Controlling growth is not, however, part of its water-use plans. The Ambassador noted that such a proposal would carry great weight with the Namibian government, which is anxious to promote industrial development. In areas of limited water resources, the needs of large industry often push aside smaller and more ecologically sensitive businesses. In a case like this, SAEP sees a real need for thorough, independent, and cross-border investigation of the effects of this project. The forces of rapid urbanisation, seen in Windhoek as in most other Southern African cities, have major detrimental environmental effects, and it is clear that development strategies need to try to stem these tides where possible, by providing sound economic alternatives in rural areas, and thus geographically spreading the resources.
Water is the most fundamental resource any country possesses.