A liquid more valuable than gold : on the water crisis in southern Africa, future risks and solutions

This publication provides decision makers and an interested public in Sweden, as well as concerned people in southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), with background information on water resources in a regional context. It describes the natural conditions of the region and the increasingly difficult situation which is being created by the rapidly growing pressure on and demand for the limited resources of freshwater. In addition, it presents scenarios for the future on how growing water scarcity and increased competition between water users can become a source of conflict both within countries and between countries - but also how this incipient crisis can be instrumental in creating opportunities for solutions based on sustainable management and cooperation.