Effectiveness of environmental management institutions in sustainable water resources management in the upper Pungwe River basin, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The management of environmental resources by separate entities ought to be well coordinated to avoid gaps and overlaps. This study assessed the effectiveness of environmental management institutions and participation processes in water resources management in the Upper Pungwe river basin, a transboundary river basin in Southern Africa. It evaluated interactions between environmental management institutions and how this impacted on the quality of the environment and water resources. A concurrent mixed methods approach was used in the study. Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques were employed. Twenty self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 17 ward environmental management committee chairpersons and three environmental management practitioners. Three in-depth interviews were held with water resources management practitioners operating in the river basin. Runoff, water quality and sediment load data over a 17 year period were collected and analysed using Mann-Kendal and Regression Analysis Statistics to detect trends and predict future levels. The study revealed a positive linear relationship (r2=0.1718) between runoff and sediment load while sediment load showed a negative linear relationship with pH levels (r2=0.0329). Based on the Mann-Kendal analysis (p>0.05) there were no statistically significant trends detected in the data. The study concluded that water and environmental management institutions lacked effective regular interaction and cooperation at the river basin level. Effective coordination of environmental management institutions remains key to the achievement of sustainable water resources management in the Upper Pungwe river basin.