Swaziland
in a Water Crisis: is the crisis one of absolute scarcity or just mismanagement?
22 March 2004
Swaziland is perceived to be
in the midst of a water crisis, and one of scarcity. A larger fraction
of the Swazi populace lack access to decent water supplies. Is it because
there is too little water? Could this entire crisis be a result of mismanagement
and skewed priorities? Where is our water going and how can it be better
used to provide water and food for the poor?
World Water Day 2004
Today we are celebrating the
World Water Day and the theme is "Water and Disasters." This theme is relevant
to us, and it comes at a time when the government has finally declared
the persisting drought a national disaster. Poverty, diseases especially
cholera and HIV/Aids, drought and floods have always been conspiring against
the Swazi populace. Industries have added a blow by polluting water sources
depriving communities and aquatic life, which depends, sustains life on
this vital resource.
Dams
We also note the irrelevance
of expensive large water infrastructure such as dams to the immediate needs
of the people. Dams have not gone far enough to help the country come out
of its poverty trap. 60% of the population still live below the international
poverty line and 47% lack access to safe and clean water. It seems we need
more than water conservation but also equitable access to the resource.
Diseases
We need water to curb the
spread of diseases such as cholera. Water is even much more critical for
hygiene and sanitation especially in view of the HIV and Aids pandemic.
Water is readily needed to ease the household resources expended currently
in carrying water over long distances.
The central and local governments
should be reminded of their responsibility of providing water to every
citizen even in rural areas and in urban slums where the economically disadvantaged
reside.
Water mismanagement
Among all the disasters it
seems the biggest disaster is one of water mismanagement. Basic water needs
are not given priority, as should be the case. A large proportion of our
water resources have been dammed and or channelled to sustain industries
and commercial agriculture at the expense of communities.
We call on all stakeholders
that is, civil society, private sector, farmers and government etc. to
practice proper management of water resources to sustain decent lives where
by everyone has adequate quantity and quality water. This would restore
to the poor some of the dignity they have been stripped of by poverty and
diseases.
Published in the interest of
sustainable development.
Yonge Nawe Environmental
Action Group
P.O. Box 2061
Mbabane H100
Swaziland
Tel/Fax: (+268 404 1394/ 7701)
Email: yonawe@realnet.co.sz
Website: www.yongenawe.com
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