Regional integration in southern Africa is premised on various socio-economic sectors such as energy, water, information technology communication, transport, tourism and meteorology, underpinned by peace and security.
As the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prepares for its 44th annual summit scheduled for Zimbabwe on 17 August, this article looks at one of the sectors - water - and unpacks the central role of investing in water infrastructure to drive the regional industrialization agenda.
Industrialization has been identified as a top priority for southern Africa, and since 2014, all SADC summits have been held under a theme on industrialization with the 44th SADC Summit adopting the theme "Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialized SADC."
This year's theme is timely, as innovation is indeed needed in the water infrastructure sector to unlock industrial development in southern Africa because water is a fundamental resource for many industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and energy production.
Furthermore, water is inextricably linked to the economy as it shapes the well-being and prosperity of communities that are the drivers of industrial development.
The region is home to at least 15 shared watercourses such as the Congo, Zambezi and the Limpopo which spans Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Water available in these watercourses is adequate to support industrial development in southern Africa including energy generation, tourism and trade.
However, infrastructural barriers prevent these water resources from reaching their full potential.
For example, the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) of 2012 notes that the region only retains about 14 percent of its available water resources, while the rest of the water goes back to the oceans.
This loss of water resources due to inefficiently deployed infrastructure means the region has limited access to its vast water resources.
In this regard, there is a need for SADC to put in place vibrant and efficient measures to develop and improve water infrastructure to ensure that the resource is fully harnessed and utilized for the benefit of its citizens.
The strategies could include the construction of dams to improve water storage. Dams are also critical in the generation of hydropower and cooling of thermal power stations.
Similarly, water can be used in irrigation for food production, while in manufacturing, water is essential for processes such as cooling as well as cleaning raw materials.
In fact, the development of water infrastructure in the region needs to be multi-purpose, and planned alongside other sectors such as agriculture, energy, and urban development to achieve the best outcomes.
Another important strategy in water development is to rehabilitate some of the aging water infrastructure in the region.
It is also critical to note that the major watercourses in SADC are shared by more than one country, so the region and individual Member States must adopt a regional approach in their water infrastructure development rather than an inward-looking approach.
For example, the construction of water infrastructure such as dams should not only aim to meet national needs but rather to resolve a regional challenge.
Furthermore, there must be a mechanism for the region to transfer water from the water-rich countries or basins to the water-stressed parts of the region to ensure a balanced industrial development.
One success story of transferring water from water-rich basins to water-scarce parts is the Kunene Water Supply Project, which provides water to dry areas in northern Namibia and southern Angola.
Another remedy to the water and energy challenge is the strengthening of inter-sectoral coordination.
For example, the management of water development in the region should not undermine energy supply or vice versa, because action in one area impacts on the other.
Therefore, as SADC Heads of State and Government meet in Harare for the 44th annual summit, water infrastructure development is likely to dominate the discussion since water is inextricably linked to the economy of the region.
Investment in water infrastructure will enhance productivity, stimulate economic growth, promote environmental sustainability, and improve public health.
Improved water infrastructure will also help to double the land that is under irrigation in the region, as well as halve the proportion of people without access to drinking water and proper sanitation.
Ultimately, by prioritizing water infrastructure, SADC will be able to create a solid foundation for sustainable industrial growth and long-term prosperity.
A vibrant water sector in SADC will ensure that water is used as a tool for peace and security, thereby allowing the people of the region to fully enjoy the benefits of belonging to a shared community in southern Africa.
Southern African News Features offers a reliable source of regional information and analysis on the Southern African Development Community, and is provided as a service to the SADC region.
Source: Southern Africa Research and Documentation Centre
Figures from AHL Tobacco Sales show that as of last week, shows that Malawi has realized a total of $395.31 million from 132.8 million kilogrammes (kg) of tobacco at an average price of $2.95. Cumulatively, tobacco earnings are 40 percent higher than the $282.6 million realized during the 2023 selling season.
With Malawi requiring $250 million a month for its import needs, this year's earnings could be enough to keep the economy running for just over one-and-a-half months.
Tama Farmers Trust President Abiel Kalima Banda described this year's tobacco marketing season as successful.
Kalima Banda said tobacco growers saw better prices on the auction floors, something they had not experienced in the past five to six years.
This would motivate tobacco farmers to stick with the crop, despite the threats it faces, especially in the absence of suitable replacements.
Kalima Banda, however, bemoaned the delays in remittances of proceeds by buyers to growers. Meanwhile, TC says it has so far licensed 60.2 million kg of tobacco for the next growing season, almost triple the volumes licensed at the same time last year. As of August 2, last year, the TC had licensed 21.7 million kg.
TC Public Relations Officer Telephorus Chigwenembe said that, in terms of the number of licenses, TC had issued 12,778 as of Friday compared to 4,913 licenses by August 2 last year.
"The commission is impressed with the progress of the grower registration and licensing exercise, as the data show there is growing interest in the production of the crop in the 2024-25 farming season.
"TC believes the good prices offered to growers in the recently ended selling season have motivated many people to turn to tobacco or to increase their production volumes this year," he said.
TC aims to increase annual tobacco production in the country to 200 million kg by 2028.
In recent years, Malawi has struggled to meet trade demand for its tobacco.
"In the 2023-24 farming and selling season, the trade demand for Malawi tobacco was 190 million kilogrammes. However, under 140 million kilogrammes were sold.
"Looking at the trends, the commission is convinced that there is a significant market opportunity that Malawi must seize," Chigwenembe said.
In late 2023, Malawi took a significant step forward in its tobacco control measures by ratifying the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international treaty designed to address the severe public health risks associated with tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
A key aspect of implementing the FCTC is working with tobacco farmers on crop replacement and diversification, which also offers long-term economic, agricultural and health benefits.
In the meantime, implementation is in its infancy, with farmers hoping they will soon be able to divest themselves from the crop in favour of others.
Source: Nyasatimes
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor, Dr. Wilson Banda, says Malawi has about K2 trillion in pension funds that are readily available to be invested for infrastructural development and to transform the country.
Banda said this today in the commercial city during the launch of the Trustee Development Program, which aims to build the capacity of pension fund trustees for improved pension fund management.
"There is a lot of money that is currently sitting in pension funds--about K2 trillion. If you took that money and invested it in infrastructure development, it would make a lot of difference," said the RBM Governor.
He further stated that Malawi cannot only rely on foreign borrowing, which comes with risks like currency conversion, adding that it is better to use domestically generated resources like those in pension funds.
Taking his turn, consultant from Kenya College of Insurance, Dr. Ben Kajwang, indicated that most of the pension funds in the country are invested in Treasury bills and bonds, which are short-term in nature, saying even developed countries use pension funds for infrastructure
A Local Agro — processing company has joined the continent's trendsetters in technological innovations after introducing cutting-edge technology for processing and packaging beans for domestic and export markets.
Montgomery Processors (Monty's) managing director, Mr Liam Philp revealed this during the launch of the Horticultural Development Council's (HDC) first hub and spoke collaboration between his company and Central Association of Cooperative Union (CACU) recently.
The new technology, Tetra Recart, allows products traditionally sold in cans and bottles such as beans, vegetables and thick soups to be sterilized and stored in cartons that offer shelf stability for up to 24 months.
"Tetra Recart technology is the very first on the continent and we are very proud to be the innovators to bring it to Zimbabwe. This technology makes us competitive on prices, brings sustainability to the whole value chain, makes logistics efficient and uses less energy in recycling," said Mr Philp.
He added that the innovation allowed them to create a pull effect cascading to small-scale farmers who are poised to produce Michigan pea beans. Their strategy for the first six months is to specialise in understanding the local value chain while supplying the local market before starting exports, he added.
Mr Philp said Government was on point on the need to formalise growers' operations to build a track record leading to bankability and if this was accompanied by offtake arrangements with processors, it would create opportunities for primary producers to access funding from banks.
He said Monty's had signed the agreement with CACU to have adequate local supplies and save foreign currency from importing the product from Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa.
HDC commented that the partnership marked the beginning of an innovative out-grower scheme to support smallholder farmers.
"Through the partnership, smallholder farmers will benefit from an off-taker agreement to supply Michigan pea beans to Monty's. This cooperation is a cornerstone of the HDC's innovative hub and spoke model, which is implemented with support from the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands and designed to integrate small-scale farmers into the agriculture value chain," said the HDC statement.
By connecting CACU farmers with Monty's, the model aims to boost farmers' incomes, enhance product quality, create jobs and support sustainable agriculture, added the statement.
CACU has already initiated a pilot programme to cultivate 10 hectares of Michigan pea beans and is actively recruiting farmers for this exciting opportunity.
HDC chief executive officer, Mrs Linda Nielsen commented: "This engagement marks a significant step forward in our mission to empower smallholder farmers for inclusive growth. By providing a stable market and technical support, we are helping farmers to thrive and contribute to the nation's agricultural growth."
CACU was registered in 1972 as an agricultural and marketing supply cooperative under the Cooperative Act and its core business is to produce, sell, distribute and market agricultural inputs and produce.
CACU chief executive officer Mrs Bertha Maziva said: "Today we are happy to sign a contract to grow the high value Michigan pea beans and look forward to increasing food and nutrition security for households in the country."
Source: The Herald
A $52.3 million project approved today by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims to help Malawi cope with the devastating effects of climate change and boost the country's long-term food security.
Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the project is set to benefit nearly 575,000 vulnerable people in rural communities over six years. It will deliver urgently needed investments in adaption and resilience in Malawi, which the UN categorizes as a Least Developed Country.
The project, Ecosystems-based Adaptation for Resilient Watersheds and Communities in Malawi (EbAM), was approved by the GCF Board at its 39th meeting in Songdo, South Korea.
"This project offers a comprehensive, inclusive, and innovative approach to building climate resilience in Malawi, addressing both major environmental and socio-economic challenges in the context of climate change. We welcome the GCF Board's approval and look forward to working with our Malawi counterparts to help transform Malawi's agriculture sector through impactful, holistic ecosystem-based climate actions," said FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo. This is part of implementing FAO's strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031 and Action Plan 2022-2025.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 70 percent of its population living below the international poverty line. Its rural communities, which depend primarily on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods, are already experiencing the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events.
In 2023, acute food insecurity reported in the country was attributed to a significant decrease in the production of maize--the country's leading staple food--due to droughts and floods brought about by tropical cyclones, coupled with existing soil degradation.
Going forward, climate change is expected to continue to alter the onset of the rainy season, increase water stress, and intensify incidents of pests and diseases, making it even more difficult for smallholders to grow cash and subsistence crops. This will likely put farming communities under increased pressure to resort to unsustainable land use practices, further exacerbating land degradation.
Inclusive approach
The project aims to increase the resilience of rural communities at the watershed and farm levels, where ecosystem-based approaches and integrated sustainable water and soil management are critical to agricultural production and adaptation to climate change. It will also restore more than 83,000 hectares of communal and farmland.
Crucially, it adopts an inclusive and participatory approach that engages women, youth, and other vulnerable groups in all aspects of the project.
Local communities will be empowered to formulate village-level action plans (VLAPs) to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage landscapes through green infrastructure (such as gully plugs and check dams) and sustainable forest management and restoration. Communities involved in the project will receive native and well-adapted seeds and seedlings to promote high biodiversity, which is crucial for resilience, as well as equipment and materials such as wheelbarrows, shovels, wire, and boulders required to perform the work.
Farmer Field Schools will enable community members to acquire essential knowledge in sustainable agricultural practices that enhance resilience and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. This includes promoting agrobiodiversity, growing drought-resilient crops, and using weather information.
In addition to improving livelihoods and resilience, the project also aims to increase farmers' access to markets and financing opportunities, as well as to regional and international value chains, through the strengthening of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), the creation of public-private producer partnerships, capacity building for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and technical support to financial institutions.
"Today marks a historic moment for Malawi's agricultural sector," said Sam Dalitso Kawale, Malawi's Minister of Agriculture. "The investment will increase the resilience of our rural communities at watershed and farm level, where good water and soil management are crucial to sustainable agricultural production."