INMACOM and KOBWA Sign MoU

13 February 2025. Mbabane, Eswatini.

The Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission’s Interim Executive Secretary, Mr. Spencer Green-Thompson was joined by the Komati Basin Water Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Trevor Shongwe in a momentous occasion where the two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The signing of the MoU will enhance water resource management and sustainability across the Incomati basin, impacting sub catchments across South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. The Incomati basin faces a number of challenges including rapid population and economic growth, climate change, over abstraction and an ever-increasing demand for water. There is an opportunity for closer collaboration in addressing these challenges to achieve sustainable use of the resources.

The MoU has five key objectives, which are:

(i) Shared projects: collaborative initiatives that leverage both institutions’ strengths to enhance water security.

(ii) Skills development: knowledge exchange through training programs and capacity buildings.

(iii) Resource mobilization: identifying funding opportunities and forging new partnerships to support joint projects

(iv) Improved sustainability: developing water management strategies that prioritize conservation and efficient use of resources

(v) Climate adaptation: assessing the effects of climate change on water availability and implementing measures to mitigate risks.

In their remarks, the CEO and the IES highlighted that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) encourages the transboundary management of water resources. There are better prospects of getting the required resources for implementing various technical assignments when water management institutions like River Basin Organizations like INMACOM and KOBWA work together. The two entities are particularly keen to focus on climate change and sustainable livelihood issues. There are some ongoing discussions, which the signing of the MoU should enhance.