Date: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Author: Mabel Nokhuthula Piki
Country: Zimbabwe
SUMMARY
Imagine a city where the streets are choked with raw sewage, the air is thick with the stench of decay, and the constant threat of disease hangs heavy. This is the reality for many Zimbabwean cities, grappling with a silent crisis: failing sanitation systems. This article delves into the heart of this crisis, exploring its devastating impact on communities and the urgent need for action.
BACKGROUND
Zimbabwe's cities are facing a critical sanitation crisis, characterized by widespread sewer blockages, pipe bursts, and raw sewage overflows. This problem is not limited to specific areas but is pervasive across the country, with Chinhoyi town serving as a stark example, Chinhoyi, a town in Mashonaland West province, where the sewer system, built decades ago, is struggling to cope with the burgeoning population. A 2013 study revealed a stark reality: sewer blockages were on the rise, a symptom of aging infrastructure, irresponsible waste disposal, and chronic water shortages, (A.Chinyama, 2013). The situation hasn't improved in the decade since it has since worsened.
The residents of the town, like many across Zimbabwe, often go without water for days, which worsens the situation. Walking through the city, you will find sewer bursts, and the council usually takes more than 24 hours to attend to the burst pipes, increasing public exposure to diseases related to poor sanitation. Furthermore, the aging sewerage system is evident as blockages or leakages are often recurring issues even after they have been addressed. The municipality, stuck in a reactive loop, mainly focuses on temporary measures such as handwashing campaigns during cholera outbreaks, while neglecting the underlying infrastructure issues. They are also advocating for the vaccination of communities to save lives from the threats of deadly infectious diseases (J. Muonwa, 2023).
A Deeper Dive into the Crisis:
The crisis in Chinhoyi is a microcosm of a larger problem plaguing Zimbabwe's urban centers. A 2019 report by the Zimbabwean Auditor General paints a grim picture: in six sampled urban local authorities, sewer reticulation network rehabilitation was long overdue, (OAG Zimbabwe, 2019). Asbestos cement pipes, with a lifespan of 40 years, were found to be 37 to 80 years past their rehabilitation period, leading to widespread blockages and leakages. The report further highlighted that in the city with the highest rate of system rehabilitation, only a paltry 2.7% of sewer systems in the city had been rehabilitated, (OAG Zimbabwe, 2019).
The consequences of this neglect are dire. A study by R. Mangizvo found that cities across Zimbabwe are facing sanitation problems related to sewage outflows and pipe bursts, posing a serious threat to public health, (R.V.Mangizvo, 2009). The 2008 cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, one of the worst in Zimbabwean history, served as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing sanitation systems. Amnesty International, in its report on the outbreak, concluded that the government's failure to contain the crisis was due to the lack of safe drinking water and broken-down sanitation systems, (J.Muonwa, 2023), and to show lack of commitment to address the issue, almost 2 decades later the situation is still the same and worsened in high-density suburbs across most cities among them Harare.
The Human Cost:
The human cost of this crisis is immeasurable. The 2023 cholera outbreak, with over 27,000 suspected cases and over 70 confirmed deaths, is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of communities to these preventable diseases (WHO Zimbabwe, 2024). The recurring outbreaks leave behind a trail of suffering, orphaning children, and leaving families devastated. The impact of this crisis is particularly felt in high-density suburbs, where the poor are disproportionately affected, highlighting the stark inequalities that exacerbate the problem.
Environmental impact:
Sewer outflows are a significant problem for the environment. They are responsible for degrading water quality, causing eutrophication, harming aquatic life, and contaminating drinking water sources, especially in Zimbabwe. Additionally, sewer outflows harm tourism and the ambiance of cities. In short, they devastate ecosystems and wildlife, making it one of our planet's most serious environmental challenges (Calcamite Sanitation, 2024). I believe that addressing this problem requires considerable effort. While these sanitation issues' impacts on humans can be reduced through vaccination and personal hygienic practices, we must also consider the environment's plight, as we cannot "vaccinate" the environment.
A Call for Action:
The crisis in Zimbabwe's sanitation systems is not simply a technical issue; it is a moral imperative. Every human being has the right to a clean and safe environment, a right that must be protected regardless of their location, income, or background. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach:
Investment in Infrastructure: Significant investment is needed to rehabilitate and expand existing sewer systems, ensuring they can handle the growing population and waste load.
Public Education: Raising awareness about responsible waste disposal and the importance of sanitation is crucial.
Water Security: Ensuring access to clean and safe water is essential for the proper functioning of sewer systems.
Government Commitment: The government must prioritize sanitation and allocate sufficient resources to address the crisis.
Community Engagement: Engaging communities in the planning and implementation of solutions is vital to ensure sustainability and ownership.
A City's Future:
The sanitation crisis in Zimbabwe's cities is a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting basic infrastructure. It is a crisis that demands immediate and decisive action. The government, communities including all stakeholders must work together to ensure that access to safe sanitation is not a privilege but a right for all citizens. Failure to address this crisis will continue to have devastating consequences for public health, the environment, and the well-being of Zimbabwean communities. The future of these cities, and the lives of their citizens, depends on it.
REFERENCES
1. A.Chinyama, T. (2013). Understanding the poor performance of urban sewage systems: A case of Coldstream High-Density Surbubs, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. ResearchGate, 45-51. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256472825_Understanding_the_Poor_Performance_of_Urban_Sewerage_Systems_A_Case_of_Coldstream_High_Density_Suburbs_Chinhoyi_Zimbabwe
2.C.Mupesa. (2023, November 8). Health Officials On Guard as Cholera Hits Chinhoyi, Chegutu, and Zvimba. Retrieved from The Herald: https://www.herald.co.zw/health-officials-on-guard-as-cholera-hits-chinhoyi-chegutu-zvimba/
3. Calcamite Sanitation, C. (2024, February 26). The Effects of Sewage Pollution On The Environment And How To Prevent It. Retrieved from Calcamite Sanitation + Wastewater: https://calcamite.co.za/blog/the-effects-of-sewage-pollution-on-the-environment-and-how-to-prevent-it/
4.J.Muonwa. (2023, November 7). Cholera Outbreak Hits Chinhoyi. Retrieved from New Zimbabwe: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/cholera-outbreak-hits-chinhoyi/
5. OAG Zimbabwe. (2019, October 30). Report of the Auditor General on the Management of sewage system by urban local authorities under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing. Retrieved from Office of The Auditor General: https://www.auditorgeneral.gov.zw/phocadownload/Sewerage%20Systems%20in%20ULA%20Report-DRAFT%2010%20final%201.pdf
6.R.V.Mangizvo. (2009). The Problem of Burst Sewage Pipes And Sewarage Outflows In EastView Surbub In Kadoma City, Zimbabwe. Retrieved from Journal of Sustainable Development: https://jsd-africa.com/Jsda/V11N01_Summer2009/PDF/The%20problemBurstSewagePipeSewrageOutflows.pdf
7. WHO Zimbabwe. (2024, March 07). More than 2.1 million people were vaccinated against cholera in Zimbabwe hotspots. Retrieved from WHO-Regional Office for Africa: https://www.afro.who.int/countries/zimbabwe/news/more-21-million-people-vaccinated-against-cholera-zimbabwe-hotspots
Access to pdf link: https://0fa4fb88-a989-4621-9394-02d448eaab81.usrfiles.com/ugd/0fa4fb_f01cc746f70049039ae21c311acd69aa.pdf
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