they are not adequately represented. This signals an institutional induced rather than natural scarcity.
3. The policy has a generally negative impact on poverty reduction. The poor grassroots actors are marginalised and are vulnerable in times of drought
and floods. Black empowerment and racial equity could have been ironed out but the elite still hold an upper hand at the expense of the poor. Maintenance of pro
commercial farmer policies is one major cause of failure coupled with the struggle to balance neoliberal and social agenda. This leads to further
marginalisation and vulnerability of grassroots actors reducing their ability to break out of poverty. Stakeholder participation on the ground is pseudo equal
since the elite maintain influence in established Catchments. These also lack clear guidelines leading to marginalisation of the poor. They may soon be eventually
excluded from use making the situation worse than before. They also reduce access to water by the poor and women as they cannot express demand. The idea
of paying for water water as an economic good is not yet acceptable among the stakeholders let alone the poor who can hardly even pay for cost recovery.
5.2 Recommendations
In order to improve stakeholder participation and representation and consequently empowering weaker actors, it is necessary to establish genuine local
level platforms, with enough political space outside the state-tailored formal straight jackets. These must be in such a way so as to encourage women to
participate. It is also important to address developmental aspects of establishing catchment-wide bodies and structural problems such as access to land and
financial resources. Without addressing these issues stakeholder representation, particularly by the poor and women, will remain hamstrung in good intentions.
Formation of local water NGOs, with international and local networks that have similar discourses would help empowers the weaker women and grassroots
actors. Making use of ‘safety nets’ provided in the statutory documents is
recommended to the minister so as to protect the interests of the poor. A social equitable water policy requires that a fair share of water benefits and
responsibilities be transmitted to women and men, poor and rich. This means fair opportunities to access, use and control water resources, as well as equitable
acceptance of responsibility for the negative side effects produced so as to avoid placing higher burdens on the poor or disadvantaged members of society. This
should not just be on paper but in practice and supported by statutory instruments. This will also help reduce conflicts.
The common assumption in the water sector that the formalisation of women’s rights to water will overcome the problems of inequitable access shaped
by tradition and culture, can only be true if formalised rights are put to practise. Getting rid of socio-cultural disparities can take time and effort but it is worth the
hassle if gender is to play a central role in water management. A policy reform is recommended though that would be expensive and too
early considering that the current one is not yet fully established. It would make better sense to translate the good clauses into practice with improvements as
discussed. Capacity building, affirmative action and legal protection of the poor are recommended.
Since the population is not ready for a fully demand based approach, a social agenda must be maintained with state providing water with subsidies,
supply based approach. Though some researchers recommend full privatisation I echo the sentiments of those who recommend public provision since the nation is
not ready for such a system. An on the ground study needs to be carried out to verify the conclusions
made here since they are based solely on secondary data and logical deductions.
