Mgcini Dlamini
THE African Union has declared that climate change is responsible for water challenges in Zimbabwe, urging nations to educate farmers on irrigation farming.
Leah Wanambwa Naess, senior policy officer, Division of environment, climate change, water and land management at the African Union Commission, said on Thursday that climate change has adversely affected agriculture and wild life in Zimbabwe.
Naess was a panelist during a virtual water, sanitation and energy conference, held under the theme ‘The impact of climate change and subsequent water crisis on Zimbabwe’s capacity utilisation’.
“Without water we cannot have basic things such as agriculture and wildlife,” she said.
“We need it to survive and for sanitation. We are even faced with Covid-19 hence we have realised that water is our first line of defence as we are required to wash our hands regularly and stay in highly hygienic areas. Essentially water is our lifeline at the moment,” added Naess.
She further noted that water shortages have exercabated human and wildlife conflict.
She said: “Natural vegetation and water sources have been immensely affected. This has resulted in an increase of human and wildlife conflicts where wild animals move from national parks towards human settlement areas in search of water”.
The senior AU official also said water shortages have affected electricity generation and industries. “Due to limited rainfall, dam water levels have drastically reduced resulting in countries which rely on hydro-generated electricity suffering power shortages,” she said.
“This has resulted in industries and various other businesses shutting down thus eliminating people’s sources of income. Some end up resorting to deforestation activities and/or mining activities which result in further land degradation.”
Naess urged nations to train farmers on irrigation farming.
“Farmers can be trained on water-saving irrigation methods. Countries with deserts can also share ideas with fellow countries in order to be able to conserve the limited amount of water that is there,” she said.
