Water resources management practice has undergone changes in management approaches
and principles over time. It was previously characterised by what scholars refer to as the
hydraulic mission where ëextreme engineeringí was the order of the day (Allan, 2003).
As Radif (1999) argues, water resources managers and policy makers were initially
driven to manage and supply water to people for its direct use; these included drinking,
growing food, and providing power for domestic and industrial use. This modus operandi
continued until the end of the 1970s. Over two decades later, this focus is still prevalent
in many countries in southern Africa including Botswana. As Swatuk and Rahm (2004)
state, ìaugmenting supply is a continuing focus of government activityî.
The National Water Master Plan (NWMP) is the current policy document guiding water
resources management in Botswana and it focuses on supply-side interventions in
response to increasing water demand. According to SMEC et al. (1991), the consulting
company that conducted the NWMP study, ìthe investigation and studies... indicated the
need for the continuing development of water supplies throughout Botswana over the
next 30 yearsî. Based on these observations, government has developed significant
human and technical capacity in exploiting both surface and groundwater resources
(Swatuk and Rahm, 2004).
Prevailing arguments in water management practice today are that this supply-driven
approach is not sustainable (Davies and Day, 1998; Falkenmark and Rockstrˆm, 2004). It
poses a threat not only to natural ecosystems but also to the livelihood security of human
populations as renewable water resources continue to dwindle; this is particularly so as
water has no known substitute (Abu-Zeid, 1998).

2


Recently, the ësustainable development talkí has featured in virtually all international
conferences concerning issues of the environment and development, since its coinage by
the Brundtland Commission in 1987. The concept of sustainability in development of any
kind began to be advocated as the most sensible approach to development. With regards
to water resources management, sustainable development would entail the
implementation of an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) regime. As
Kansiime (2002:802) posits, ìto ensure sustainable development through proper use of
water resources, policies should address management, conservation and development of
water resources in an integrated and holistic approach based on institutionalised gender
and economic principlesî.