President Hichilema hails Africa water vision 2063 as blueprint for continental water security

President Hakainde Hichilema has described the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy as a transformative blueprint and the continent’s collective response to Africa’s water challenges.

Speaking through Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Collins Nzovu, during a dinner to launch the Vision at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Hichilema said the policy formed a cornerstone of the African Union theme for 2026: “Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”

The President emphasized that water remained Africa’s most vital strategic resource, a lifeblood that sustained its people, powers industries, and binds nations together.

He, however, warned that the continent faced an existential threat as climate change intensified, bringing devastating droughts and floods that threaten food security and stability.

“The Vision and Policy represent Africa’s common position, integrating water into the continent’s peace and security foundation, and underscored that shared basins must remain engines of regional integration rather than sources of conflict,” President Hichilema said.

He called on African countries to strengthen cooperation, noting that 90 percent of the continent’s surface water resources were transboundary. He further highlighted the cost of inaction, pointing to an annual investment gap of US$30 billion needed to achieve sanitation goals.

“There is need to start making bold investment, inclusive governance and collective action to secure a water-resilient continent with safe sanitation systems,” he emphasized.

President Hichilema also reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to advancing water cooperation beyond the continent, noting that the country served as co-chair, alongside Finland, of the interactive dialogue on water cooperation for the upcoming United Nations Water 2026 Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

He appealed for African solidarity, stressing that “Africa must speak with one voice to ensure that its agenda on transboundary and climate-resilient water security become the global benchmark by the end of the year.”

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