By
Pamenus
Tuso
Speaking
during
the
Wetskills
Zimbabwe
pitch
and
poster
presentation
event
on
Thursday,
Ambassador
van
Eeuwen
described
the
initiative
as
a
powerful
example
of
cooperation
between
Zimbabwe
and
the
Netherlands
in
tackling
growing
global
water
challenges.
The
Wetskills
Water
Challenge
is
a
globally
recognised
intensive
two-week
programme
founded
in
the
Netherlands
in
2010.
It
brings
together
multidisciplinary
international
teams
to
develop
practical
and
economically
viable
solutions
to
real-life
water
challenges
submitted
by
governments,
companies
and
non-governmental
organisations.
Addressing
participants,
van
Eeuwen
commended
the
organisers
and
the
City
of
Bulawayo
for
successfully
hosting
the
programme
for
the
second
time
in
the
city.
“Let
me
once
again
thank
the
Wetskills
team
for
coming
up
with
this
fantastic
initiative.
It
is
only
the
second
time
here
in
Bulawayo
and
big
thanks
also
go
to
the
city
of
Bulawayo
for
making
this
happen,”
he
said.
The
ambassador
explained
that
water
management
is
deeply
embedded
in
Dutch
history
and
identity,
noting
that
a
significant
portion
of
the
Netherlands
lies
below
sea
level.
“Water
is
part
of
our
DNA.
A
third
of
our
country
is
below
sea
level,
including
our
capital
city.
Over
decades,
the
Dutch
have
developed
pioneering
solutions
to
work
with
and
against
water,
the
ocean
and
tides,”
he
said.
Van
Eeuwen
highlighted
the
Dutch
concept
of
“Poldren”,
a
term
used
to
describe
collaboration
among
various
stakeholders
to
solve
common
challenges,
saying
cooperation
is
central
to
addressing
water-related
problems.
He
said
the
Netherlands
continues
to
work
closely
with
Zimbabwe
through
several
water
partnership
programmes
involving
cities
such
as
Harare,
Bulawayo
and
Mutare.
“We
work
hand-in-hand
on
concrete
solutions
and
this
initiative
is
a
beautiful
example
of
cooperation
between
Zimbabwe
and
the
Netherlands
on
water
issues,”
he
added.
The
ambassador
also
applauded
participants
for
presenting
practical
and
innovative
ideas
during
the
competition,
saying
young
people
have
a
critical
role
in
solving
pressing
environmental
challenges.
“I
was
really
impressed
by
your
pitches.
Water
issues
are
becoming
more
urgent
because
of
climate
change,
pollution
and
land
challenges.
It
is
important
to
move
beyond
theory
and
work
on
practical
solutions,”
he
said.
In
closing,
van
Eeuwen
referenced
a
famous
quote
by
former
United
States
President
John
F.
Kennedy,
emphasizing
the
importance
of
water
innovation
to
global
stability
and
peace.
“He
once
said
that
the
person
who
comes
up
with
the
best
water
solution
should
not
only
win
the
Nobel
Prize
for
science
but
also
for
peace,”
said
van
Eeuwen.
The
event
brought
together
students,
young
professionals,
water
experts
and
local
stakeholders
to
showcase
sustainable
and
innovative
approaches
to
water
management
amid
increasing
climate-related
pressures.