Water Governance in the Orange-Senqu River Basin:

Agreements

The nations of the Orange-senqu River basin are party to many regional and bilateral institutional arrangements and agreements. These institutional structures support the development and management of international river basins that the riparians share with neighbouring countries.

Botswana

Botswana is party to the following agreements (SADC 2003b; ORASECOM 2007b):

  • The ORASECOM Agreement with Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa (2000)
  • The Joint Permanent Technical Water Committee (JPTC) with South Africa (1987)
  • The Agreement with South Africa to transfer water from the Molatedi Dam on the Marico River, a tributary of the Limpopo, in South Africa to Gaborone in Botswana (1988).
  • The Joint Permanent Water Commission (JPWC) with Namibia to address issues related to the Kwando-Linyanti-Chobe river system (1990)
  • The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) with Angola and Namibia on the Okavango River (1994)
  • Zambezi Water Course Commission (ZAMCOM) involving Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe (2004).
  • The Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee (LBPTC) with South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (1986)

Lesotho

Lesotho is party to the following agreements (Source book 2008):

  • Exchange of Notes to Amend Article 11 (1) of the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (effective 1/1/2000)
  • The ORASECOM Agreement with Botswana, Namibia and South Africa (2000)
  • Protocol VI to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Supplementary Arrangements Regarding the System of Governance (1999)
  • Protocol V to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Supplementary Arrangements with Regard to Project Related Income Tax and Dues and Charges Levied in the Kingdom of Lesotho(1999)
  • Protocol IV to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Supplementary Arrangements(1991)
  • Protocol 3 to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Apportionment of the Liability for the Costs(1991)
  • Protocol 2 to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project SACU Study(1988).
  • Protocol 1 to the Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Royalty Manual(1988)
  • Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project with South Africa (1986).

 

Namibia

Namibia is party to the following agreements (SADC 200a;ORASECOM 2007b)

  • Terms of Reference completion/expansion of water supply memorandum with Angola(2001)
  • OKACOM Agreement with Botswana and Angola (1994)
  • Joint Technical committee with South Africa (1987)
  • Permanent Water Commission with South Africa (1992)
  • ORASECOM Agreement with Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa(2000).
  • ZAMCOM Agreement with Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique,Tanzania,Zambia and Zimbabwe (2004).

South Africa

South Africa is party to the following agreements (SADC 2003a; ORASECOM 2007b):

  • Treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project with Lesotho (1986)
  • The Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee (LBPTC) with Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (1986)
  • The Joint Permanent Technical Water Committee (JPTC) with Botswana (1987)
  • The Agreement with Botswana to transfer water from the Molatedi Dam on the Marico River, a tributary of the Limpopo, in South Africa to Gaborone in Botswana (1988).
  • The Permanent Water Commission with Namibia (1992)
  • The Development and Utilisation of the Komati River Basin (KOBWA) with Swaziland (1992)
  • Joint Water Commission with Swaziland (1992)
  • Joint Water Commission with Mozambique (1996)
  • The ORASECOM Agreement with Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana (2000)
  • Tripartite Interim Agreement on the Incomati and Maputo watercourses with Swaziland and Mozambique (2002)