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary, Mwajuma Waziri; Malawi’s Permanent Secretary, Faidess Mwale; and Cabo Delgado Governor, Valige Tauabo.
Also participating were representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the German government, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wetlands International, and various international cooperation partners.
The partners reiterated their commitment to providing technical and financial support for the operationalization of the new Commission, recognizing that the joint management of the Rovuma Basin serves as a strategic tool to strengthen water security, drive sustainable development, and enhance community resilience against the impacts of climate change.
At the close of the meeting, Mozambique reaffirmed its commitment to continued close cooperation with Tanzania and Malawi, asserting that the newly established Rovuma River Basin Commission could become a regional benchmark for water governance, integration, and cooperation within the SADC region.
(AIM)
Am/
