Civil society and labour activists from Africa campaigning against water privatisation under the auspices of Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) is set to hold the third edition of the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation from 9-15 October 2023.
The week of action, which coincides with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings holding in Marrakech, Morocco from 9-15 October 2023, is themed “Holding Hands to Protect Africa’s Water from Corporate Capture”.
In a press statement issued by Zikorah Ibeh, Policy and Research Officer at the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), it was disclosed that the Week of Action will deepen push back actions against water privatisation in Africa through partnerships of grassroots communities, labour and civil society.
The statement reads in part that “recognising the World Bank as one of the biggest drivers of water privatisation around the world, especially in Africa, the Week of Action taking place during its annual meeting will serve as an important counterweight to the pro-privatisation agenda.
“The Week of Action, also targets deepening collective support for countries at risk of a range of water privatisation schemes, including across West, East, Central, and Southern Africa. The coalition is comprised of activists from Cameroun, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.”
Activities lined out for the Week of Action include; An international hybrid press conference on Monday, October 9, 2023, by 11:30 AM WAT; Press briefings in the partner countries in Africa; Meetings with policymakers across the region; Awareness raising about the dangers of water privatisation through protest marches, social media engagements and town hall meetings with excluded communities.
Participants at the hybrid press briefing will include activists from Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Senegal. US-based Corporate Accountability and the Public Services International (PSI) will equally participate.
Speakers will include Akinbode Oluwafemi of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, and Sani Baba Mohammed, Regional Secretary, Africa and Arab Countries, PSI.
Interested members of the public can register to attend the hybrid press briefing.