Lusaka, Wednesday, (March 4, 2026)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA —
The Zambia NGO WASH Forum, a consortium of 61 local and international CSOs advocating for the realisation of the human right to water and sanitation in Zambia, has held a high-level engagement with the South African Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.
The development is seen as a landmark move toward unified regional water governance,
The session served as a strategic knowledge-sharing platform where the Forum detailed its successful collaboration with the National Assembly of Zambia to establish a dedicated Parliamentary Caucus on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PC-WASH).
In a statement by NGO WASH Forum Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe Mumba, The Forum stated that the institutional milestone in Zambia was significantly enabled by the strategic support of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Zambia through the Water Voices United (WVU) Project.
It added that as a four-year initiative co-funded by the EU and Danish People’s Aid and led by SNV, the WVU Project has been the bedrock of this progress, providing the technical and organisational capacity necessary to bridge the gap between civil society advocacy and legislative action.
The Forum indicated that the dialogue in Cape Town was further enriched by a unique tri-nation perspective, bringing together the varying legislative experiences of Liberia, Uganda, and Zambia.
It said while Uganda shared insights from over a decade of its established parliamentary forum and Liberia highlighted the power of presidential compacts, the Zambia NGO WASH Forum demonstrated how a younger caucus, bolstered by international partnerships; can rapidly become a beacon for sustainable sector regulation and budget advocacy.
The Forum remarked that to catalyse change at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) level, it proposed a comprehensive roadmap for regional caucuses to champion water security.
It mentioned that central to the recommendations is the establishment of a SADC Regional WASH Parliamentary Network designed to harmonize policies and monitor the implementation of the Regional Strategic Action Plan.
The Forum emphasized that such a network must prioritise legislative oversight over shared transboundary watercourses to ensure regional stability and long-term water security.
The Forum further urged a shift in fiscal policy, advocating for climate-resilient WASH budgeting that moves beyond reactive emergency funding toward long-term infrastructure investment.
It stated that by strengthening the “three-legged stool” of collaboration between Parliament, Civil Society, and Technical Ministries, the Forum believes the region can achieve unprecedented levels of transparency and service delivery.
The Forum said this integrated approach ensures that the voices of the most vulnerable are represented in the highest levels of governance, transforming water from a source of crisis into a foundation for regional prosperity.
The Zambia NGO WASH Forum remains a leading coalition dedicated to ensuring every citizen has access to safe water and dignity.
Supported by the EU’s Water Voices United Project, the Forum continues to amplify the voices of the underserved within the halls of power, ensuring that water security remains a non-negotiable priority for the entire SADC region.
“Water Voices United is a transformative four-year project, co-funded by the European Union and Danish People’s Aid and spearheaded by SNV in partnership with the NGO WASH Forum. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities and synergies among WASH Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zambia. By fostering the CSOs’ role in WASH governance, the project supports the Zambian Government’s efforts towards the progressive realisation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. Together, we are not just aiming for change; we’re ensuring a sustainable and equitable future where access to clean water and safe sanitation becomes a reality for all,” Ms Mumba said.
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