CAPPA kicks against water privatisation in Africa
Published By: Paul Dada
By Paul Dada
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has decried the privatisation of the water sector in African countries.
The human rights organisation also called for potable water to be made accessible to everyone regardless of their socio-economic status.
All of this was said at a virtual training themed: “Shaping the Narrative: Reporting on Water Access and Privatisation in Africa,” organised by CAPPA.
Speaking, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi said access to safe drinking water must be seen a human right.
He said that the privatisation of water in African countries has caused the tariffs paid on it to soar thus making it unaffordable.
He said said water companies have become largely unaccountable to the public as they cherry-pick communities they serve while undermining the human right to water.
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He, therefore, called for countries in Africa to embrace the public and community-controlled water system while insisting on the deprivatisation of the sector. He also called for an increased public spending water infrastructure among other things.
Also speaking, environmental journalist, Esther Omopariola harped on the role of journalists in exposing water inequalities.
She said journalists must embrace proper investigative techniques to to highlight the inequalities surrounding water access.
She said, “Visiting affected communities to gather first-hand accounts. Investigate distances to water sources, water quality, and the reliability of these sources. Understanding data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on water distribution and health impacts, such as the link between unsafe water and malnutrition.
“Familiarize yourself with the United Nations Resolution (2010) that recognizes the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right. Investigate how governments are adhering to this resolution.
“Investigate regions facing extreme water scarcity where conflict, climate change, and poor infrastructure exacerbate water access problems. For instance, in Nigeria’s north like Borno, Adamawa, and Kebbi States. Highlight disparities between urban and rural access to water, with rural populations often more reliant on untreated surface water.”
