A Political Economy Perspective on Mauritian Water Services

Mauritian drinking water services are in urgent need of investment. Yet, tariffs are among the lowest in the region, despite relatively high-income levels. This chapter offers a political economy analysis, drawing on the systems of provision (SoP) approach to unpack the context and power relations that shape outcomes, looking at different agents and their distinct, often contested interests. Drawing on a thorough review of parliamentary debates, the authors’ analysis uncovers a symbiotic relationship between government and the economic elite of landowning sugar estates. These landowners derive their power from colonial times and benefit from access to free water through historically obtained water rights. They have cemented their political and economic significance by diversifying into textiles, tourism, and more recently power production. The chapter’s SoP framing draws out inherent contradictions and biases that are obscured with narrower framing of the water sector. In particular, the water tariffs are ostensibly kept low in the name of a welfare state. Yet, electricity prices are allowed to rise to accommodate the interests of the private power producers, indicating a bias towards the interests of the landowning elite that has moved into power generation, while the water utility is effectively starved of funds.