Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Reflections on the political economy of water supply and sanitation programs in eight African nations
Author:Wisner, B.ISNI
Year:1983
Periodical:Vierteljahres-Berichte: Probleme der internationalen Zusammenarbeit
Issue:94
Pages:323-333
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subject:water supply
Abstract:The author argues that community water problems have as their basis issues stemming from conflicting interests in the control of water rather than mere effectiveness in its provision. Hence, the issue is political rather than administrative. Eight country case studies (Somalia, Eritrea, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, in which countries the political dimension is manifest in the distortions of war when conflicting national interests attempt to improve the sanitary conditions of their impoverished majorities, and Tanzania, Kenya, Lesotho Botswana where capitalist penetration has contributed to distortion of local water programs through conflicting interests) exemplify the fundamentally political dimension of water problems. Acceptance of the inevitability of political struggle in issues relating to water would result in more realistic water projects by promoting the involvement of politically committed interest groups capable of popular mobilization for sanitation work, by promoting radically comprehensive approaches such as water projects in the context of agrarian reform, and by promoting advance planning measures to cope with 'exceptional' situations such as war and natural-disaster. Notes.
Views