|
|
|
Stakeholder Workshop on the food situation in Zimbabwe - October 2002
|
|
|
6. Water and Sanitation
|
- by Ms. Sibongonkosi Ndlovu of the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development
Ms. Ndlovu started her presentation by providing a background to the current humanitarian crisis affecting Zimbabwe. She observed that in the 1999/2000 rain season, Southern Africa was significantly hit by the Cyclone Eline. In Zimbabwe, although unusually heavy rains were recorded in most parts of the country, the areas most affected by the Cyclone were in the eastern and southern districts. As a result toilets collapsed, water points were either washed away or made inaccessible, livestock and infrastructures were extensively damaged, roads and bridges were washed away, and villagers were made homeless. However, the effects are still being felt as rehabilitation initiatives have not covered all affected communities in the cyclone path. She noted that the harsh economic environment presently affecting Zimbabwe had worsened the situation. With the country's external position under pressure, aggravated by the reduced access to trade finance, the country's capacity to develop basic infrastructure including water and sanitation, broaden and productive base, create high levels of employment has been severely constrained (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, February 2002).
While the 1999/2000 season was affected by Cyclone Eline and subsequent floods, which flooded crops and caused a lot of stress, the 2001/2002 season was affected by the drought resulting in low crop yields. The 2001/2002 season was characterized by extremely wet conditions during the first half (October to December) particularly in the Southern areas while the period January and February recorded the largest rainfall deficits.
The land reform program has been going on since independence in 1980, but over the last 2 years this program has been intensified, and gained political and social prominence. This has resulted in families moving to new areas where in most cases, there are no safe water and sanitation facilities. Thousands of farm workers have been affected, some are still on the acquired farms, others have been resettled, while some have moved back to their rural areas. However, the exact number and movements of the affected farm workers is not well documented.
Ms. Ndlovu further observed that the current economic situation has affected the government's ability to respond to the emergency caused by the drought. Whilst priority has been given to the importation of food by the government, the provision of water and sanitation facilities to communities affected by the drought is equally important.
Ms. Ndlovu informed the participants that her presentation was based on the results of an assessment study carried out by the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development. The purpose of the study which was commissioned by U NICEF/WHO/RRV was to find out to what extent the 2000 Cyclone Eline, current drought and agrarian reforms are affecting people in Zimbabwe with particular reference to water and sanitation services.
6.1 Major findings
- A total of 451 950 people are affected by the drought in relation to water provision and 1 514 water facilities (boreholes and wells) will be required. The evaluation established that of this population 221 461 children, 26 572 orphans and 18 801 pregnant women have no access to clean water supplies as a result of the drought.
- A total of 124 524 people ( of which 61 019 children, 7 323 orphans and 5180 pregnant women) are affected by inadequate sanitation facilities in the communal areas and thus 21 969 sanitation facilities are required to minimize the effects of lack of sanitary facilities.
- In districts affected by Cyclone Eline 187 water points were affected and not rehabilitated resulting in 58 968 females, 55 566 children and 6 668 orphans having no access to clean water supplies
- Cyclone Eline affected districts had a lot of 10 243 toilets destroyed and not replaced leaving 59 058 (30 710 females and 28 347 males) people with no access to proper sanitation facilities.
- The current land reform resulted in 36 483 families being resettled creating a deficit of 36 483 latrines and 230 boreholes that need to be urgently provided in these areas. Out of this population 107 256 are children (excluding orphans), 12 870 orphans and 10 128 pregnant women.
- No adequate monitoring and evaluation systems have been put in place by local authorities and central government.
6.2 Recommendations
She summarized her recommendations with respect to the effects of the cyclone, drought and the land reform program as follows:
- Reconstruct 50% of damaged household toilets (Mutare - 2244 toilets; Chimanimani 1340 toilets; Gwanda 481 toilets and Mberengwa - 432 toilets).
- Drill 1 512 boreholes and deepen 581 deep wells by priority areas. To ensure community ownership and participation, link these activities to the Public Works Program already introduced in the districts.
- Initiate a sanitation program to produce 22 500 toilets by the end of the year in all 24 districts.
- Upgrade institutional water facilities especially for clinics and schools in the communal lands. It is estimated that less than 20% of health institutions in communal areas have adequate water supplies.
- Intensify appropriate health and hygiene education in the new resettlement areas giving priority to the concept of the sanitation ladder and allowing for appropriate choices to be made depending on capacity.
- RDCs should develop the needed capacity for monitoring of development activities including water and sanitation.
6.3 Plenary Session
Participants wanted to know what sanitation meant. The presenter did not however give a clear definition of sanitation, but indicated that more can be achieved by providing sanitation than by providing water. She however lamented the low priority that sanitation always received. When priorities shift it is sanitation that suffers most. In most of the affected areas people cannot afford to meet the 60% contribution requirement for toilet construction. This is really a challenge particularly now when there is drought and the food crisis.
|
|
Related documents