BY PHESHEYA KUNENE – EDITOR
SIPHOFANENI – Projects in Eswatini rarely fail because of weak ideas. They fail because the fundamentals are ignored.
Water, the most basic input in agriculture and development, is often treated as an assumption rather than a regulated economic resource. That mistake is costing farmers, developers and investors millions before projects even break ground.
In today’s financing environment, water access without a permit is not access at all. It is risk.
Across Eswatini’s agricultural landscape, from irrigation schemes to agro-processing ventures, financiers are asking harder questions. Is the water source legal? Is abstraction sustainable? Has the basin capacity been assessed? If the answers are unclear, funding stalls. Sometimes it disappears altogether.
This is where the Joint River Basin Authorities – Project Board (JRBA-PB) enters the picture, quietly but decisively shaping which projects move forward and which never leave the proposal stage.
Water permits as economic gatekeepers
Water permits are often misunderstood as administrative hurdles. In reality, they are economic instruments. They determine who may abstract groundwater, divert surface water, or store it for commercial use, and under what conditions. More importantly, they signal order in a system where scarcity is increasing.
“Many projects collapse before implementation because water compliance is addressed too late,” said Wandile Zishwili, Public Relations and Communications Officer for JRBA-PB. “By the time financiers request proof of legal water access, the project is already exposed.”
This exposure matters. Development banks, private investors and donor agencies now treat water governance as a core due-diligence requirement. A missing permit signals regulatory uncertainty, environmental risk and potential community conflict. For funders, that combination is enough to walk away.
Why investors follow the water
Modern project finance no longer separates profit from sustainability. Environmental and social safeguards sit at the centre of investment decisions, especially in agriculture. Water use is one of the first variables tested.
A valid water permit confirms that abstraction levels are sustainable within a river basin. It shows alignment with national law. It protects a project from shutdowns, fines or disputes. In financial terms, it lowers risk and increases predictability.
“Water permits are not optional paperwork,” Zishwili said. “They are proof that a project is ready, lawful and responsibly designed.”
For farmers seeking to scale, this distinction is critical. Irrigation without a permit may function temporarily, but it undermines long-term viability. When climate pressure intensifies or policy enforcement tightens, unpermitted operations are the first to suffer.
The institution behind the system
The JRBA-PB, established under Section 79 of the Water Act of 2003, operates within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. Its mandate is to drive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at basin level by coordinating and strengthening Eswatini’s five River Basin Authorities.
Rather than managing water in isolation, the Board evaluates demand within entire catchments. Agriculture, domestic use, ecosystems and industry all draw from the same finite systems. Decisions made upstream affect livelihoods downstream.
“Our responsibility is balance,” Zishwili explained. “Every permit is assessed within the context of basin availability, future demand and sustainability.”
This approach prevents over-extraction, reduces conflict and protects water systems that underpin food security.
River Basin Authorities on the frontline
While JRBA-PB provides coordination and technical oversight, River Basin Authorities (RBAs) are the frontline managers. They monitor flows, assess abstraction pressure and provide basin-specific data that informs permit decisions.
This structure ensures that water governance is not theoretical. It is grounded in hydrology, climate data and local realities. National policy is translated into practical management.
The model mirrors regional best practice. Across Southern Africa, joint basin institutions have proven essential in managing droughts, floods and transboundary pressures. The lesson is clear. Fragmented water use weakens resilience. Coordinated governance strengthens it.
Lessons beyond Eswatini
Shared river systems such as the Komati-Incomati basin, linking Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique, demonstrate the value of collective management. Joint commissions reduce disputes, align planning and protect ecosystems that no single country can manage alone.
Elsewhere on the continent, basin authorities like the Mono River Basin Authority have institutionalised data sharing and inclusive governance. These systems show that water security is achieved through institutions, not intentions.
Eswatini’s JRBA-PB is part of this continental logic. Its work links farm-level decisions to regional water stability.
What farmers must understand now
For farmers and producers, the implication is stark. Water permits must be secured early. Before land preparation. Before infrastructure investment. Before approaching financiers.
Permits provide certainty. They protect farmers during drought cycles. They reduce disputes with neighbours and regulators. In a changing climate, certainty is survival.
“Responsible water use is not a barrier to growth,” said Zishwili. “It is what allows growth to last.”
Beyond compliance, towards resilience
JRBA-PB’s mandate extends beyond permits. It supports basin planning, stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making. Its work recognises that water security underpins agriculture, energy, industry and livelihoods.
As Eswatini pushes for agricultural modernisation, irrigation expansion and agro-industrial growth, the message is unavoidable. Projects that respect water governance advance. Those that ignore it falter.
Water is no longer assumed. It is assessed, allocated and defended.
And in that reality, the Joint River Basin Authorities are not just regulators. They are the unseen architects of sustainable growth.
For more information, visit: http://www.jointrbas.org/
