Following a remarkable year of achievements in 2024, the Limpopo River Basin (LRB) is poised for even greater success in 2025. Building on the impressive results of last year’s initiatives, the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) has lined up an exciting array of activities designed to drive progress in the basin.

Most of these activities will be implemented under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin,” which aims to uplift the living standards of the basin’s population and conserve its resources and ecosystem services.

Approval of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis report

A major milestone for the year will be the approval of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) report. Individual member states validated the report in 2024, and a wide-basin workshop scheduled for early 2025 will formally approve the report, setting the stage for the formulation of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) that will guide concerted efforts to address the basin's most pressing environmental and water management challenges.

Finalization of the 1st Limpopo Joint Basin Survey

Another significant highlight will be the finalization of the 1st Limpopo Joint Basin Survey (JBS), which aims to provide critical river health indicators and insights into the basin. Initial surveys were conducted in August/September 2024, and the final phase of the JBS will focus on the estuarine component in the Changane sub-catchment in Mozambique, a hypersaline semi-arid area, utilizing the rainy season to collect accurate data. Findings from the survey will provide a foundation for developing a comprehensive and updated Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plan and pave the way for establishing a transboundary river health monitoring team.

Sediment transport research for the basin

The year will also witness extensive field studies to investigate sediment transport in the basin. Sediment transport modeling and monitoring are important for the sustainable management of the LRB, as excessive sediment transport can affect the basin’s water quality and ecosystem health. It is, therefore, crucial to craft strategies to mitigate the impacts of sediment transport, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the basin's ecosystems and water resources.

Strengthening flood forecasting

To enhance the Limpopo Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System in the basin, LIMCOM will install new hydrometric equipment in Mozambique, following successful installation in the other LIMCOM countries—Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The state-of-the-art equipment will provide real-time data on water levels, flow rates, and other critical parameters, enhancing the basin's monitoring and forecasting capabilities. These stations will also support the environmental flow harmonization process that is now underway in the LRB.

Validation of the Limpopo Groundwater Strategy 

The Limpopo Groundwater Strategy developed in partnership with the SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) is expected to be validated this year, providing a critical framework for managing groundwater resources. Meanwhile, LIMCOM, through the GEF project, will organize a capacity-building training workshop to support the Limpopo Groundwater Committee (LGC). 

Establishment of an Environmental/Water Resources Task Team   

Another milestone will be establishing an Environmental/Water Resources Task Team to develop the Limpopo Environmental Monitoring Framework and facilitate closer collaboration and coordination among stakeholders on environmental and water resources management issues to ensure the basin remains a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem. 

Implementation of Sustainable Land Management 

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) demonstration activities will continue throughout the year to showcase the best practices in reducing land degradation and sedimentation in the basin. Four SLM sites have been identified — one each in the four LIMCOM countries. These pilot sites are the Mogobane Dam in Botswana; the Massingir Dam in Mozambique; the Mapochs in South Africa; and the Guyu-Chelesa in Zimbabwe.

Towards amending the LIMCOM agreement

In addition to these technical initiatives, 2025 will also see significant progress on the institutional front. For example, the capacitation of the LIMCOM Legal Task Team will enable the conclusion of the process to amend the LIMCOM Agreement, strengthening the legal framework for cooperation among the basin’s riparian countries.

As the LRB embarks on these ambitious activities in 2025 under the project “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin,” one thing is clear: the present and future generations of the basin look brighter. In this regard, with deeper cooperation and a shared commitment to the smooth implementation of the project, the basin is once again poised for greater achievements in 2025.

LIMCOM is implementing the project in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through funding from GEF.

About the project

The “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin” project seeks to achieve integrated, cross-sectoral, ecosystem-based management of the Limpopo River to uplift the living standards of the basin’s population and conserve the basin’s resources and ecosystem services. It is being implemented in the four countries that share the Limpopo namely Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. 

For more information, please contact the LIMCOM Secretariat at (communications@limpopocommission.org) coping Mr. Sergio Sitoe at sbsitoe@limpopocommission.org.

Words by Kizito Sikuka. Cover photo: Some of the team members for the 1st Limpopo JBS - LIMCOM.