Okavango Water commission meets

FOR the eleventh time since its inception in 1994, the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (Okacom) met in Windhoek last week to discuss projects and issues surrounding the management of the Okavango River Basin.

As the Okavango river runs through Namibia, Angola and Botswana, Okacom was established by the three countries to jointly manage the river’s resources based on the principles of equity, sustainability, and openness. The Commission says Friday’s meeting made progress on the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat office in Maun, Botswana, which is scheduled to be operational by next year.The Secretariat will be a regional institution with representatives from all three countries.The Commission also reported progress in the development of rules and procedures that are to guide Okacom in the future.The next Okacom meeting will be held in Luanda in six months’ time.The Commission says Friday’s meeting made progress on the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat office in Maun, Botswana, which is scheduled to be operational by next year.The Secretariat will be a regional institution with representatives from all three countries.The Commission also reported progress in the development of rules and procedures that are to guide Okacom in the future.The next Okacom meeting will be held in Luanda in six months’ time.