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SADC Water News

Mozambique Prepares for Dangerous Cyclone Giovanna

Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 08:46

By Johannes Myburgh*   Drainage systems in Mozambique’s capital Maputo struggle to cope with rivers flowing into the city and high rainfall that leave streets flooded. / Johannes Myburgh/IPS MAPUTO, Feb 16 (IPS) – Over 100,000 people in Mozambique are still recovering from losing their homes and crops, and from being cut off from schools and shops after [...]

MALAWI: Cholera in a Time of Floods

Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 05:02

By Claire Ngozo Sewage from the latrines has contaminated water sources in Nsjane, including boreholes and dug-out wells thereby escalating the cholera incidents. / Claire Ngozo/IPS NSANJE, Malawi, Feb 9 (IPS) – They survived floods and witnessed the horrific scenes of their houses, livestock, household items and gardens being swept away at the end of January. [...]

ZIMBABAWE: Not Prepared for Floods Amid Conflicting Weather Forecasts

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 09:19

By Ignatius Banda The Zambezi River Authority told villagers living downstream on the Zambezi (pictured) to evacuate their homes because of possible flooding. / Zukiswa Zimela/IPS BULAWAYO, Feb 8 (IPS) – Sibongile Dube knows the devastation heavy rain can leave in its wake. A villager in the lowveld area of Mberengwa in Zimbabwe’s Midlands province, Dube’s [...]

WEST AFRICA: Water Shortage Threatens Wildlife

Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 14:31

By Brahima Ouédraogo Low rainfall is having disastrous effects on wildlife in W Regional Park, which stretches across Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger. / Nicolas Barbier/Wikicommons OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 2 (IPS) – The story of a pair of buffalo aggressively prowling the edges of a village in eastern Burkina Faso is a warning sign of severe water [...]

MAURITIUS: Thirsty for Ideas to Address Water Woes

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - 07:45

By Nasseem Ackbarally PORT LOUIS, Dec 27 (IPS) – Mauritius plans to privatise its water sector, as rains become rare, and century-old pipes continue to leak almost 50 percent of the water available, added to waste by the population, mismanagement and over-consumption. There are not enough dams to collect water in Mauritius, and most of the rainwater [...]

SWAZILAND: Processing Plant Threatens Water in Capital

Monday, December 26, 2011 - 07:17

By Mantoe Phakathi A multi-million dollar iron-ore reprocessing plant in northern Swaziland is threatening water security. / Mantoe Phakathi/IPS MBABANE, Dec 26 (IPS) – A multi-million dollar iron-ore reprocessing plant in the northern part of Swaziland, owned by Indian mining company Salgaocar, is threatening the water security of local communities and even the country’s capital city, [...]

Growing Calls for Water to be Prioritised

Monday, December 5, 2011 - 15:52

By Joshua Kyalimpa   Access to water is an urgent issue here in the Southern Africa region. / Mantoe Phakathi/IPS DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 5 (IPS) – Efforts to establish water as an agenda item in its own right in climate change negotiations are gaining momentum in Durban, South Africa. Water experts say doing this will lead to [...]

Water: A Victim of Climate Change

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - 15:43

By Busani Bafana David Lessole (left) with Phera Ramoeli, Head of Water Programmes, Infrastructure and Services at the SADC Secretariat. / Busani Bafana/IPS DURBAN, South Africa, Nov 30 (IPS) – The Southern Africa Development Community wants water to be tabled as a standalone item on climate change negotiations – describing it as too important to [...]

SOUTH AFRICA: Acid Mine Drainage Water Can Be Put to Use

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - 01:36

By Busani Bafana Water from acid mine drainage is unsuitable for human and animal consumption. / Busani Bafana/IPS KRUGERSDORP, South Africa, Nov 22 (IPS) – Toxic water from derelict gold and uranium mines has reportedly destroyed Elize Strydom's dream to be a farmer in her retirement. Polluted waste from nearby mines spews onto her 160-hectare farm outside [...]

UGANDA: Single Mothers Left Behind in Flooded Swampland

Monday, November 21, 2011 - 01:53

By Andrew Green Water stands in the roads of Bwaise after a light morning rainfall. The urban slum's drainage system is unable to handle even slight rains. / Andrew Green/IPS KAMPALA, Nov 21 (IPS) – Life in Bwaise – a slum on the outskirts of the capital of Uganda – has never been easy. But increasingly [...]