The Mazowe Cholera Outbreak Exposes Systemic Water...

The Mazowe Cholera Outbreak Exposes Systemic Water Supply Issues Across Zim

Audrey Galawu

Assistant Editor

The cholera outbreak in Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central Province, which began on December 21, 2024, has highlighted a critical issue that affects numerous communities across Zimbabwe: inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. The situation has escalated in Mazowe, where 104 cases and one death have been recorded.

As local authorities attempt to contain the outbreak, communities are left grappling with poor WASH services, exacerbated by the onset of the rains.

At the onset of the outbreak, one of the most severely affected areas was Mazowe Flowers, a clustered farm compound with inadequate WASH infrastructure. The situation worsened in Glendale, a densely populated urban area, where community members relied on shallow wells for water. During this period, which coincided with the rainy season, the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera was heightened.

According to John Mokwetsi, Communications Officer for UNICEF Zimbabwe, the underlying WASH issues continue to serve as a major driver of cholera outbreaks in the country. “The 2023/2024 cholera outbreaks, including those in Mazowe, have all had a common thread: informal settlements with no WASH infrastructure. This has been an ongoing problem, especially since the 2008/2009 cholera outbreaks,” he said.

“In areas like Mazowe, the lack of investment in infrastructure has made these communities highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks.”

Oline Chiduku, a resident of Zengeza 1, Chitungwiza, is among the many Zimbabweans living in areas with poor sanitation. She highlights the difficulties faced during the rainy season. “The sewage system here is a nightmare, especially when the rains come,” she says.

“The drainage system is blocked, and sewage overflows into the streets. We live in constant fear of outbreaks because of this situation.”

Nicholas Manuel, a 30-year-old father from St. Mary’s, Chitungwiza, expresses his concern about the combination of water shortages and poor sanitation in his area. “In St. Mary’s, we haven’t had running water for over a year,” he says.

“This, combined with burst sewer pipes, is a recipe for cholera. What’s happening in Mazowe is just a reflection of the situation in our area.”

Elizabeth Manyeruke, also from Zengeza 1, adds to the growing frustration. “In our street, we have a sewage burst that never gets fixed,” she says. “Every time there’s water supply, the pipes burst again. Our children play in the streets, and it's not safe for them. We desperately need authorities to take action and address these issues.”

The situation in Mazowe is far from isolated. “The ongoing water and sanitation challenges are contributing to high rates of preventable diseases in Zimbabwe. The country continues to face cholera outbreaks, as evidenced by the 2023 cholera outbreak that affected over 34,000 people across 62 districts," Mokwetsi added.

Although efforts to curb the spread of cholera in 2024 reduced the scale of the outbreak, over 7,500 cases were still reported that year, underscoring the persistent vulnerabilities within the country’s water and sanitation systems.

Mokwetsi continues, “Inadequate access to safe water, poor waste management, sewer bursts, and lack of sanitation coverage in informal settlements remain key contributors to the country’s cholera crisis. Many areas, particularly informal settlements, have no access to safe water or proper sewage systems, and this contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases.

UNICEF Zimbabwe has been at the forefront of responding to water and sanitation challenges across the country. Through its WASH programs, UNICEF is focusing on providing access to clean water, promoting hygiene education, and improving sanitation infrastructure.

“Our interventions in Zimbabwe aim to reduce the burden of waterborne diseases,” Mokwetsi explains.

“This includes rehabilitating water infrastructure, installing solar-powered water systems, providing hygiene kits, and ensuring access to clean water, particularly during emergencies like cholera outbreaks.”

UNICEF's WASH initiatives have benefited over 574,000 people in Zimbabwe, improving access to at least basic water services in 156 schools through the rehabilitation of boreholes, construction of solar-powered water supply systems, and installation of water kiosks.

“Improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities is particularly beneficial to women and girls,” Mokwetsi notes. “It alleviates the burden of fetching water, giving them more time for other productive activities or education.”

Mokwetsi stresses that addressing the systemic infrastructure issues will require significant investments. “The current WASH challenges cannot be solved overnight,” he says.

“They are deeply rooted in outdated infrastructure and a lack of investment in urban planning and rural development. It is essential for both the government and international partners to prioritize WASH investments to avoid future outbreaks.”

He also points out the challenges of rapid urban population growth, which has led to the rise of informal settlements without adequate sanitation systems.

“This is a ticking time bomb for waterborne diseases, and urgent action is needed to address these underlying WASH issues.”

Mokwetsi emphasises that “long-term investment in infrastructure, proper waste management, and hygiene education are essential to ensuring that Zimbabwe’s communities are resilient to future disease outbreaks.”