An analysis of stakeholder knowledge about water governance transformation in Zimbabwe

In the early 1990s, Zimbabwe embarked on a process of water reform which culminated in the enactment of the 1998 Water Act [Chapter 20:24]. The 1998 water act emphasizes stakeholder participation in water utilization and management. The process which led to the promulgation of the 1998 Water Act was supposed to involve the participation and consultation of all the groups of stakeholders. This was going to make the majority of the stakeholders become aware of the water governance transformation and the provisions of the new legislation. This article thus explores stakeholder knowledge about the water governance transformation in Zimbabwe. It presents data collected from the Middle Manyame Subcatchment area which falls under the Manyame Catchment Council (CC). The paper shows that the majority of the stakeholders in the study area in general and those from the agricultural sector in particular do not have much knowledge about the 1998 Water Act, Subcatchment Councils (SCCs) and CCs. Moreover, the stakeholders do not know their representatives on water governance institutions. They also do not have much knowledge about how their representatives were elected. This is due to a failure of governance. However, government commitment to a concerted outreach programme may assist in the realization of the fundamental goals – equity, efficiency and sustainability – that lay at the heart of Zimbabwe’s initial push for water reforms.