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WWF and ZACCI Partner for Water Security

Posted on 27 February 2020

Water means business

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote water stewardship amongst businesses and communities that depend on the lower Kafue sub-basin, which is the stretch of the Kafue River between Itezhi tezhi dam and the Kafue gorge.

The MOU commits the two organizations to joint planning, execution and monitoring of activities aimed at addressing water security and climate risks. Furthermore, the organizations have committed to promoting business sector and political will to attain water security, and jointly monitor commitments made by corporations on a regular basis, while providing implementation guidance.

“This partnership could not have come at a better time when the country is facing challenges of climate change”, said Mr Laurian Haangala, ZACCI Vice President, at the MoU signing held in Lusaka. “I know that water security is a critical issue to each and every company in this country, no matter the sector, whether production, operations, supply chains, or health of the employees and customers or investments”.

Speaking at the same event on behalf of the Country Director, Nachilala Nkombo, WWF Freshwater Team Leader Dr. Loreen Katiyo emphasized the need for businesses to understand that nature is their first factory and when the environment is not healthy, the bottom line suffers. Further, business needs to engage in water management beyond their fence line because only collective action will help us achieve development goals. “The world of business can no longer ignore the threats to the river catchments, which they so heavily depend on”, said Dr Loreen Katiyo, WWF Freshwater Programme Team Leader at the MoU signing ceremony. “Effective management of water through a shared investment amongst businesses, governments, civil society and communities is required. For businesses, there should be greater interest and action in the way water resources are managed”.

With the country facing challenges of climate change, which is threatening the survival and sustainability of businesses and communities, the role of water in climate change resilience cannot be overlooked. There needs to be proactive management of water resources involving all actors in river catchments, making responsible stewards of all. This partnership is meant to mobilize private sector to take leadership in addressing threats to water security faced by players in the lower Kafue sub-basin and the greater Zambezi basin, thereby creating a more predictable and conducive environment for businesses and communities that depend on this water to thrive and be sustainable -thereby securing the whole nation.

WWF staff and ZACCI members pose for a picture after signing a memorandum of understanding.