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Flowing forward

Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission launched

By IW:LEARN

August 22^nd, 2023

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Secretariat congratulated the governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the successful signing and launching of the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission (BUPUSACOM) on 17 May 2023 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The first tri-basin institution in the region will have oversight on the planning, development, and management of the water resources within the BUPUSA River Basins, exclusively shared by Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

“The SADC Secretariat views transboundary water management cooperation as a critical element in all forms of sustainable development and welcomes the BUPUSACOM to the family of shared watercourse institutions in the region."

-Dr. Patrice Kabeya, Senior Programme Officer, Water in the SADC Secretariat

Hon. Cecilia Chamutota, Deputy Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources - Mozambique, reiterated the strategic importance of the BUPUSA basins to Mozambique.

“The Chicamba Hydroelectric Dam, the Mavuzi, Muda Nhaurire, Gorongosa, Chitundo, and the Mavonde Dams were built along the BUPUSA Basins,” said Hon. Chamutota. “The dams are vital for the economic development of Mozambique, due to their contribution to water supply to the population, agricultural production, industry, electricity generation, and environmental preservation”.

The launch of the Commission was likewise commended by the Government of Zimbabwe, which committed to support the realization of the Commission roadmap. Hon. Davis Mharapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development – Zimbabwe said, “As stipulated in the BUPUSA Hosting and Establishment Agreements, the Zimbabwean Government is committed to supporting the Commission in its work within the basins”.

Recognizing the need for joint management and development of shared watercourses, the SADC Secretariat developed and adopted instruments, including the Revised SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses (2000), the Regional Water Policy (2005), and the Regional Water Strategy (2006).

Hon. Davis Mharapira addressing participants during the BUPUSACOM launching. Photo: IUCN - GWP

Further, in line with the SADC Protocol, the Governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe established a Joint Water commission (JWC) in 2002. The JWC, the cooperative instrument between the riparian states, acts as a technical advisor to the parties on all technical matters relating to the development and utilization of water resources of common interest. In parallel to the technical work, the JWC made remarkable progress on negotiations and elaboration of the transboundary Agreements leading to the establishment of the Commission.

Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) supported the finalization of the negotiation process that led to the signing of the Buzi agreements through the Buzi, Pungwe, Save Tri-Basin Project. This is under the SADC-GIZ Transboundary Water Management in SADC (GIZ-TWM) Programme –implemented on behalf of the SADC Secretariat. Support has also been provided during the last phase of the negotiations for the Save Water Sharing Agreement and the BUPUSA Establishment and Hosting Agreements as part of the deliverables of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Funded USD 6 million project. This is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with GWPSA as the regional executing Partner supporting the two governments.

The four-year project focuses on strengthening water-related risk management through the reinforcement of monitoring, and enhancing ecosystem services through quantitative water management, including operationalization of environmental flows.

“Through the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme, GWPSA commits to support the Commission’s resource mobilization efforts and development of the BUPUSA Water Investment Programme, which will include and align with the basins’ SAP,” said Mr. Alex Simalabwi, Executive Secretary of GWPSA.

Since 2012, IUCN has been working together with other partners and has been supporting the governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and their water management agencies in the river basins and this support continues until 2025.

“IUCN feels honored to be here especially at this point, as we have been part of the journey in supporting water cooperation in BUPUSA,” said Mr. Mauricio Xerinda, Country Representative, IUCN-Mozambique.

“We pledge continuation of our support to the commission beyond the tenure of the programme in the basins."

The launch of the Commission coincides with the launch of the Commission’s website which will be used to communicate developments within the 3 basins and progress on the implementation of any projects within the basins.

The BUPUSA Tri-Basin consists of the following shared river basins: the Buzi River Basin; the Pungwe River Basin, and the Save River Basin. The Buzi River originates in the Eastern Highlands on the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe and flows eastward through Manica and Sofala provinces of Mozambique. The Pungwe River originates in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and flows in a general easterly direction through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. The Save River runs from Zimbabwe and discharges into the Indian Ocean in Mozambique.