Madam Deputy Speaker, as has been said, this House is being asked this evening to ratify a very important international agreement between South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique, to establish what is called the Limpopo Watercourse Agreement.
It is a very important agreement, in our view, because for the first time one of the issues that is being raised here is to allow all the parties to use, now in an equitable manner, water around the Limpopo River. We are quite sure that by agreeing to this agreement, we will indeed bring about peace around the Limpopo River.
We are asking you, as part of adopting this agreement this afternoon, to ensure the establishment of infrastructure, major investment and, of course, dams. Equally, this agreement will enable co-operation, strengthen relationships and assist to share benefits among these four countries. This agreement will also enable stakeholder participation in decision-making within the basin. The Mozambican government has offered to host at least the secretariat of this commission, and we are very delighted about that. Therefore we are asking this House to ratify the agreement and allow freedom along the Limpopo River. [Applause.]
Are there any objections to the approval of the agreement as it appears on the Order Paper? No objections.
Agreement between the Republic of Botswana, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe on the Establishment of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission approved.