• Water remains an essential factor in Economic development.
• The Strategic investment Pathways report will increase national capacity to value and fully harness opportunities at scale the basin offers.
• This report makes recommendations that will amongst other things strengthen policy and legal framework implementation

Ministry of Water Development Sanitation and Environmental Protection says Water remains an essential factor in Economic development.
Speaking during the official launch of the Strategic Investment Pathway report on The Zambezi Basin Case study in Lusaka, Raphael Nakachinda highlighted that water is also a key enabler of economic activities such as Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, Industrial Development and Hydro power generation.
Mr. Nakachinda noted that prudent water resources management is a must as it fosters Gender equality and social inclusion adding that it supports the creation and maintenance of jobs across all sectors of the economy.
“It is for this reason that government recognizes the catalytic role water plays in contributing to economic diversification and job creation as espoused in the Seventh National Development plan which is anchored on accelerating development efforts without leaving anyone behind,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by Ministry’ Acting Director Richard Lungu.
The Minister disclosed that government had further strengthened the legislative for public private partnership.
He added that the Strategic Investment Pathway Study Report came at a time when the country was looking to innovate and develop alternative financing mechanisms that will respond to current development need and context in the water sector.
According to Mr. Nakachinda, “This report is crucially important as it will help the nation to address one of the most pressing challenges in the Water sector that of financing to our water resources.”
Meanwhile, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said the Zambezi Basin Case study in the Strategic investment Pathways report would increase national capacity to value and fully harness opportunities at scale the basin offers.
WWF Country Director Nachila Nkombo noted the report marked a very significant moment for Zambia country as it points to actions that must be taken to sustainably manage this resource and guide future investments.
Ms. Nkombo added that the report would also identify the investments and actions needed to address the risks this crucial resource faces.
She stated the Zambezi basin is arguably the most important natural asset for the country and region that has been driving economic development for many years.
“A sustainable Zambezi, means a sustainable economy and a sustainable future for Zambia and its neighbors, a degraded and declining Zambezi is a threat for communities and industry alike,” she said.
She also highlighted that the heart of sustainable economic reform and recovery post covid-19, is a renewed commitment to re-define “our existing relationship with nature and ensure that all actors within the economy begin to value more and more our natural capital.”
“It might mean putting a figure on the value of the resource, or creating green sustainable investment pathways that generate growth, jobs and secures ecosystems upon which the economy depends and thrives, ” she added.
The country Director said WWF hoped that the strategic investment pathways report offered government and the nation at large an opportunity to reposition the Zambezi as a resource to help the country to close current investment gaps to the water sector.
“This report makes recommendations that will amongst other things strengthen policy and legal framework implementation, support stronger coordination of stakeholders, particularly the private sector and provide funding alternatives that can be pursued to secure the Zambezi and Zambia’s water future,” said Ms. Nkombo.