Water Reforms In Zimbabwe Formation of Catchment Councils

CONTENTS BRIEF HISTORY OF STAKEHOLDER INSTITUTUTIONS EVOLUTION OF THE INSTITUTIONS – OLD INSTITUTIONAL SETUP – CURRENT INSTITUTIONAL SETUP – DESIRED INSTITIONAL SETUP THE ROLE OF CCs – BRIEF HISTORY – MEMBERSHIP – POWERS – FUNCTIONS CONCLUSION

BRIEF HISTORY OF STAKEHOLDER INSTITUTUTIONS Institutional reforms dates back to the 70s The Water Act of 1976 introduced Water Development Advisory Council (WDACs) based on Catchments Water Act revision of 1984 introduce Riverboards 1994 a National Steering Committee introduced to develop a WRMS

BRIEF HISTORY (cont.) Water Act Revision of 1998 Introduced – Catchment and Subcatchment Councils – abolished WDAC and River-boards 2000 Catchment institutions operationalized 2000 WRMS NSC was Disbanded (debate NSC) 2002 Association of Catchment Councils Launched Sept 2002 ZACPRO NSC Launched

EVOLUTION OF WATER INSTITUTIONS Local informal stakeholder groups (where there are few users and plenty of water) Localised formal groups that do not interact (where there are localised problems but plenty of water) Localised groups, formalised with defined structure of interaction and co-ordination (where water problems are shared by many upstream and downstream)

Old institutional Set up Institution have no relation to each other 1994 WRMS NSC 1976 WDAC 1984 Riverboards NATIONAL ( WRMS) CATCHMENT (Rivers System Plans) ICA (conservation Areas) Combined irrigation schemes Scheme specific

Current Institutional Set up Inter-linked and relate to each other CC Forum Catchment Councils (CC) Sub-Catchment Councils ZACPRO NSC National Level Catchment Level Sub-Catchment Combined SchemesScheme specific

Desired institutional Set up Technical Functions Basin Inst. ZAMCOM National Steering Com. Catchment Councils Sub Catch. Councils CS, Water User Ass. Water Utilities etc. Basin resource allocation National resource Distribution Catchment resource distribution Permit resource distribution Consumer resource distribution

Desired institutional Set up (cont.) Operational Functions Basin Inst. ZAMCOM National Steering Com. Catchment Councils Sub Catch. Councils CS, Water User Ass. Water Utilities etc. Negotiation Strategic Planning Water Budgeting & allocation Water Accounting (river) Operational

Desired Institutional (cont.) Government involvement Basin Inst. ZAMCOM National Steering Com. Catchment Councils Sub Catch. Councils CS, Water User Ass. Water Utilities etc. Gvt takes the lead Gvt participates Government observes and directs Govt observes & regulate Government regulate

Brief History of catchment Councils Water Development Advisory Councils Mazoe pilot project Mupfure Pilot Project Formation of Catchment Councils.

Water Development Advisory Councils The WDACs had a responsibility to plan water resources, on behalf of stakeholder in river systems. The WDAC were only active in the late 70s and early 80s but latter became dormant. In the 90s the institutions were found not to be serving the interests of all the water users minority of the society hence new institutions were introduced they were upgrade: RWA was upgrade to ZINWA, river boards to Sub-catchment councils and WDAC to Catchment councils. New institution have expanded roles, powers and geographic area of responsibility

Mazoe pilot project (stakeholder driven) The history of catchment and sub-catchment councils started at a workshop in Bindura 1996 an interim working group was established to form Mazoe catchment council and the sub catchment councils. At the on set this group was stakeholder driven Government official were technical a number of committees were formed as back up to the working group:

Mazoe pilot (cont.) the catchment Planning committee – water availability, – division of the sub-catchment, – preparation of catchment plans, – preparation of an allocation system etc the logistics committee – to find ways of accessing the people in the Mazoe – to decide on the logistical arrangements eg seminars and works shops.

Mazoe pilot (cont.) Public relations committee – to devise on means of interfacing with the public – making sure that people knew their role in the process The fund raising committee – to devise means of accessing funds to finance publicity material, workshops, travel costs etc. a secretariat that had – to do day to day work – to co-ordinate these committees, – provide secretarial and secretariat services.

Mazoe pilot (cont.) A number of problems were encountered – finances, logistics, talking the same language and to understand each other. – lower tears were facilitated through political structure and the lowest level was the Ward. Water User Boards: chairman was automatically a member of the sub-catchment council Sub-catchment councils: chairmen and vice chairmen were appointed to the catchment council Catchment Councils: members elected chairmen and vice The process took a period of about 1 year

Mupfure Pilot Project (gvt driven) Mupfure pilot project was borne out of documentation prepared by consultants. the project was approved by a donor hence it was fully funded, the two pilot projects stated at the same time & they inlaunched their catchment councils at about the same. The delay for Mupfure was on the documentation approval process. it gained groung on implementation because of access to finances and the process had already been prescribed.

Mupfure Pilot (cont.) The project had a manager, a chief executive and supporting staff. the strategy was to work with target groups divided on sectoral lines e.g. rural and re-settlement,urban centres etc. It did not take long to appoint members of the sub- catchment councils. However, it took a bit of time to come up with members from the resettlement and rural areas. First water user associations were formed. From were representatives to the sub-catchment councils were elected. The chairmen and vice chairmen were automatically made members of the catchment council

Formation of Catchment Councils The ZINWA Act and Water Act of 1998 were to be operational on the 1 st of January Therefore, there was pressure to establish the ZINWA board whose 4 members came the Catchment Councils the quickest way to have these people in place had to be adopt, thus the Mupfure approach was adopted country wide. by the end of 1999 seven catchment councils namely, Sanyati, Mazoe, Save, Runde, Mzingwani, Gwayi and Manyame had been formed.

Formation (cont.) The Mazoe system took a longer time to develop but at full development people were already aware of the purpose of their mission. the Mupfure method was quicker to establish but the people elected did not know what they were supposed to do, It took exactly a year for the people elected in the new CC to be in control of the situation a period equal to that spend establishing Mazoe Catchment Council. hence would like to believe the that both systems were equally good.

Catchment Council membership Rural district councils, large scale and small scale miners, large scale and small scale farmers, communal and resettlement farmers, urban local authorities and industrialists, and other government institutions

Election of Catchment Council members Members are nominated by the sub-catchment councils to be on the catchment councils The chairman and vice-chairman are elected by the these people from the group. One third is supposed to leave office and be replaced after a year. This is done to allow knowledge transfer from the old member. The catchment councils are expected to funded from a water levy fund administered by ZINWA a treasurer, elected at an annual general meeting, keeps the council’s financial record.

Functions of Catchment Councils Preparation of outline plans in conjunction with ZINWA, for its river system determine and grant water permits regulate and supervise the exercise of permit with respect to the river system supervise the performance of sub-catchment councils ensure users comply with the provisions of the Water Act

Powers of Catchment Councils Employ or discharge persons conducting it affairs Pay expenses allowances or fees to member attending meetings Defend legal proceedings on behalf of committee Pay salary or wages to members engaged by NSC

Meetings of Catchment Councils The catchment council have the following meeting and two thirds represent a quorum: An annual general meeting of stakeholder representatives - receive and consider chairmen’s report - consider adoption of accounts - elect new member to fill vacancies - select treasurer - consider other matter

Meetings (cont.) an extra ordinary annual general meeting following a petition by not less than on quarters of members when the requested by a stake holder group or a group of sub-catchment councils sharing a public stream A week after any sub catchment council meeting of with it has the notice

Work Currently of High Priority Understanding water management in general Preparation of catchment outline plans Revision of water rights Allocation of Water permits Collection of Water levies Regulate and supervise the exercise of permit ensure measuring devices are in place to facilitate water measurements monitor flows and water use in accordance with a permit

CONCLUSION History of stakeholder organisation has come a long way The role of the NSC is derived from our experience and what we intend to achieve in future The primary role of the NSC is the strategic planning of the national water resource It is viewed as an appendage to gvt and advises gvt on stakeholder need The success of the NSC depends on the history of water management and its importance to activities of the people Sustainable financing for the NSC is also key to its continued existence