International Waters in Southern Africa

Due to the large disparity in the availability of water between the wet northern region and the drier south parts of Southern Africa, water management has become an issue of critical importance to that region. The first transboundary transfer of water was between Lesotho and South Africa. Despite that accomplishment there have been many difficulties in establishing a basin wide management scheme for the Zambezi river system and in developing a related plan of action, primarily as a result of political complexities. This publication examines both the risks and opportunities for water management in Southern Africa.

Mikiyasu Nakayama is Associate Dean and Professor of the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan