A study in controversy: the Mala Malika High DamKim Geheb

Controversy

controversy | käntrə vərsē|ˈ ˌnoun ( pl. controversies )

disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated: he sometimes caused controversy because of his forceful views | the announcement ended a protracted controversy.

Kifaru River Basin basics

• Shared by RD Tembo (36%) and Abadinga (64%)

• 49,263 ha• Water run-off = 3 million m3/yr-1

• Abstraction = 1.3 million m3/yr-1

Of which:-62% agriculture-23% industrial-15% urban

• Population ≈ 2.7 million• Fisheries production ≈ 130,000 m.t.• Forestry ≈ 40,000 m3/yr-1

Kifaru RB water use

RD Tembo

Abadinga

Mali Malika Dam siteMali Malika Dam site

The Mala Malika Dam (MMD)

Installed capacity: 1,300 MWAnnual Production: 3,600 GWHeight: 98.4 mLength: 133 mTurbines: 5 x 260 MW

Agreement between

countries to jointly

construct dam

Time line: an unfolding controversyM

arch

, 20

03

SIA and EIA Approved

Sep

t, 2

004

Concession awarded

Feb

, 20

05

June

200

6

Ground Broken

‘The Fish are Done Dead’

article appears

July

200

6

The Lakini statement is

made

Starehe Riots

‘Happy Fish’ launched

Aug

201

0

MMD Commissioned

Governance indicators for Tembo and Abadinga Political

rights (2009)

Civil liberties (2009)

Corruption index (2008)

Democracy score (2008)

Freedom of the press (2009)

RD Tembo

30 30 13 17.7 4

Abadinga 50 60 35 68.1 43

Scores standardised to percentage values, where 100% = ‘best’, 0 = ‘worst’. (Sources: Freedom House 2009; Transparency International 2010; EIU 2009)

Feb. 2005: MMD SIA and EIA• ‘Negligible fisheries impact’• Comprehensive resettlement of

260 PAPs• Impact on sedimentation ‘positive’• River flows will be maintained

“The Mala Malika Dam will yield absolutely minimal impact on the Kifaru’s ecology, and hydrology. PAP’s will be compensated through an innovative and highly unusual compensation and resettlement package – MMD EIA Report

“Mali Malika will destroy us all. The fish will die. I will not work. And then my children will die. Otieno, John Samuel. Quoted Abadinga Herald, June 27, 2006

Feb. 2006: ‘The Fish are Done Dead’ The Abadinga Herald

One Nation, One Voice

“The fish are done dead”!

Thursday, June 27 2006!

Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features”. The definition often includes a combination of fish and!

Claims – MMD will destroy Kifaru Fisheries!

fishers in a region, the latter fishing for similar species with similar gear types. fishers in a region, the latter fishing for similar species with similar gear types.!!A fishery may involve the capture of wild fish or raising fish through fish farming or aquaculture. Directly or indirectly, the livelihood of over 500 million people in developing countries depends on fisheries and aquaculture. Overfishing, including the taking of fish beyond Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features”. The definition often includes a combination of fish and fishers in a region, the latter fishing for similar species with similar gear types. A fishery may involve the capture of wild fish or raising fish through fish farming or aquaculture. Directly or indirectly, the livelihood of over 500 million people in developing countries depends on fisheries and aquaculture. !

Makundo in Brussels!Aid discussion at EU!

Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features”. The definition often includes a combination of fish and fishers in a region, the latter fishing for similar species with similar gear types.!

Health bill still stuck!A fishery may involve the capture of wild fish or raising fish through fish farming or aquaculture. Directly or indirectly, the livelihood of over 500 million people in developing countries depends on fisheries and aquaculture. Overfishing, including the taking of fish beyond Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. !

According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or.!!

"The impact of the MDD on the Kifaru's ecosystem is likely to be considerable. How can it not? We are anticipating significant

reductions in tourism. This will devastate the country's economy". (http://att.press-release.300606 - accessed 12/01/09) "The Abadinga and Tembo Governments are violating their peoples' human rights. Our research shows that the MMD will significantly

affect food security, and affect over 30,000 people. Once again, these governments can be accused of cover-ups and gross

misconduct" (Abadinga Broadcasting Corportation, 2006. The Interview. Broadcast July 15, 2006. Interview with Samantha Atieno,

ARC Southern Africa Coordinator).

"All dams affect all fisheries, and I tell you what, man, I am pissed. You need an official statement from the SAFA? It's this: we're pissed. The

Kifaru is one of the best rivers in Africa for tiger fish. Tiger fishing brings about 2,000 anglers into Abadinga every year, and they pay for tours, buy curios, spend their money. We estimate that they contribute 3 million US dollars to the national economy annually. And now they want that to go away? Go figure". Japi Van Turen, Chair, SAFA, interviewed on ABC

Radio Show "Viewpoint", August 1, 2006).

"The SADC Council of Ministers registers its concerns regarding the construction of the Mala Malika High Dam, on the Kifaru River

between the Democratic Republic of Tembo, and the Republic of Abadinga. It is concerned that the impacts of the dam have been insuf cifi ently investigated, and that the dam could have signi cafi nt

and irreversible impacts to shfi eries, the environment, and the peoples of those two nations". (SADC CoM Minutes, Ministerial

Meeting, September 13, 2006. Johannesburg, SADC).

Feb 2006: The Lakini Statement

“A few fish and a few fishermen cannot stand in the way of progress.Major General Charles Lakini, President RD Tembo

“Water is a shared resource. We must all therefore share in decisions about it.Dr Alfred Makundo, President, Abadinga

July 2006: The Starehe Riots

July 2006: Happy Fish Campaign

Campaign Approach

Radio News Papers

Extension

TV

Fishing communities

NGOs & Associations

Regional Organisations

Media

Diplomacy

Outcomes

Be your people fishing up-up de Lasatho Fall?

NO!

Be your fish going up-up de Lasatho Fall?

NO!

Will de Mali Malika High Wall make your fish not happy?

NO!

• SADC issues statement, satisfied with the findings of the EIA.

• 26 media ‘moments’ explaining EIA.

• Extension agents visit ca. 7,000 fishermen/other stakeholders.

• NGOs/Associations ‘go quiet’.• No further protests in Tembo.• 33 press conferences.• 7 adjustments to EIA/SIA made

as a result of feedback.• 3 Design changes to dam made

as a result of feedback.

Thank you for your attention