The Orange River Basin extends into four countries; Republic of Botswana, The Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa. It includes the total land area of Lesotho, most of the central part of South Africa and reaches to the southern part of Botswana as well as draining most of the southern half of Namibia. The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) came into existence on 3rd November 2000 by agreement among the four basin member states in terms of the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems, with one of the primary aims being the integrated development and management of the water resources of the Orange River to the mutual and equitable benefit of all parties.