The chapter is organized as follows. First, we
relate to the historical background surrounding
the adoption of the IWRM concept, then use
content analysis of the national policy and
empirical evidence from the Turwi River Basin
to identify some of the conditions that favor the
adoption of IWRM as well as the challenges that
make it difficult to implement IWRM in the
basin. While we discuss the importance of
national policy in water resource management,
we use empirical evidence from the Tuwri Basin
to highlight the constraints militating against
IWRM at grassroots community level, where it
should matter the most. We explore how local
communities are involved in IWRM by examining the sources of water resources at grassroots
community level, how they interact with those
resources and manage them alongside other
stakeholders, including state institutions, and
finally discuss the challenges of implementing
IWRM at that level.
There are two central questions guiding the
analysis of the role of grassroots communities in
IWRM. The first is about whether grassroots
communities are the appropriate level for the
implementation of IWRM, while the second
question is about whether these communities
have the capacity to implement IWRM. These
questions can help us to distinguish what grassroots communities can do and what they cannot
do, as well as the conditions that apply to both.
Accordingly, we draw from empirical evidence
derived from focus group discussions (FDGs)
and interviews to determine if the principles and
objectives of reforming the water sector can be
met at the local level in line with the ‘principle of
subsidiarity’. Our principal aim is to test if the
objectives of IWRM that are prescribed in the
Water Act of 1998, in line with the Dublin
Principles, are achievable at that level. Is it
possible to apply the polluter pays principle at
the grassroots community level? Do local communities recognize the environment as a legitimate user of water that should be provided with
its own share of the resource? Are the Catchment
and Sub-Catchment Councils that were set up
effective and appropriate state institutions for the
successful implementation of IWRM? Which
other institutions have the legitimacy to facilitate
IWRM? How effective is the coordination of the
parastatals involved in the development, management, utilization and conservation of water
resources at the local level. Do local communities have the resources required for them to
implement IWRM? It is these questions that we
address in the remaining part of this chapter.
4.2 Historical Background of IWRM
in Southern Africa
In southern Africa, there is a growing understanding of the need to implement IWRM.
However, while governments are aware of the
possible role that IWRM could play in promoting
economic growth and social development there
are many unknowns and factors that hinder its
full adoption and hence implementation. In this
section, we first highlight the Dublin Principles
and the proceed to address factors that influence
access to water, its management and governance,
including its scarcity due to climate change.
The adoption of Agenda 21 provided the
world with the opportunity to adopt programs,
projects and strategies for implementing the four
Dublin Principles. The first of these principles
observes that freshwater is a finite and vulnerable
resource, essential for sustaining life, development and the environment. Since water resources
sustain both livelihoods and ecological systems,
its effective management demands a holistic
approach, which provides a mechanism for,
linking social and economic development with
the protection of natural ecosystems. The second
principle proclaims that water development and
management should be based on a participatory
approach, involving users, planners and policymakers at all levels. This principle suggests that
every water user from grassroots level right up to
the elites should be involved in water resources
management. According to this principle,
everybody has a stake in water resources and
should thus be involved in its management. The
third principle pronounces the importance of
allowing women to be involved in issues to do
with water. This principle is based on the reality
4 Integrated Water Resources Management in Southern Africa …
25
relate to the historical background surrounding
the adoption of the IWRM concept, then use
content analysis of the national policy and
empirical evidence from the Turwi River Basin
to identify some of the conditions that favor the
adoption of IWRM as well as the challenges that
make it difficult to implement IWRM in the
basin. While we discuss the importance of
national policy in water resource management,
we use empirical evidence from the Tuwri Basin
to highlight the constraints militating against
IWRM at grassroots community level, where it
should matter the most. We explore how local
communities are involved in IWRM by examining the sources of water resources at grassroots
community level, how they interact with those
resources and manage them alongside other
stakeholders, including state institutions, and
finally discuss the challenges of implementing
IWRM at that level.
There are two central questions guiding the
analysis of the role of grassroots communities in
IWRM. The first is about whether grassroots
communities are the appropriate level for the
implementation of IWRM, while the second
question is about whether these communities
have the capacity to implement IWRM. These
questions can help us to distinguish what grassroots communities can do and what they cannot
do, as well as the conditions that apply to both.
Accordingly, we draw from empirical evidence
derived from focus group discussions (FDGs)
and interviews to determine if the principles and
objectives of reforming the water sector can be
met at the local level in line with the ‘principle of
subsidiarity’. Our principal aim is to test if the
objectives of IWRM that are prescribed in the
Water Act of 1998, in line with the Dublin
Principles, are achievable at that level. Is it
possible to apply the polluter pays principle at
the grassroots community level? Do local communities recognize the environment as a legitimate user of water that should be provided with
its own share of the resource? Are the Catchment
and Sub-Catchment Councils that were set up
effective and appropriate state institutions for the
successful implementation of IWRM? Which
other institutions have the legitimacy to facilitate
IWRM? How effective is the coordination of the
parastatals involved in the development, management, utilization and conservation of water
resources at the local level. Do local communities have the resources required for them to
implement IWRM? It is these questions that we
address in the remaining part of this chapter.
4.2 Historical Background of IWRM
in Southern Africa
In southern Africa, there is a growing understanding of the need to implement IWRM.
However, while governments are aware of the
possible role that IWRM could play in promoting
economic growth and social development there
are many unknowns and factors that hinder its
full adoption and hence implementation. In this
section, we first highlight the Dublin Principles
and the proceed to address factors that influence
access to water, its management and governance,
including its scarcity due to climate change.
The adoption of Agenda 21 provided the
world with the opportunity to adopt programs,
projects and strategies for implementing the four
Dublin Principles. The first of these principles
observes that freshwater is a finite and vulnerable
resource, essential for sustaining life, development and the environment. Since water resources
sustain both livelihoods and ecological systems,
its effective management demands a holistic
approach, which provides a mechanism for,
linking social and economic development with
the protection of natural ecosystems. The second
principle proclaims that water development and
management should be based on a participatory
approach, involving users, planners and policymakers at all levels. This principle suggests that
every water user from grassroots level right up to
the elites should be involved in water resources
management. According to this principle,
everybody has a stake in water resources and
should thus be involved in its management. The
third principle pronounces the importance of
allowing women to be involved in issues to do
with water. This principle is based on the reality
4 Integrated Water Resources Management in Southern Africa …
25