For months, Zimbabwe has been struggling to control the spread of a deadly disease called cholera in its cities and villages.
The primary reason for this crisis is the lack of clean water in the country.
Regai Chibanda, a 46-year-old father from Chitungwiza, a sprawling township in Zimbabwe, shared his concerns, “If the water comes at all it’s often dirty.”
Cholera is a severe illness caused by consuming contaminated food or water.
It can spread quickly in crowded and unsanitary conditions.
In 2008-2009, over 4,000 people lost their lives to cholera in Zimbabwe during a time of political and economic crisis.
Today, Zimbabwe faces inflation again, and cholera has affected all ten provinces, primarily impacting children who are often left unsupervised as their parents work.
The outbreak began in February, and by the end of October, there were nearly 6,000 reported cases and 123 suspected deaths.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promised a nationwide program to drill boreholes, supported by solar-powered water points, to provide clean drinking water to 35,000 villages lacking access.
In the capital, Harare, residents often go without water for weeks or months.
Chitungwiza, a rapidly growing city, faces similar issues due to inadequate water infrastructure.
“In Chitungwiza things are not good as far as water is concerned.
There have been many people affected by cholera and every year it’s the same,” said Mr. Chibanda, who commutes to Harare for work.
Residents are forced to buy costly bottled water, straining their finances.
In Mutare, the main city in Manicaland, cholera continues to affect the population due to the lack of clean water.
Cholera information spreads on social media, with residents expressing their desperation.
Cholera is easily treatable with rehydration salts, but clean water and proper sanitation are essential to prevent it.
Despite some decline in cases, aid organizations like Mercy Corps warn that the situation remains a concern, particularly among women and children.
They lack access to safe drinking water, increasing their risk.
The World Health Organization’s emergencies director, Mike Ryan, has called cholera “a poster child of poverty, social injustice, climate change, and conflict.”
The situation in Zimbabwe suggests a lack of will or capability to provide clean water.
In Harare’s suburbs and informal settlements, residents resort to wheelbarrows to transport water from boreholes at community centers and churches.
The government’s investment in fresh water has been insufficient, and wealth disparities impact access to clean water.
City councils, often controlled by opposition parties, blame the government for failing to invest in water purification equipment and chemicals.
The cost of these chemicals is a burden for municipalities.
Sewage management worsens the situation, as industrial waste and effluent are discharged into water sources, contaminating the main water supply for Harare.
Some affluent areas organize their rubbish collection, but many streets have become dumping grounds due to the lack of government-organized waste collection.
As the rainy season approaches, concerns grow that the accumulated dirt and filth will make it challenging to eliminate cholera, which thrives in stagnant water.
People continue to face the daily challenge of ensuring their children avoid unsafe water sources and deciding what is safe to drink.
