A coalition of civil society and trade union activists, under the aegis of Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition, OWORAC, has urged African leaders to defend the right of their citizens to water and emphatically reject privatisation schemes on the continent.
The group while addressing Newsmen in Lagos at an event to mark the third annual Africa week of action against water privatization said the purported move to privatise the water sector in African communities is inimical to the rights of the people to water.
From Lagos, to Abuja, Nairobi to Yaounde, and indeed all parts of Africa, the story is the same, lack of access to clean and affordable water supply, a situation that has led African governments to move towards privatising the continent’s water resources under the guise of making water available .
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But for the third year, this coalition of civil society and trade union organisations is saying No to water privatisation describing it as inimical to the rights of the people.
With the theme “Holding Hands to Protect Africa’s Water From Corporate Capture” the group which comprises representatives from over 10 African countries are saying that government can explore other alternatives as evidence of failed water privatisation projects abound around the world.
They want African leaders to recognize water as a human right in line with United Nations declaration and not bow to pressure from Corporations backed by the International Monetary Fund who now see Africa’s water as blue gold mines to be explored for profit.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
