Action on climate change to advance sustainable development in the Zambezi Basin - by Tigere Chagutah The climate change challenge, while serious and urgent, also brings with it enormous opportunities for Zambezi Basin states to advance efforts towards sustainable development. Editorial Climate change is one of the most important and complex challenges facing the Zambezi River Basin, much as in the rest of the world. Projected changes in the earth's climate present more than just an environmental concern but also serious social and economic implications. Coping with climate change - Harnessing floodwater in the lower Shire valley - by Hastings Chikoko As the climate change phenomenon slowly sets in, Kefasi Banda (not real name) of Dzimphutsi in the lower Shire valley does not understand the increasingly contradicting realities in his village. During the rain season the area receives lots of water through the frequent flash floods from the nearby Mkuzi stream. Because of the flatness of the area, the floodwater spreads into villages and gardens damaging crops and property. Banda always flees the sea of “problem waters” for safer ground hoping to use the floodwater when it recedes. Inter-Agency Field Library for Disaster Reduction reaches Southern Africa In an effort to enhance public awareness and wider access to information on hazards, vulnerability and risks, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) is setting up “Disaster Reduction Libraries” within recognised regional institutions. Zambezi River Authority champions development in the Zambezi valley - by Leonissah Munjoma The Zambezi River Authority (ZARA) is committing almost US$10,000 a month towards the setting up of irrigation schemes in the Zambezi valley as part of the Authority's contribution to the development of the area. Basin states incorporate gender concerns in energy solutions - by Egline Tauya Zambezi Basin states have placed gender-related concerns at the top of their agenda as they move towards sustainable solutions to energy generation in the region. CITES recognises elephant conservation efforts in the Basin - by Admire Ndhlovu Elephant range countries in the Zambezi Basin will continue to trade in elephant products following recognition of their conservation efforts by other African range states at a recent CITES meeting. Zambezi Has Its People The Kalahari Conservation Society plans to implement the project, Zambezi Has Its People (ZHIP), along the lines of the Every River Has Its People project. Zimbabwe chairs the UN Commission on Sustainable Development Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment and Tourism, Francis Nhema, was elected chairperson of the 16th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) at the commission’s 15th Ordinary Session at the UN headquarters in New York in May. Training Workshop for ZACPRO 6.2 Seconded Staff A training workshop for technical staff from Zambezi River Basin states was held recently in Zambia, hosted by the Zambezi Action Plan Project 6 Phase II (ZACPRO 6.2) as part of the strategy formulation process for Integrated Water Resources Management in the basin. THE ZAMBEZI AT A GLANCE