Value water - Minister Mabuza
MAGUGA – Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza has urged communities to value water because it plays an essential part in people’s livelihood.
0abu]a was joined by stakeholders and residents of 0aguga and surrounding areas in the commemoration of the :orld :ater 'ay at 0aguga 'am on :ednesday.$lso among the policymakers were 0otshane 03 5obert 0agongo as well as &hief Lodlakama of 1gi namadvolo and &hief 0abaleka 0ncina of Luvinjelweni. They first took part in a march and then toured 0aguga 'am. 0abu]a said he was proud to be a part of the important event as part of the ongoing celebrations taking place across the world. ³Today we take time as individuals, water users, communities and representatives of water institutions to reflect on the importance of water in our lives.
Gathered
:e are gathered to appreciate the value of water and its important role in the activities from which we derive our livelihoods and sustenance. ³This day is also giving us an opportunity to intentionally look into our water situation and then determine new ways and approaches on how to improve issues on water supply, water management and on how to live with the impacts of climate change,´ he said. The minister said it was on 'ecember , , that the 8nited 1ations 81 *eneral $ssembly adopted a res olution that 0arch of each year be declared :orld :ater 'ay. +e said the commemoration of the day was meant to draw attention to issues of water and that the celebration was to be centred on a specific theme that is the focus for discussion in that particular year.
This year, the theme of the :orld :ater 'ay is µ$ccelerating change to solve water and sanitation crisis¶.
³,n line with the theme, , would like to chal lenge all of us gathered here to take time and determine what are the possible changes that we may need to make, individually and as a collective, in order to solve our water and sanitation crisis. The theme encourages us to be involved in the water space to think and act differently, to be creative, to change approaches and develop new strategies in order to get solutions,´ he said.
Challenges faced in the water sector:
Water is increasingly becoming scarce. Our ● river systems have become water stressed, having more water demands than the available resource for allocation and utilisation. The flows in our big rivers are gradually reducing and water springs and smaller tributaries which were the source of water supply for communities are drying up.
Water shortages have become a sad reality in some areas in the country. There is an increase in water demand from various competing uses which surpasses the available water resources in most of the country’s rivers.
Rainfall patterns have changed over the ● years becoming more erratic, unevenly distributed and even more unpredictable.
There is now an increased frequency of ● floods and droughts where the country is either in a flood situation or in drought or coming out of either one of the two extreme events.
These extreme climatic events have many negative repercussions on the economy and agricultural productivity, thereby affecting the livelihoods of the people in this country.
There is inadequate water supply coverage ● and access to safe water for emaSwati. The water access figures fall far too short of the target of 100 per cent coverage by 2022 as was envisioned by the Government of Eswatini. Also, the new target of 100 per cent coverage by 2030 as given by the sustainable development goal number six still requires more effort and investment from the government and the water sanitation and hygiene partners in order for it to become a reality in Eswatini.