One River, Four Nations: The Orange River’s Economic Lifeline

 

By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus

 

The Orange-Senqu Basin, spanning over 1 million square kilometers across Southern Africa, supports more than 60% of the region’s economy despite contributing less than 5% of its water resources.

This makes the basin one of the most complex and challenging water systems in the world due to its transboundary nature.

The importance of the basin for the four countries it runs through — Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa — is underscored in the 3rd Joint Basins Survey (2023) by the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM).

Established in 2000, ORASECOM advises the governments of these nations on managing the basin’s resources.