Limpopo River: Steps towards sustainable and integrated water resources management

This paper discusses the pattern of past developments in the Limpopo River basin which is shared by Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe and the prospects of future development potential. Water use is mainly for irrigation, urban supply and mining. In the past, each country exploited its resources at will, whereas at present, collaboration with other co-basin states is a requirement. This cooperation has resulted in joint studies; the scope and findings of two such studies are discussed in this paper. From these studies, the need for the improvement of the hydrological monitoring network has emerged as a priority. A stronger institutional cooperation and the implementation of new water legislation in each country are expected to favour a sustainable and integrated development of the Limpopo River basin.