Restructuring the Commons: Water Reforms in Southern Africa in the Context of Global Water Resources Management Paradigm Shifts

Abstract

"A number of countries in the Southern African region have been grappling with the demanding task of reforming their water sectors. Closer analysis reveals that the changes taking place across the region are part of global water resources management paradigm shifts aimed at ensuring self-sustainability in the water sector, equitable allocation and distribution of the resource, decentralized and participatory management; and integrated water resources management. An exploration of the nature of reforms in Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe reveals that international agencies, international events and global shifts in common property management theory are playing a big role in shaping changes that occur at national and sub-national levels. It is argued in this paper that efforts being made to reform the water sector in the Southern African region have their origin in international conventions and shifts in water resources management thinking. The rationale behind the reforms is closely linked to new global water resources management strategies and philosophies. Reforms in Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe provide sufficient case material to illustrate this. The water reforms in these countries demonstrate that community-based natural management resources is quite complex and cannot be easily resolved through globalization processes. There is need for a comprehensive understanding of different social, political and economic factors that must be addressed at the local levels as well as the institutional development processes involved."