A balance is needed between equity (social needs), efficiency (economic use of water) and ecosystem sustainability (environmental needs).

Water for social needs
The Table on access to safe water and sanitation illustrates the expected population pressure that will be put on water resources. This should be seen in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for water and sanitation whose targets are to reduce by 50 percent the number of people without access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

The challenges associated with this target for Malawi would mean:

• providing safe water to an additional 10 percent of urban population and 34 percent of rural population by 2015; and
• providing sanitation to an additional 24 percent of urban population and 38 percent of rural population by 2015.

Water for economic needs
On the Zambezi River, hydroelectricity is generated for consumption within and outside the basin. Most of the plants are owned by national electricity are owned by national electricity utilities that are members of the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), which manages the distribution of electricity in the SADC region. It is important to note that although hydroelectricity is a non-consumptive user of water, the pattern of hydropower generation can disturb the flow regime of a river resulting in environmental degradation.

Other economic activities depending on water resources include mines and associated industries as well as agriculture. Mining contributes 10 percent of the total GDP and makes up 60 percent of exports. Large, medium and small-scale mine operators are found in the Basin. Other industries include textile manufacturing, sugar and dairy products. The industrial sector holds a potential for growth given the abundance of raw materials and a competitive labour force. It is therefore expected that demand for water to meet industrial needs will increase. The Zambezi Basin also contains popular tourist destinations such as Victoria Falls.

Agriculture, irrigated and rain fed, is the biggest water user in SADC region as in most parts of the world. It sustains the economies of the region employing 80 percent of the total labour force and contributing to 26 percent of foreign earnings. Both subsistence and commercial agriculture occur in the Zambezi Basin, and crops include maize, rice, beans, tobacco, sugar cane, cotton and citrus. Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions; both droughts and floods have had a devastating effect on agriculture production in recent years. The impact of economic activities on the quantity and quality of water needs continuous monitoring as the consequences, such as possible loss of biodiversity in rivers or wetlands, could be costly and irreversible.

Patterns of water use by country Country Proportion of water use by sectors (%) Agriculture Industry Domestic Angola 76 10 14 Botswana 48 20 32 Malawi 86 3 10 Mozambique 89 2 9 Namibia 68 3 29 Tanzania 89 2 9 Zambia 77 7 16 Zimbabwe 79 7 14 Hirji et al 2002; Ashton and Ramsar, 2002

Water for environmental needs
There was little or no awareness of environmental needs when Kariba dam was constructed in 1958. Times have changed. Today an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be carried out for most projects. Efforts to conserve wetlands or to minimise the impact caused by human activities have gained momentum. The opportunities that eco-tourism offers have contributed to rally support from many sectors, including governments. Not only do wetlands sustain biodiversity and play essential ecosystem functions such as water quality filtration and flood attenuation, they also provide resources for rural communities.

Patterns of water use by country
Country	Proportion of water use by sectors (%)
	Agriculture	Industry
Domestic
Angola	76	10	14
Botswana	48	20	32
Malawi	86	3	10
Mozambique	89	2	9
Namibia	68	3	29
Tanzania	89	2	9
Zambia	77	7	16
Zimbabwe	79	7	14
Rural/ urban proportions, water and sanitation access adapted from Ashton and Ramsar, 2002. Population figures from Hirji et al 2002