Not too long ago, anyone predicting that there might come a day when countries might be prepared to go to war over natural resources such as water, energy or food were considered alarmists or even worse, lunatics - and more often than not, ridiculed. The idea was considered excellent for sci-fi literature, and the older among us will probably still remember the legendary Charlton Heston in the futuristic movie Soylent Green; and Kevin Costner in Waterworld, arguably one of the biggest Hollywood flops ever. In Africa and elsewhere, the picture is fast changing.