The Lake Tanganyika Authority Conference of Ministers Chairperson, Dr. Douty Chibamba, has called on member states to strengthen regional cooperation, secure sustainable funding, and improve resource management to protect the lake's ecosystem. The lake's basin is home to approximately 13 million people who depend on it for their livelihoods. Dr. Chibamba made the call during the opening of a preparatory meeting ahead of the 14th Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of Ministers in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting aimed to review key technical, institutional, and financial documents before submission to ministers for consideration and approval. This session follows a resolution adopted at the 13th ministerial conference in Livingstone, Zambia, last year. The resolution called for preliminary discussions to facilitate informed decisions at the next meeting. Dr. Chibamba emphasized that the task was not merely to review documents but to ensure that the issues presented are adequately analyzed and proposed actions are practical and achievable.
A key item on the agenda is the proposed 2027 annual work plan and budget for the authority. Dr. Chibamba stressed that planned activities must align with the Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika and its updated Strategic Action Programme. He also emphasized the importance of matching priorities with adequate and predictable financing, including the timely fulfillment of member states' financial obligations. Inadequate funding and staffing could undermine conservation programs.
Delegates are reviewing the authority's annual report to assess progress, identify implementation challenges, and recommend improvements to institutional performance. The report will help identify areas that require attention and propose solutions to address them. Another issue on the agenda is the proposed dredging of the Luga River and the feasibility of constructing a regulating dam to manage the lake's water levels and mitigate flooding.
Dr. Chibamba emphasized that the proposals require scrutiny due to their potential effects on communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and economic activities across the basin. The consideration of these proposals must be guided by scientific evidence, technical feasibility, environmental and social safeguards, and the long-term sustainability of any proposed interventions. The meeting will also examine scientific assessments of fish stocks and related fisheries documents to guide conservation and sustainable harvesting.
Deputy Minister in the Vice-President's Office responsible for Union Affairs and Environment, Reuben Kwagilwa, expressed Tanzania's commitment to regional cooperation to protect the lake and promote sustainable economic development. He described the lake as a vital natural resource whose biodiversity and aquatic resources support millions of people. Tanzania will continue to cooperate with all member countries to ensure the full and practical implementation of the Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika.
The recommendations from the meeting will guide ministers' decisions on strengthening the authority and ensuring the lake's sustainable management. The meeting aims to propose practical, evidence-based solutions to address the challenges facing the lake's ecosystem. The four riparian states will work together to protect the ecosystem while promoting a sustainable blue economy. The lake's conservation is crucial for the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on it.
Key points
- Lake Tanganyika member states must strengthen regional cooperation to protect the lake's ecosystem and 13 million people's livelihoods.
- The proposed 2027 annual work plan and budget for the authority must align with the Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika.
- Inadequate funding and staffing could undermine conservation programs, emphasizing the need for predictable financing and timely fulfillment of member states' financial obligations.
