Glaciers at Mount Kilimanjaro. Experts fear that in a few decades, these glaciers may vanish entirely, melting away at a rapid pace. Credit: Shutterstock.

By James Sauramba
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Mar 21 2025 (IPS)

World Water Day calls us all to promote the essential element of life: water. But we must also look this year at the rapidly vanishing sources of freshwater that we depend on, especially glaciers. Although glaciers may be remote for many of us, they are an essential component of the water cycle, nourishing rivers and lakes that are important for millions of people around the world. As precious resources with sources under threat, glaciers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region are an area of focus.

The prevalence of Glaciers in the in SADC region

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, which tends to be subtropical and tropical, unexpectedly contains several of Africa’s few glaciers, located in its highest mountains.

The steadiness of glaciers retreating in the SADC region is a sobering reminder of what water, climate change, and this planet we share should mean to all of us. The disappearance of glaciers is not simply an environmental problem — it will be a humanitarian disaster for the millions who rely on glacier-fed rivers for their livelihood

Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa and Lesotho), although there are no active glaciers in the Drakensberg range, remnants from the last Ice Age can be seen in the form of cirques and U-shaped valleys carved by glacial action. In high-altitude areas of Lesotho, snow can fall and a few ice patches.

Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) — Treat your eyes with the stunning beauty of one of world’s most famous towering mountains but do know that the glaciers at the top are melting, with the Kilimanjaro Ice Field retreating thin. Experts fear that in a few decades, these glaciers may vanish entirely, melting away at a rapid pace.

Mount Kenya (Kenya) – Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak in Africa, has several glaciers, which have also been retreating in recent years. While spectacular on our camera screens, these glaciers also host vital water for nature, people and wildlife.

How Climate Change Is Affecting Glaciers

The glaciers of the southern African SADC region, like glaciers around the world, face an ever-warming climate. One of the main causes of glaciers melting is global warming, a process that strongly impacts regions such as Africa due to temperatures in Africa increasing at a faster rate than the rest of the world average. Regarding the glaciers of the SADC region, the rising temperatures are resulting in a number of alarming consequences:

Rapid Glacier Retreat: Glaciers are shrinking faster than ever, with many now shrinking year after year. For example, the Mount Kilimanjaro glaciers have receded by approximately 85% over the past century. Mount Kenya’s glacier fields are also melting, some glaciers have shrivelled by more than half in the past few decades.

Alterations of Water Supply: glaciers as a natural reserve slowly release freshwater when melting. That runoff eventually drains into rivers, lakes and other water sources that supply drinking water, farming irrigation and energy through hydropower. As glaciers recede, the water supply becomes increasingly unstable and unreliable, which endangers the communities that rely on it.

Additional Vulnerability to Droughts: In regions where glaciers feed into rivers, such as the Drakensberg Mountains or Mount Kilimanjaro, the loss of ice directly affects water availability. Lower water levels in rivers arising from these mountains add to the existing challenges that many SADC countries face as they increasingly grapple with recurrent droughts due to reduced glacial melt.

Ecosystem Disruption: Glaciers nurture ecosystems that rely on the cold, nutrient-rich waters that they release. These ecosystems are increasingly threatened by shrinking glaciers. The loss of glacial meltwater could impact the delicate balance of these high-altitude environments, causing a decrease in biodiversity and potentially the extinction of species that have adapted to survive in these cold habitats.

Impacts on the SADC Region

The melting glaciers in the SADC region are already having severe repercussions on millions of residents, with significant consequences including:

1. Water Scarcity: The SADC region faces existing water shortages, which are exacerbated by the loss of glacial meltwater. Countries like Lesotho, Tanzania, and Kenya rely heavily on this meltwater for agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectric power. As glaciers disappear, these nations experience a considerable reduction in reliable water sources, further straining their already challenged water systems.
2. Hydropower Generation: Many SADC countries depend on hydropower produced from rivers fed by melting glaciers. With declining glacier volumes, there is less water flowing to hydroelectric dams, leading to potential energy shortages. This poses significant risks for energy-dependent countries, such as South Africa and Lesotho, where a substantial portion of electricity comes from hydropower.
3. Climate Change and Migration: As water becomes scarcer, rural populations may be compelled to migrate toward urban areas or move across borders in search of water. This trend could result in environmental refugees, overwhelming cities that are already grappling with rapid urbanization, poverty, and resource scarcity.

What Can Be Done?

The continued melting of glaciers is a stark reminder that there is no time to waste in addressing climate action, which is particularly relevant for countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Although halting glacier melt entirely may not be feasible, there are steps to be taken to conserve what few glaciers there are remaining as well as strategies for adaptation to sediment influx and climate warming:

Investing in Water Conservation: Governments and communities need to focus on water conservation practices to ensure that water available is used effectively and efficiently. This involves developing more effective possibilities for better irrigation, rainwater harvesting, protection of natural water sources etc.

Finding Solutions to Climate Change: International collaboration and policy reform are important steps to fighting climate change. The SADC region, like the rest of the world, needs to take steps to mitigate carbon emissions and move on renewable energy sources to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Improving Adaptation Strategies: As glaciers continue to retreat, it is becoming increasingly important for governments to create adaptation strategies that address the increasing water supply issues. This may involve upgrades to water storage systems, climate-smart agriculture and the sustainability of alternative water sources in communities.

A call for Action: World Water Day is an opportunity to show the links between glaciers, water resources and climate change. The SADC region has a collective responsibility to ensure that local community voices are prioritised, and that sustainable water management takes precedence in conversations on dedicated water rights.

Conclusion

On World Water Day 2025, the steadiness of glaciers retreating in the SADC region is a sobering reminder of what water, climate change, and this planet we share should mean to all of us. The disappearance of glaciers is not simply an environmental problem — it will be a humanitarian disaster for the millions who rely on glacier-fed rivers for their livelihood. But it is time for action now – to protect water sources, combat climate change and protect the future of the SADC region and beyond.

May this World Water Day serve as a reminder of the value of glaciers for the precious water they provide, and the importance of protecting that water for future generations.

James Sauramba is the Executive Director of the Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI)

Credit: SADC Groundwater Management Institute.

By James Sauramba
PRETORIA, South Africa, Mar 22 2022 (IPS)

Groundwater is invisible and yet its impact is visible everywhere – this infinite resource provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide. About 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industry is from groundwater resources. Despite these impressive facts, groundwater remains invisible and less prominent compared to surface water.

This year, 2022, the World Water Day puts groundwater resources on the spotlight as the day is celebrated under the theme: “Groundwater – making the invisible visible”. As we celebrate World Water Day, it is important that we pause and ask ourselves this question, “what are we doing to ensure the sustainable development and management of this precious resource or are we doing enough?”

Used sustainably, groundwater could provide potable water for the estimated 40% of the SADC region’s estimated 345 million inhabitants that currently lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. It could also alleviate pressure on the region’s surface water and help communities endure the nowadays very frequent and severe dry spells

Groundwater plays a critical role in providing water and food security and improving livelihoods of many in the SADC region, especially vulnerable communities in the rural areas and in the poor urban settlements.

“With the worsening impacts of climate change, we need to recognize that groundwater could be a catalyst for economic and social development in the SADC region. Furthermore, groundwater could play a significant role in sustainable development and building resilience – if sustainably developed and managed” says Eng. James Sauramba, SADC-GMI Executive Director.

The Sustainable Development Goal 6 underpins ensuring access to water and sanitation for all. If sustainably developed, groundwater could be instrumental in the achievement of SDG 6 as set out in the United Nations agenda 2030.

Eng. Sauramba continues to say, as climate change impacts intensify and many people turn to groundwater for their primary water supply, it becomes even more critical that we work together to sustainably manage this precious resource.

Used sustainably, groundwater could provide potable water for the estimated 40% of the SADC region’s estimated 345 million inhabitants that currently lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. It could also alleviate pressure on the region’s surface water and help communities endure the nowadays very frequent and severe dry spells.

Communication pertaining to groundwater related issues is key to making groundwater visible. Stakeholder participation, shared knowledge, and informed decision-making are integral cornerstones of good water governance and can never be over emphasized.

It is important that we seek innovative ways to create awareness and communicate groundwater issues. Although some progress has been achieved in this area in the last five years, more still needs to be accomplished.

The SADC region’s estimated current extraction rates of around 2,500 m3 per capita per year represent only 1.5% of the renewable groundwater resources available. This means that groundwater remains largely untapped at a time when the gap between water demand and availability is growing drastically.

The Earth’s population of nearly 8 billion in 2020 is expected to reach 11 billion by 2100. Humans will have to learn to produce sufficient food without destroying the soil, water, and climate. This has been dubbed the greatest challenge humanity has faced. Sustainable management of groundwater is at the heart of the solution.

Credit: SADC Groundwater Management Institute.

SADC-GMI strives to making groundwater visible

SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) as the centre of excellence in promoting equitable and sustainable groundwater management in the SADC region since 2016 has to date implemented various impactful small scale infrastructure development projects in 10 SADC Member States to support the development and management of this finite resource.

The projects ranged from groundwater monitoring and evaluation systems, community water supply schemes, exploration of deep aquifers, and groundwater mapping and development. These projects contributed to enhancing water security and improved livelihoods for the benefiting communities. Approximately 93000 beneficiaries (of which 53% were women) across the SADC region benefitted from the interventions.

Transboundary cooperation among Member States sharing groundwater resources was also promoted through undertaking research to generate knowledge in six of the estimated 30 transboundary aquifers in the SADC region.

Three new boreholes were drilled in Chongwe to promote sustainable groundwater development and reduce the devastating effects of water shortage for approximately 12,000 residents. The project augmented the existing cluster of boreholes while easing the water shortage in the area.

Again, SADC-GMI implemented a similar project in Muchocolate in the Matutuine district of Maputo Province where safe and clean drinking water was provided for approximately 2 000 people and their livestock. Another milestone was recorded in the Kingdom of Eswatini where a groundwater monitoring project was completed. The project involved 10 monitoring sites, four of which use renewable energy to pump the water.

2nd Phase – Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States

Since mid-November 2021, SADC-GMI embarked on implementation of the 2nd Phase of the Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States project that will again put groundwater on the spotlight.

As the results, SADC-GMI will continue to engage SADC Member States to sustainably develop groundwater resources in the region to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable communities, especially those heavily dependent on groundwater and address groundwater challenges facing the region.

Excerpt:

Surface water talks to groundwater and vice versa. A holistic conjunctive approach to the utilisation of these co-existing resources is indispensable to build resilience. Credit: Bigstock.

By James Sauramba
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Aug 19 2021 (IPS)

Even as COVID-19 ravages communities across the continent, climate change is widening the gap between those who have access to water and sanitation – key elements in fighting the pandemic.

We know that only about 61% of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) population has access to safe drinking water and only 39% has access to adequate sanitation facilities.

Climate change continues to widen those gaps in SADC communities where an estimated 44 million people are food insecure. Climate change may have been a looming disaster in the past, but it has now materialised, ravaging our communities in the COVID-19 pandemic. We are compelled to act prudently, fast and sustainably.

If strategies are not followed by implementation, then all our efforts would be futile. Sadly, we have seen a regional trend where a lot of projects in SADC countries are piloted – and remain pilot projects, year after year. We cannot afford to have designs that gather dust.

This year’s World Water Week, held from 23-27 August under the theme “Building Resilience Faster”, recognises the need to find solutions to counter climate change and other water-related challenges.

The sustainable use of groundwater offers us a way to build resilience.

The majority of sub-Saharan Africans live in rural areas, and regionally, at least 70% of SADC inhabitants rely on groundwater. This calls for sustainable management of groundwater resources to protect vulnerable communities and strengthen them to build resilience during climate change.

However, there cannot be a silo response in our fight to build water resilience. Surface water talks to groundwater and vice versa. A holistic conjunctive approach to the utilisation of these co-existing resources is indispensable to build resilience.

As you would know, when there’s no surface water, you just see soil, but it does not mean that there is no more water. It just means the water has receded into groundwater. We can build resilience if we have well streamlined and robust strategies to manage these two water resources conjunctively.

Strategies are an integral part of realising our goals. However, if strategies are not followed by implementation, then all our efforts would be futile. Sadly, we have seen a regional trend where a lot of projects in SADC countries are piloted – and remain pilot projects, year after year.

We cannot afford to have designs that gather dust. We have pilots that demonstrate the viability of certain innovative principles and methodologies that have not reached the level of being upscaled or replicated. This means that these innovations do not reach the point of application where they could contribute to water security for the communities’ livestock, industrial development and other human settlement activities that support people’s livelihoods.

Yes, some challenges impede the successful implementation of projects including the lack of capacity and finances. However, the challenge of supporting the region’s growing population of impoverished communities amidst dwindling resources is a daunting task that we need to overcome.

SADC-GMI has seen the tangible impact of safeguarding and uplifting communities through our pilot projects implemented at community level to provide groundwater. In Chimbiya Trading Centre, in the Dedza District, Malawi, a 100-metre deep borehole was drilled and equipped to supply potable water to about 15 000 people who benefit from the groundwater for their livelihood activities. This project boosted the economy of the local trading centre. The vision is to upscale this project model in Malawi to other communities across the SADC region to help build resilience.

Besides Malawi, we have also piloted innovative infrastructure projects to benefit communities in eight other SADC Member States. SADC-GMI constantly strives to demonstrate groundwater’s invaluable role in building resilience through its sustainable use in the communities’ livelihood and WASH activities.

Development is a collaborative process. SADC-GMI has partnered with River Basin Organisations and national water ministries across the SADC region to drive their mandate of promoting sustainable groundwater management and provide solutions to groundwater challenges in the SADC region.

At the core of our strategy is the continued endeavour to involve the very community members that we serve. Communities’ customs and traditions have been around much longer than any strategy that SADC-GMI may hope to implement to serve them. We, therefore, leverage citizen science and the knowledge that they have in supporting their communities in changing conditions.

Capacity-building is an integral part of building resilience in communities. SADC-GMI partnered with World Vision Zimbabwe to offer groundwater relief in the drought-prone Dite and Whunga communities in Zimbabwe.

The communities have committees that are greatly involved in the management of the borehole infrastructure and growing vegetables in the community gardens to support their local economy and livelihoods. Collaborative efforts such as these provide holistic and sustainable management of water resources.

SDG 6 is summarised by the United Nations (UN) as ensuring “availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Our work in the water sector – including groundwater should ensure pivotal contributions to the achievement of SDG 6.

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, is that we need to proactively respond to the challenges we face. It has also taught us that we can successfully overcome these difficulties. Our actions need to be fast yet measured and should be inclusive of the people we intend to serve. That way, we can build water resilient communities.

James Sauramba is the Executive Director of the Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI)