Limitations of the Study

downloaded from http http:maps.grida.nogocollectionvital-climate-graphics-africa at 2:38am GMT Fig 3. Climate trends and deviation from the mean temperature and rainfall Water rights system replaced the previous permit system and allowed new users to get access to existing waters. Water use was divided between primary and secondary so as to allow secondary users to pay. There is volume limit but it is divided by use. This approach is to let catchment councils set the limits. Empirical data suggests that the rights of some communities can be infringed upon. This underlines the need to review and expand the definition of primary water use. The best way is to increase the quantity of water defined as primary water or define it where it is not. All stakeholders must participate in decision making at an „equal‟ level regardless of their status through catchment councils CCs. Stakeholders also have „equal‟ chances to granting of permits. Catchment councils have to be financially autonomous. While demand based approach will be applied, necessary subsidies will be put for the poor. The safety nets that are provided in the act do not seem to be of practical consequence. Water Resources Management Strategy WRMS paper from which the current water policy was born was drawn by a technical working group to support the water reform process. This was in 1995 by the Government of Zimbabwe, with donor assistance from the Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, and Germany. Prior to that constant lobbying by „white‟ commercial farmers kept the situation unchanged. However despite institutional reform a large number of people still lack access to drinking water. In 2002, population access to improved drinking water sources was said to be 100 percent in urban areas and 74 percent in rural areas. The proportion of people in rural areas with access to safe drinking water declined from 70 in 1999 to 61 in 2009. Currently 65 of all water points in rural areas are non-functional and there are persistent water shortages in urban areas UNDP 2010. Total population is estimated at about 12.9 million of which 64 percent is rural. 80 of the rural are women. The estimated annual growth rate is about 1.02 percent. There are over 80 major dams in Zimbabwe, ranging from Kariba the worlds largest artificial lake to small masonry weirs serving communities in rural areas. Dams are essential to provide a reliable source of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural and mining use. Agriculture draws the largest amount 16.59 of water from the total water resources per capita as shown in table 2. Hence management of agricultural water is core to management of water in