LIMCOM to review critical environmental challenges at Limpopo Basin-wide meeting

By Abbas Nazil
The Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) will host a major basin-wide meeting from June 10 to 12, 2025, in Bilene, Gaza Province, Mozambique.
Representatives from the four riparian countries—Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe—will gather to deliberate on the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) Report, which highlights urgent environmental issues affecting the Limpopo River Basin.
The TDA identifies seven critical transboundary water-related environmental problems that require immediate attention: land degradation, sedimentation, deteriorating water quality, biodiversity loss, weak transboundary water resources management, low resilience to climate variability, and uncertainty regarding available water resources.
These challenges, if left unaddressed, threaten the sustainability of the river basin and the livelihoods of millions who depend on it.
According to Dr. Ebenizáo Chonguiça, LIMCOM’s senior technical advisor, the TDA is essential to guiding collective action.
“The TDA provides a factual basis for the formulation of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) that will be negotiated and agreed upon by the four riparian countries.
It will align with the national and regional policies of the member states,” he said.
The four countries had previously validated the draft TDA at the national level in late 2024, demonstrating individual commitment to the process.
The upcoming basin-wide meeting marks a significant step toward collective ownership and cross-border collaboration.
Approval of the TDA will not only validate the analytical findings but also pave the way for the development of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) aimed at solving the identified environmental issues.
This analysis and forthcoming SAP are part of the broader “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin” project.
LIMCOM is leading the initiative in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project seeks to enhance living standards for communities within the basin while protecting natural resources and vital ecosystem services.
It aims to foster equitable and sustainable use of water resources through coordinated management strategies, underpinned by scientific evidence and regional cooperation.
LIMCOM, established in 2003 by the four member states, serves as a key institutional platform to promote cooperation, recommend sustainable usage, and coordinate protection measures for the Limpopo River.
As the region faces increasing pressure from climate change and population growth, the decisions made at this meeting are expected to influence the future management and resilience of one of Southern Africa’s most vital shared watercourses.