Table Of ContentChristopher Rowan was awarded a PhD in International Relations
from Nottingham Trent University. Prior to his academic research,
he spent ten years living and working in different parts of the
‘developing world’. During his time in Africa he witnessed first-
hand the problems associated with drought, which spurred this
study of EU aid to water projects in the Southern African Develop-
ment Community of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group.
INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY OF AFRICAN STUDIES
1. Military in the Making of Modern South 14. Apartheid South Africa and African
Africa – Annette Seegers States: From Pariah to Middle Power,
978 1 85043 689 8 1961–1994 – Roger Pfister
2. The Diplomacy of Liberation: 978 1 85043 625 6
The Foreign Relations of the ANC 15. A History of the Left in South Africa:
Since 1960 – Scott Thomas Writings of Baruch Hirson
978 1 85043 993 6 Baruch Hirson
3. A History of East Africa, 1592–1902 978 1 85043 454 2
R. W. Beachey 16. An African Trading Empire: The Story
978 1 85043 994 3 of Susman Brothers & Wulfsohn, 1901–2005
Hugh Macmillan
4. The Nigerian Military and the State
Jimmy Peters 978 1 85043 853 3
978 1 85043 874 8 17. The Place of Tears: The Novel
and Politics in Modern Zimbabwe
5. Adjusting Society: The World Bank,
Ranka Primorac
the IMF and Ghana
Lynne Brydon & Karen Legge 978 1 84511 120 5
978 1 86064 000 1 18. Mineworkers in Zambia: Labour and
Political Change in Post-Colonial Africa
6. The Horn of Africa: Politics and
Miles Larmer
International Relations
Peter Woodward 978 1 84511 299 8
978 1 85043 741 3 19. Reconstructing the Nation in Africa:
The Politics of Nationalism in Ghana
7. State of Emergency: Nyasaland 1959
Michael Amoah
Colin Baker
978 1 84511 259 2
978 1 86064 068 1
8. From Colonization to Democracy: 20. Revolt and Protest: Student Politics and
A New Historical Geography of South Activism in Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa – Alan Lester Leo Zeilig
978 1 84511 476 3
978 1 86064 091 9
10. South Africa in Transition: 21. The Other Way Around – Frank Verdon
The Misunderstood Miracle 978 1 86064 030 8
Adrian Guelke 22. The Politics of Neoliberal Democracy in
978 1 86064 343 9 Africa: State and Civil Society in Nigeria
11. Security and the State in Southern Usman A. Tar
Africa – Agostinho Zacarias 978 1 84511 656 9
978 1 86064 328 6 23. Afrikaners in the New South Africa:
12. Coming to Terms: Zimbabwe in the Identity Politics in a Globalised Economy
International Arena – Richard Schwartz Rebecca Davies
978 1 86064 647 8 978 1 84511 785 6
13. Britain, Kenya and the Cold War: 24. The Politics of Water in Africa:
Imperial Defence, Colonial Security and The European Union’s Role in Development
Decolonisation – David Percox Aid Partnership – Chris Rowan
978 1 85043 460 3 978 1 84511 685 9
THE POLITICS
OF WATER
IN AFRICA
The European Union’s
Role in Development
Aid Partnership
CHRISTOPHER ROWAN
Tauris Academic Studies
LONDON • NEW YORK
Published in 2009 by Tauris Academic Studies,
an imprint of I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd
6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU
175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010
www.ibtauris.com
In the United States of America and Canada distributed by Palgrave Macmillan
a division of St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010
Copyright © 2009 Chris Rowan
The right of Chris Rowan to be identified as the author of this work has been
asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act
1988.
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or any
part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval sys-
tem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording or othe rwise, without the prior written permission of the pub-
lisher.
International Library of African Studies 24
ISBN: 978 1 84511 685 9
A full CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available
Printed and bound in India by Thomson Press India Limited
From camera-ready copy edited and supplied by the author
CONTENTS
Foreword vii
Acknowledgements ix
Glossary and Abbreviations xi
1. What of Water? 1
2. Friends or Foes? 11
3. Development or Dictatorship? 55
4. The Partnerships Between Lesotho and Brussels 67
and Mozambique and Brussels
5. EU-ACP Partnership: Does the Rhetoric Match 111
the Reality?
6. The Next Step 123
7. The Current Position: After the Mid-Term Review 133
8. Conclusions 141
Notes 145
Appendix 1 155
Appendix 2 179
Bibliography 193
Index 201
FOREWORD
This book examines the concept of partnership as expressed with-
in the current relationship between the European Union (EU) as an
aid donor and certain countries of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific group (ACP) – primarily Lesotho but also Mozambique – as
aid recipients. The concept of partnership is central to this work
which shows how, although its meaning has evolved, the concept
remains an important organising idea in EU development policy,
and an important ideological framework. The way the parties use
it or put it into action is examined through a study of the policy of
the EU to help improve the water supply, and sanitation, of
Lesotho. The emerging position is then considered to search for
comparisons and differences in the case of Mozambique.
This idea began with a document from the Stockholm
International Water Institute (SIWI) entitled: Water and
Development in the Developing Countries – A study commissioned
by the European Parliament (SIWI Report 10, 2000). The executive
summary of the repo rt stated that the EU should provide aid ‘in
particular for the SADC region’, and should work to help SADC
implement its own water protocol and bilateral agreements. I also
have a personal interest because I have experience of living in
Southern Africa.
Taking into consideration international security issues as well as
the more personal security issues raised by various other authors
such as Buzan, Waever, de Wilde and Little, the relationship
between the EU and the ACP is particularly interesting when the
human right to water1 is under consideration. The relationship can
be seen in two ways: as representing all that is good in partnership
between two groups, or as evidence of the use of development dis-
course by the EU to continue the domination of areas of the Third
viii THE POLITICS OF WATER IN AFRICA
World in the postcolonial era.
The contrasting theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau provide
possibilities for the basis of the EU–ACP relationship as each of
them has a different idea of the concept of partnership. A study of
current EU documents and evidence gathered from officials in
Lesotho and Mozambique enable an examination of the relation-
ship up to the position where the EU is considering (at the time of
research) a ‘postparticipation paradigm’, thus in reality making a
definitive statement about the type of partnership that actually
exists. The impression of a balanced relationship between respect-
ed equals is dashed by the empirical evidence and by the position
taken by the EU under the midterm review which is part of the
Cotonou Agreement.
I will suggest that the apparent disagreement and friction could
be avoided and a closer, more harmonious working relationship
enjoyed if the two ‘sides’, the EU and ACP, were to choose to work
to the same version of partnership rather than taking different start-
ing positions, as seems to be the current case.
Christopher Rowan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to acknowledge the help of a wide variety of people. I am
grateful to the university I was attending at the time for the finan-
cial support that enabled me to undertake two vital field trips.
These provided me with a great deal of empirical data.
In Lesotho my initial contact with the EU delegation was with
Julie Stewart and her knowledge and the speed with which she
replied to enquiries made the field trip to Africa much more pleas-
ant and profitable. A special mention must be given to the lady
staffing the telephones at the EU delegation in Lesotho who spent
time and energy arranging a wide variety of meetings for me
whilst in Lesotho, thus allowing me to make the best use of my
time there. Further thanks to the EU delegation in Lesotho – its
cordial relationship with many in Lesotho paved the way and
helped me gain access to many people I may not have met with-
out their help.
In Mozambique the EU delegation again provided me with a
great starting point a nd a list of suggested people to meet. My
hotel’s receptionist made lots of initial contacts, speaking
Portuguese to a wide variety of secretaries, taxi drivers and door-
men on my behalf.
At home I would like to express thanks to my parents, who
allowed a room in their house to be turned into an office, a filing
cabinet, a desk and a communication centre. Their patience in the
face of a long project exemplifies the support I have had through-
out life.
To Rosie, the only one who really knew what it was about and
who has provided support, computer help, typing skills and many
other distractions; I hope you get to see the fruits of our labours.
Finally, this is dedicated to my son Samuel, now eleven years
x THE POLITICS OF WATER IN AFRICA
old, who has had an alternative version of partnership put before
him but is intelligent enough to work out what is best.
Christopher Rowan
