The Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) president, Reverend Doctor Ishmael Noko has told delegates at the ongoing IFAPA third summit that some people on the African continent do not have access to water.

He said this at the summit which is meeting under the theme "Envisioning a Peaceful Africa: Water For All."

"This focus on "Water for all" is a vision that in most parts of the continent is very far from the reality, a reality in which water is not for all, but for some," he said.

He further said that this status quo has generated a great deal of discussion about access to water and whether it is a right, or an essential service, or a tradeable commodity like any other.

Noko highlighted that there is need for an inter-faith gathering to have a special focus on the issue of water because it is first and foremost a primary building block of life, which all religious traditions hold sacred.

"Despite the growing water crisis in many parts of Africa, religious leaders and communities have hitherto appeared to lack awareness of the challenges associated with water resource management and ownership," he said.

He also said given the extent to which water is valued and used by religious traditions, and the existential threat posed by the predicted effects of climate change, religious leaders and communities in Africa have a clear vested interest in acquiring knowledge and skills in the area.

He noted that the choice of Botswana as the venue for the gathering has an important symbolism since the country "is an oasis of peace, stability and economic well-being in a continent that has known more than its fair share of conflict and poverty".

IFAPA is made up of representatives from seven major faith traditions working for peace and human rights on the continent namely African Traditional Religions (ATRs), the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.

The summit, which ends tomorrow is attended by high profile delegates from across the continent. Botswana is hosting the summit for the first time.