Over the past two decades, most developing countries, especially in Africa, have been transitioning towards water sector reform. While new water legislation in many African countries – as in South Africa – has included the environmental protection and the Polluter Pays Principle as priorities, it has given little attention to community involvement. South Africa faces many water-related challenges, the most significant being water quality deterioration, which requires constant monitoring. Water resource monitoring is essential for protecting water resources but presents challenges that constitute research gaps this study aimed to address. Key gaps include: the lack of policy support for community stakeholder participation in water resource monitoring; the exclusion of community data from water resource protection decision-making; poor integration of monitoring programmes and information sharing among different institutions; and uncertainty about the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement in reaching the intended objectives.
As a result of the identified gaps, a main research question was formulated: What is the potential value of community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in water resource protection decision-making in a developing country context such as South Africa?. The main research question was informed by the five sub- questions: 1. What are the benefits, values, pitfalls, and challenges of CBWM programmes? 2. What criteria should be considered in CBWM in developing countries? 3. Based on the opinions of governance structures and the real-life experiences of communities, to what extent do the selected catchments in South Africa, as a developing country, benefit from CBWM? 4. What are the views of governance structures on the extent to which CBWM operates in South African communities? 5. How might a conceptual framework work by enhancing the use of CBWM data in decision making for developing countries?
A case study research design utilising a mixed-methods research approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods, was followed to answer the research questions. The study integrated a literature review with primary data collection through three case studies. Data were gathered through interviews and a survey questionnaire.
The study’s findings indicate that sustainable CBWM programmes promote community involvement in water monitoring while encouraging public ownership and trusteeship of water resources. However, the absence of appropriate guiding policy and CBWM-related challenges have hampered progress and prevented community data from contributing to decision-making. This study demonstrates the importance of a standardised protocol as a baseline for monitoring, managing data, ensuring value for money, and securing funding. The study highlighted the extent of catchments benefiting from CBWM initiatives as an early warning system and emphasised the importance of collaboration between different community governance structures for effective operation. A conceptual framework was developed for integrating CBWM data into the decision-making process to enhance the use of CBWM data for decision-making and to enhance sustainability and establish consistent information-sharing channels among relevant institutions.
Engaging with the main research question yielded important insights into the role of CBWM data in decision-making. CBWM improves the capacity for monitoring water impacts, enabling more informed decisions through increased data availability. This helps bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and local community knowledge that traditional methods involving only professional scientists have overlooked. The integration of community data in water resource protection fosters a proactive management framework, allowing community members to identify potential water issues early and optimise resource allocation and protection.
A key insight gained is that CBWM participation can guide both data collection and implementation of CBWM initiatives, ultimately promoting sustainable practices. This exploration underscores that CBWM not only enhances data collection, but also supports policy development and stakeholder engagement, thus filling critical gaps identified in both knowledge and practical applications within the field of sustainable water management
Kha mahumi mavhili a miṅwaha yo fhiraho, mashango a no khou bvelela, zwihulusa a dzhango ḽa Afurika, a khou shandukela kha tshanduko ya zwa maḓi. Musi milayo miswa kha mashango manzhi a dzhango ḽa Afurika, sa Afurika Tshipembe, yo katela na u tsireledza mupo na tshikafhadzo yawo i vhidzwaho “Polluter Pays Principle”, ya dovha hafhu ya katela zwiṱukuṱuku na u dzhenelela ha vhadzulapo. Afurika Tshipembe ḽi khou livhana na khaedu nnzhi dza maḓi, zwihulusa u kuna hao zwine zwa tea u dzula zwi tshi khou poswa iṱo. U ṱola zwiko zwa maḓi ndi zwa ndeme kha u tsireledza zwiko, fhedzi zwi na khaedu kana magake ane a ṱoḓa
tsedzuluso ya zwine ngudo iyi ya khou ṱoḓa u bvisela khagala. Magake aya a ndeme a katela, u shaeya ha thikhedzo ya milayo kana mbekanyamaitele ya vhafaramikovhe vha tshitshavha kha u ṱhogomela zwiko zwa maḓi; u sa dzhielwa nṱha ha mawanwa a tshitshavha musi hu tshi dzhiiwa tsheo; u shaeya ha u ṱanganya mbekanyamushumo dza u ṱhogomela na u ṋekana zwidodombedzwa uya nga u fhambana ha madzangano na u sa shumisana ha vhafaramikovhe kha u swikelela zwipikwa. Nga nṱhani ha magake o waniwaho, ho bveledzwa mbudziso nthihi khulwane ya ṱhoḓuluso ‘Ndeme khulwane ya community-based water monitoring (CBWM) kha tsheo dza u tsireledza zwiko zwa maḓi kha shango li no khou bvelela sa shango la Afurika Tshipembe?’ Mbudziso khulwane nga ha thoduluso yo tutuwedzwa nga mbudziso thanu ṱhukhu dzine dza vha: 1. Ndi mbuelo, ndeme, khombo na khaedu dzifhio dza mbekanyamushumo dza CBWM? 2. Ndi nḓila
dzifhio dzine dza fanela u tevhelwa kha CBWM kha mashango a no khou bvelela? 3. Zwo disendeka kha kuhumbulele kwa zwiko zwa mavhusele, na kuhumbulele kwa tshitshavha, ndi lini hune khuvhanganyo ya maḓi Afurika Tshipembe, sa shango ļi no khou bvelela ļa bindula u bva kha CBWM? 4. Ndi mbonalele ifhio uya nga ha zwiko zwa muvhuso zwine CBWM ya khou bveledzisa? 5. CBWM data I nga shumiswa hani kha u dzhiya tsheo kha mashango ane a khou bvelela? Ngudo ya tsumbo ya tsedzuluso ye ya shumisa tsedzuluso yo ṱanganelaho, yo katela tsedzuluso ya khwaļithethivi nay a khwanthithethivi ya tevhelwa nga u fhindula mbudziso dza tsedzuluso. Ngudo iyi yo shumisa nḓiļa ya ṱhoḓuluso yo ṱanganelanaho, yo katela tsedzuluso
ya maṅwalwa and mawanwa o kuvhanganyiwaho kha ṱhoḓuluso tharu dza ngudo Mawanwa o wanala nga u ita nyambedzano na vhathu vho tou nangiwaho ha dovha hafhu ha netshedzwa dzinwe mbudziso. Mawanwa a tsedzuluso a sumbedza uri mbekanyamushumo dza CBWM dzi thusa tshitshavha kha u vha tshipiḓa na kha u lavhelesa kana tsireledzo ya maḓi, na u vha na vhuḓifhinduleli. Sa zwenezwo, u sa vha na milayo na khaedu dza CBWM zwi ita u ri hu sa vhe na mvelaphanḓa. Ngudo iyi I sumbedza ndeme ya u vha na ndaulo I ṱanganedzwaho nga nnyi na nnyi sa mutheo, u ri hu kone u vha na u londola kana u ṱhogomela, u ṱhogomela mawanwa (data), na u kona u vi wana ndambedzo ya masheleni. Ngudo yo bvisela khagala u ri CBWM I khou thusa tshitshavha u swika ngafhi ya dovha ya tsivhudza vhuṱhogwa ha u shumisana kha zwitshavha u ya nga u fhambana. Ho bveledzwa nḓila ya u dzhenisa mawanwa ya CBWM musi hu tshi dzhiiwa tsheo na u khwaṱhisa u ņekana nḓivho nga zwiimiswa uya nga u fhambana. Kha mbudziso khulwane ya ṱhoḓuluso, zwo bveledza u khwiņisea kha tshipida tsha u tsireledza zwiko zwa maḓi na u shumisa mawanwa a re hone. Mbuelo idzi dzi thusa u fhungudza magake vhukati ha nḓivho ya saintsi na ya vhadzulapo ya sialala. U ṱanganyisa mawanwa a vhadzulapo kha tsireledzo ya zwiko zwa maḓi zwi ṱuṱuwedza u shuma kana u langula, zwine zwa tendela
vhadzulapo u kona u vhona zwi sa khou tshimbilaho zwavhuḓi na u kona u ņetshedza na u tsireledza maḓi.
Mbuelo dzo wanwaho kha u shumisana na CBWM ndi u kona u sumba nḓila kha u kuvhanganya mawanwa na u sumbedza vhurangaphanḓa, zwine zwa ṱuṱuwedza tshumisano ya tshifhinga tshilapfu. Ṱhoḓulusa iyi I sumbedza vhuṱhogwa ha CBWM kha u ṱandavhudza ṱhoḓuluso na u kuvhanganya mawanwa na u tikedza kha u bveledza mbekanyamaitele na u katela vhafaramikovhe, zwine zwa vala gake vhukati ha nḓivho na nyito. Maipfi a ndeme: Tsedzuluso ya maḓi nga vhadzulapo, tsireledzo ya zwiko zwa maḓi. muangarane wa u dzhia tsheo, tshipirioni na vhupfiwa ha vhafaramikovhe, vhuṱhogwa ha u ṱola, u bindula na dzikhaudu kha vhadzulapo, ṱhanganyo ya mawanwa, Afurika Tshipembe.
Eka makume mambirhi ya malembe lama hundzeke, matiko yo tala lama hluvukaka, ngopfungopfu eAfrika, ya vile ya hundzukela eka mpfuxeto wa sekithara ya mati. Loko milawu leyintshwa ya mati ematikweni yo tala ya Afrika – tanihi le Afrika-Dzonga – yi katsa nsirhelelo wa mbango na Nsinya wa Nawu wa Nthyakiso wa Ntshikelelo tanihi swilo leswi rhangisaka emahlweni, wu nyikile nyingiso wutsongo eka ku nghenelela ka vaaki. Afrika-Dzonga ri langutane na mintlhontlho yo tala leyi fambelanaka na mati, leyi nga ya nkoka swinene i ku hohloka ka khwalithi ya mati, leswi lavaka ku vekiwa tihlo nkarhi hinkwawo. Ku vekiwa tihlo ka switirhisiwa swa mati i swa nkoka eka ku sirhelela switirhisiwa swa mati kambe swi tisa mintlhontlho leyi vumbeke swivandla swa ndzavisiso leswi ndzavisiso lowu a wu kongomisiwile ku swi lulamisa. Swivandla swa nkoka swi katsa: ku pfumaleka ka nseketelo wa pholisi eka ku nghenelela ka vakhomaxiave va vaaki eka ku vekiwa tihlo ka switirhisiwa swa mati; ku hlongoriwa ka datha ya vaaki eka ku tekiwa ka swiboho swa nsirhelelo wa switirhisiwa swa mati; ku hlanganisiwa loku nga riki kahle ka minongonoko yo veka tihlo na ku avelana mahungu exikarhi ka swivandla swo hambana; na ku nga tiyiseki mayelana na ku humelela ka ku nghenelela ka vakhomaxiave eku fikeleleni ka swikongomelo leswi kunguhatiweke.
Hikwalaho ka swivandla leswi hlawuriweke, xivutiso lexikulu xa ndzavisiso xi vumbiwile ‘Hi wihi nkoka lowu nga vaka kona wa community-based water monitoring (CBWM) eka ku tekiwa ka swiboho swa nsirhelelo wa switirhisiwa swa mati eka xiyimo xa tiko leri hluvukaka ku fana na Afrika-Dzonga?’. Xivutisonkulu xa ndzavisiso xi tivisiwile hi swivutiso leswitsongo swa ntlhanu: 1. Hi yihi mimpfuno, mimpimanyeto, mintlhamu, na mintlhontlho ya minongonoko ya CBWM? 2. Hi swihi swipimelo leswi faneleke ku tekeriwa enhlokweni eka CBWM ematikweni lama hluvukaka? 3. Hi ku ya hi mavonelo ya swivumbeko swa vulawuri na mintokoto ya xiviri ya miganga, xana swihlovo leswi hlawuriweke eAfrika-Dzonga, tanihi tiko leri hluvukaka, swi vuyeriwa ku fikela kwihi eka CBWM? 4. Hi wahi mavonelo ya swivumbeko swa vulawuri eka mpimo lowu CBWM yi tirhaka ha wona eka miganga ya Afrika-Dzonga? 5. Xana rimba ra miehleketo ri nga tirha njhani hi ku ndlandlamuxa matirhiselo ya datha ya CBWM eka ku teka swiboho eka matiko lama hluvukaka?
Dizayini ya ndzavisiso wa dyondzo ya xiyimo leyi tirhisaka endlelo ra ndzavisiso wa maendlelo yo hlangana, leyi katsaka maendlelo ya xiyimo na ya nhlayo, yi landzeriwile ku hlamula swivutiso swa ndzavisiso. Dyondzo yi hlanganisa nkambisiso wa matsalwa na nhlengeleto wa datha ya masungulo hi ku tirhisa tidyondzo tinharhu ta timhaka. Data yi hlengeletiwile hi ku tirhisa mimbulavurisano na ndzavisiso.
Swikumiwa swa ndzavisiso swi kombisa leswaku minongonoko ya CBWM leyi nga ta tshama nkarhi wo leha yi tlakusa ku nghenelela ka vaaki eka ku vekiwa tihlo ka mati loko yi ri karhi yi hlohlotela vun’wini bya mfumo na vutshembeki bya switirhisiwa swa mati. Hambiswiritano, ku
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pfumaleka ka pholisi yo kongomisa leyi faneleke na mintlhontlho leyi fambelanaka na CBWM swi kavanyetile nhluvuko na ku sivela datha ya vaaki ku hoxa xandla eka ku teka swiboho. Dyondzo leyi yi kombisa nkoka wa phurotokholo leyi ringaniseriweke tanihi masungulo yo veka tihlo, ku lawula datha, ku tiyisisa nkoka wa mali, na ku kuma mali. Dyondzo yi kombisile mpimo wa swihlovo leswi vuyeriwaka eka migingiriko ya CBWM tanihi sisiteme ya xitsundzuxo xa le mahlweni naswona yi kandziyisile nkoka wa ntirhisano exikarhi ka swivumbeko swo hambana swa vulawuri bya vaaki ku endlela matirhelo lama humelelaka. Rimba ra miehleketo ri tumbuluxiwile ro hlanganisa datha ya CBWM eka phurosese yo teka swiboho ku ndlandlamuxa matirhiselo ya datha ya CBWM ku teka swiboho na ku ndlandlamuxa ku kondletela na ku simeka tindlela leti nga cincekiki to avelana mahungu exikarhi ka swivandla leswi faneleke.
Ku nghenelela na xivutiso xa ndzavisiso, swi humesile vutivi bya nkoka lebyi ndlandlamuxaka ku twisisa ntirho wa datha ya CBWM eka ku teka swiboho. CBWM yi antswisa vuswikoti byo langutisisa ku khumbeka ka mati, ku endla leswaku ku va na swiboho leswi nga na vutivi byo tala hi ku engetela ku kumeka ka datha. Leswi swi pfuneta ku hlanganisa xivandla exikarhi ka vutivi bya sayense na vutivi bya vaaki va ndhawu lebyi tindlela ta ndhavuko to katsa vativi va sayense va xiphurofexinali ntsena ti honiseke. Ku hlanganisiwa ka datha ya vaaki eka nsirhelelo wa switirhisiwa swa mati swi kurisa rimba ra vulawuri lebyi nga na vuxiyaxiya, ku pfumelela swirho swa vaaki ku kuma timhaka leti nga vaka kona ta mati ka ha ri na nkarhi na ku antswisa avelo na nsirhelelo wa switirhisiwa.
Vutivi bya nkoka lebyi kumiweke hileswaku ku nghenelela ka CBWM ku nga kongomisa havumbirhi bya nhlengeleto wa datha na ku tirhisiwa ka migingiriko ya CBWM, eku heteleleni ku tlakusa maendlelo lama nga ta tshama nkarhi wo leha. Ku lavisisa loku ku kandziyisa leswaku CBWM a yi ndlandlamuxi ntsena nhlengeleto wa datha, kambe yi tlhela yi seketela nhluvukiso wa pholisi na ku nghenelela ka vakhomaxiave, xisweswo yi tata swivandla swa nkoka leswi hlawuriweke eka vutivi na matirhiselo lama tirhaka endzeni ka xiyenge xa vulawuri bya mati lebyi nga heriki.
Marito ya nkoka: Ku vekiwa tihlo ka mati loku simekiweke eka vaaki, nsirhelelo wa switirhisiwa swa mati, ku teka swiboho, rimba ra miehleketo, mavonelo na ntokoto wa vakhomaxiave, not yak u hlawuleka, mabindza na mintlhontlho ya nhlayo, hlanganiso, Afrika-Dzonga
