Mugabe worried about Zimbabwe's water as African leaders talk tough at COP22

Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has expressed concern about the water situation in his country. The southern African country is one of those adversely affected by drought.

Mugabe was addressing a cross section of world leaders who had gathered in the Moroccan port city of Marrakech for the plenary of the COP22 summit. The High Level Segment of the summit was reserved for Heads of State.

‘‘Climate change is a reality taking a toll on our people. The water situation in my country is dire,” he is quoted to have said.

HE Robert Gabriel Mugabe, #Zimbabwe: ”Climate change is a reality taking a toll on our people. The water situation in my country is dire.” pic.twitter.com/HY6bx8OYsL

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

China and India have in the recent past donated tonnes of rice to drought-hit Zimbabwe. The donation is to help the southern African country alleviate hunger after a drought that has left up to 4 million Zimbabweans in need of food aid.

The Conference of the Parties (COP22) conference started from 7 November and is expected to end on 18 of November, 2016.

The COP which is the supreme decision making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is expected to lay emphasis on new ways of placing development and the civil society at the centre of the climate agenda.

African leaders at the summit have been talking about their commitments to ensuring a sustainable climate. They are also touting their domestic efforts aimed at achieving tangible results in the fight against climate change.

Below are a series of tweets telling what African leaders have been saying.

HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, #Liberia: ”Pledges made under #ParisAgreement are insufficient to meet objective of 2 degrees Celsius.” pic.twitter.com/BlzVslVhbz

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

HE Uhuru Kenyatta, #Kenya “I’m pleased to announce that Kenya now has a climate change act and national adaptation plan.” pic.twitter.com/jLqLBbkH12

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

HE Muhammadu Buhari, #Nigeria: “We welcome entry into force of #ParisAgreement and the historic opportunity to build sustainable societies.” pic.twitter.com/LFr3LPRk7c

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

SE M. Denis Sassou-Nguesso, #Congo :“J’annonce la création d’un Fonds bleu pour le bassin du Congo”. #COP22 #ActionTime pic.twitter.com/OJodZcPSm1

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

HE Danny Rollen Faure, #Seychelles: “The Republic of Seychelles views climate change as an existential threat” pic.twitter.com/F2Shn8Ny5o

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

SE M. Alassane Ouattara, #CoteDivoire : “La #COP22 doit être la conférence de l'action, de la vérité et de la solidarité” #ActionTime pic.twitter.com/mRwyhKus0h

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

HE Edgar Chagwa Lungu, #Zambia: “Your Majesty, my government is deeply concerned that climate change poses a serious threat to our survival” pic.twitter.com/N7cWm5BWc4

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

SE M.Ismail Omar Guelleh, #Djibouti : “La conférence de #Marrakech commence sous de bons auspices car l'#AccordDeParis est entré en vigueur” pic.twitter.com/gH4tV8DOpZ

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

SE M. Issoufou Mahamadou, #Niger : “Nous sommes tous déterminés à vaincre le changement climatique” #COP22 #ActionTime pic.twitter.com/nzRwiLAmYy

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

What is the COP?

The COP stands for the “Conference of the Parties.”

It is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), opened for signature in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and later entered into force in 1994.

Through this instrument, the United Nations has equipped itself with an action framework to fight global warming.