Swakopmund: Namibia is spearheading a regional push to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into water management systems as part of southern African utilities to intensify efforts to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and address mounting sector challenges. Speaking at the Water Utilities Executive Leadership Conference at Swakopmund, NamWater Chief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia emphasized the immediate opportunities AI presents to transform operations across the sector.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Nehemia highlighted that AI is not a futuristic concept but a present solution that can predict infrastructure failures, optimize water distribution, reduce losses, and strengthen data-driven decision-making. He urged utilities to swiftly transition from discussion to implementation, stressing that technology adoption is crucial for maintaining efficient and affordable services amid rising demand, ageing infrastructure, and climate uncertainty.
Regional counterparts from Eswatini, Botswana, and Lesotho echoed the importance of innovation, while highlighting shared structural challenges affecting utilities across the region. Jabulile Mashwama, Managing Director of the Eswatini Water Services Corporation, mentioned that AI is being explored as a tool to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs, particularly in a sector constrained by limited funding and climate change pressures. She emphasized the significance of collaboration among utilities to share expertise and adopt cost-saving innovations collectively.
Mashwama also noted that Namibia's desalination infrastructure has provided valuable lessons, especially for landlocked countries that rely on rivers and groundwater, underscoring the need for diversified water sources alongside technological advancement. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Water Utilities Corporation, Teddy Ditsabatho, emphasized that regional cooperation continues to yield practical service delivery improvements. Ditsabatho pointed out that previous collaborations have led to innovations like smart prepaid water meters, initially introduced by Botswana, which have been adopted by other utilities to enhance access and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Lesotho Water and Sewerage Company, Alphonso Khalema, called for the establishment of 'communities of practice' to enable continuous exchange of expertise beyond annual engagements. He also commended Namibia's innovative responses to water scarcity. The two-day conference served as a strategic platform for regional utilities to align on priorities, assess progress on past resolutions, and strengthen partnerships aimed at improving water security.