Water and Africa 
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 Periodical article |
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| Title: | Water Policy and Environmental Sustainability: The Case of Post-Colonial Namibia |
| Author: | Forrest, Joshua B. |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Periodical: | Public Administration and Development |
| Volume: | 21 |
| Issue: | 5 |
| Period: | December |
| Pages: | 393-400 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Namibia |
| Subjects: | agricultural projects water supply water management environment Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Development and Technology Politics and Government |
| Link: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.194 |
| Abstract: | In semi-arid countries, particularly in Africa, governments have evolved water policies oriented toward 'techno-giantist', grand-scale schemes that have generally accelerated the depletion of national water tables. In Namibia, such a techno-giantist water management strategy was utilized to reinforce the privileges of white minority farmers prior to independence. In the post-independence period, techno-giantist projects such as the Epupa dam, Etunda irrigation, Okavango River exploitation and nationwide borehole proliferation have enabled the government to respond to popular demands for increased water supply in a way that reinforces its claim on political sovereignty. Such projects allow the Namibian national leadership to project an image of authoritative control, of environmental manipulation and of taking concrete, highly visible steps at resolving the country's growing water shortages. However, a water supply approach focused on more microlevel extraction techniques through which aquifer recharge is prioritized is more likely to assure both local-level water access and water table sustainability. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. |
