BOTSWANA’S President Duma Boko issued a stark warning about the nation’s looming water crisis while calling for transformative partnerships and bold investment at the African Union-African Investment Platform Water Investment Summit 2025 in Cape Town today.
Speaking to delegates at the summit, the Boko emphasised that water security is fundamentally tied to economic survival for his semi-arid nation.
“For Botswana, water is more than a resource; it is life itself,” the President declared. “As a semi-arid nation, we understand the sting of scarcity and the urgency of securing every drop.”
The President painted a dire picture of Botswana’s future without immediate action, warning that “by 2040, without decisive action, Botswana could face extreme water stress.”
Climate change has exacerbated the challenges facing the landlocked southern African nation. “Climate change has deepened our challenges, from prolonged droughts to unpredictable rainfall, but it has also strengthened our resolve to act decisively,” the President said.
Central to Botswana’s strategy is the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which the President described as driving comprehensive water infrastructure investments.
“Through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), we are driving investments in water transfer schemes, treatment plants, sanitation systems, wastewater reclamation, and cross-border cooperation under OKACOM, ORASECOM, ZAMCOM, and LIMCOM,” Boko explained.
The President framed these infrastructure developments not merely as construction projects but as essential economic tools. “Our approach is clear: water security is economic security,” he stated.
He emphasised the universal nature of the water access goal, saying the investments are “lifelines ensuring that every settlement, no matter how remote, has access to clean, safe water.”
The President also positioned the water crisis as an investment opportunity for international partners. “They are also opportunities for African and global investors to partner with us in building sustainable systems that power industries, feed our people, and create jobs,” he told the summit.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenge ahead, the President outlined a fundamental shift in approach. “That is why we are shifting to a risk management approach, protecting resources, embracing private sector expertise, and innovating for resilience.”
The President concluded his address with a call for immediate action that extended beyond Botswana’s borders. “Water is the engine of Africa’s growth. If we secure it, we secure our future. The time for cautious talk is over; the time for bold investment and transformative partnerships is now.”
The summit brings together African leaders, international investors, and development partners to address the continent’s water security challenges and explore investment opportunities in water infrastructure across Africa.
