WINDHOEK: There is no platform or forum for local water professionals in Namibia to exchange information and views in improving water resource management in the country.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the national water utility NamWater, Dr Vaino Shivute raised the concern during the launching of the Namibia branch of the Water Institute of southern Africa (WISA) at a local hotel here on Monday.
WISA, with its headquarters in Midrand, South Africa provides a forum for exchange of information and views to improve water resource management in southern Africa.
Namibia is the first country outside the neighbouring country that is opening a branch to provide a forum for, and communication channel between, interested and associated groups and individuals from public authorities, industry, suppliers, consultants, development organisations and research organisations.
‘Namibia has been experiencing a lack of a platform for water information, skills sharing as well as networking.
Hence, it is against this background that NamWater spearheaded the establishment of WISA sub-branch for Namibia in order to create that platform for exchange of water related information and development,’ he said.
Shivute explained that the branch will be committed to working toward the equitable and beneficial use of water for all, as well as enhancing professional interaction and networking in the water industry within Namibia.
Vision 2030 includes a number of strategic objectives, of which one is to ensure continuous water supply to Namibian citizens.
He said the goal of the WISA office is to play a pivotal role in the development of the water industry to its full potential in the country.
According to Shivute, the professional interaction in joining WISA cannot be overemphasized.
Meanwhile, at the same occasion, WISA President Ronald Brown explained that the organization identifies research needs and encourage the undertaking of research into current problems.
“WISA is a well-established, not for profit, volunteer, professional community, providing a wide range of benefits to its members and the water sector in general. WISA strives to be the inclusive and objective representative of the southern Africa water sector in terms of the mandates it holds from its about 3 266 members,” he explained.
Brown proposed that Namibia should host the 2016 water conference here.
Meanwhile, the WISA 2014 conference will take place in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
WISA was formed in 1987 when the southern African branch of the Institute of Water Pollution Control, originally founded in 1937, was disbanded. At the beginning of the year 2000, WISA was incorporated under Section 21 of the Companies Act of 1973 as an association not for gain.
The objectives of the Institute are the promotion of, and application of scientific and engineering knowledge and management skills in the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, investigation, research and education in connection with the natural and controlled water cycle.
This will include, but will not be limited to, the application of scientific, engineering and management skills to all or any hydrology, water resources, river management and flood alleviation, recreation, water supply and distribution, sewerage, sewage and industrial waste treatment, disposal and water pollution control.
The WISA Namibia branch is situated at NamWater.
WISA celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.
(edited)WINDHOEK, 30 JUL (NAMPA) – There is no platform or forum for local water professionals in Namibia to exchange information and views in improving water resources’ management here.
This concern was raised by Dr Vaino Shivute, chief executive officer (CEO) of the national water utility NamWater during the launch of the Namibian branch of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) at a local hotel on Monday.
WISA, with its headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, provides a forum for the exchange of information and views to improve water resources’ management in southern Africa.
Namibia is the first country after South Africa in the region which is opening a branch to provide a forum for, and communication channel between interested and associated groups and individuals from public authorities, the industry, suppliers, consultants, development organisations and research organisations.
“Namibia has been experiencing a lack of a platform for water information, skills’ sharing as well as networking.
It is against this background that NamWater spearheaded the establishment of a WISA sub-branch for Namibia in order to create that platform for the exchange of water-related information and development,” Shivute noted.
He explained that the branch will be committed to working towards the equitable and beneficial use of water for all, as well as enhancing the professional interaction and networking in the water industry within Namibia.
He said the goal of the WISA office is to play a pivotal role in the development of the water industry to its full potential here.
At the same occasion, WISA president Ronald Brown explained that the organisation identifies research needs, and encourages the undertaking of research into current problems.
“WISA is a well-established, not-for-profit, volunteer, professional community, providing a wide range of benefits to its members and the water sector in general. WISA strives to be the inclusive and objective representative of the southern African water sector in terms of the mandates it holds from its about 3 266 members,” he explained.
Brown then proposed that Namibia hosts the 2016 water conference here.
The WISA Namibia branch is situated at NamWater.
Meanwhile, the WISA 2014 conference will take place in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
WISA was formed in 1987 when the southern African branch of the Institute of Water Pollution Control, originally founded in 1937, was disbanded.
At the beginning of the year 2000, WISA was incorporated under Section 21 of the Companies’ Act of 1973 as an association not-for-gain.
The objectives of the Institute are the promotion of and application of scientific and engineering knowledge and management skills in planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, investigation, research and education in connection with the natural and controlled water cycle.
This will include, but will not be limited to, the application of scientific, engineering and management skills to all or any hydrology, water resources, river management and flood alleviation, recreation, water supply and distribution, sewerage, sewage and industrial waste treatment, disposal and water pollution control.
WISA celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.
Vision 2030 includes a number of strategic objectives, of which one is to ensure continuous water supply to Namibian citizens.