Boundaries of benefit sharing: interpretation and application of substantive rules in the Lake Malawi/Niassa/Nyasa sub?basin of the Zambezi Watercourse
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
questions regarding how riparian states determine �who gets what, where, and why� in a
shared watercourse. To facilitate peaceful coexistence, substantive rules��equitable and
reasonable utilisation (ERU)� and �the duty to prevent the causing of significant harm��
define rights and responsibilities of riparian states in the utilisation of shared watercourses.
The duty of riparian states to cooperate, as a principle of international law, plays an important
part in realising these substantive rules. This article critically reflects on the principles
underlying transboundary water management by focusing on the interpretation and application
of substantive rules in the Lake Malawi/Niassa/Nyasa sub-basin of the Zambezi River
Basin in Southern Africa. The case study demonstrates how interpretation and application
of international water law are generally in line with customary practices, but are subject to
highly localised decision contexts which challenge Southern African Development Community
(SADC) attempts to establish a firm legal foundation upon which to guide access,
use and management across the region�s shared river basins.
Description
Keywords
International water law, Customary international law, Transboundary water law, Water resources management, Southern Africa
Citation
Fatch, J. et al. (2023). Boundaries of benefit sharing: interpretation and application of substantive rules in the Lake Malawi/Niassa/Nyasa sub?basin of the Zambezi Watercourse. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 23, 77�97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-022-09585-4