By Kelvin Kasiwulaya/Thelma Wandayi
The beating sun casts a harsh illumination over the City of Gweru, where the mere mention of water invokes both longing and despair.
With the water crisis deepening in the yesteryear “City Of Progress”, Celebrating World Water day in Gweru is just but a chance for residents to reflect and ponder gingerly about their dire situation.
With an incessant water rationing system, Gweru residents continue to endure acute water shortages with some areas going for weeks without the most precious resource critical for human survival.
The City’s deteriorating water reticulation infrastructure and prolonged power outages have conjured an evil matrimony, creating a perfect storm for water scarcity.
Families are left with no choice but to endure the hardships of limited access to this precious resource for their daily needs.
“The water challenges are far from over,” lamented Councillor William Mazango (Ward 18), acknowledging the hardships faced by the people of Gweru at a community engagement meeting held on the 28th of February 2024.
Cllrs at a community engagement meeting with residents 28 Feb 2024
Cllr Mazango said connection of pumps purchased in 2019 is delayed as their activation hinges on the completion of transformer tests.
“The newly purchased pumps are currently not operational due to the ongoing tests and the unconnected transformers. Although the transformers have been fully paid for by the council, we are waiting to conduct the required testing before they can be activated.”
Obsolete infrastructure at Gwenhoro dam also presents a challenge, with pumps dating back to 1958 exceeding the system’s capacity.
Cllr Mazango emphasized the need for at least 12 interchangeable pumps to adequately address the water supply challenges.
“Our water supply pumps are now obsolete with only a few functioning, this has has negatively impacted on the city’s water pumping capacity,” Cllr Mazango said.
“We urgently need at least 12 interchangeable pumps to adequately address the water supply challenges,” he added.
In Gweru, the water pumping capacity stands at a meager 45 megalitres per day, far below the required 120 megalitres. However, with the installation of new pumps and the activation of the transformer, Councillor Mazango stated that the city could potentially increase its capacity to 60 megalitres daily, easing water shortages and reducing rationing.
In addition to the water crisis, Cllr Mazango highlighted other infrastructure and sewer reticulation challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for repairs to increase water pressure and redirect sewage flow.
This crisis has profound implications, with local women bearing the brunt of the daily struggle.
Lamenting her untold hardships, Sarah Moyo, a mother of three, battles long queues and uncertain water points, constantly worrying about her children’s health. “I worry for my children’s health,” Moyo expressed with anguish. “Clean water is crucial, especially considering the recent cholera outbreak. I don’t want to risk that for my family.”
With water rationing becoming the norm, Moyo is forced to make heart-wrenching choices, rationing the limited water available for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. “Water is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity,” she added.
According to United Nations Women, women and girls in Africa spend 40 billion hours a year collecting water, often traveling long distances to find it.
Women with disabilities face even greater challenges in accessing water.
Ruth Chikwava a wheel chair bound widow from Mtapa high density suburb, says she relies on well wishers to fetch water for her, since she can neither endure the long winding queues at a local borehole nor carry a water bucket to her home.
“I often have to rely on the kindness of well wishers to help me fetch water. Sometimes, if my granddaughter is at school, I have to pay someone to fetch water for me, which is costly,” Chikwava firmly stated. “No one should have to depend on others for such a basic need. We need a sustainable solution that considers the needs of all members of the community.”
The United Nations recognizes access to water as a human right, yet globally, 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water services.
The situation in Gweru reflects the challenges faced not only locally but also within the larger context of Africa, a continent where water is not just a resource, but a symbol of life itself.
Across Africa, millions grapple with water shortages, with some regions experiencing chronic water stress worsened by factors such as climate change, rapid population growth, and insufficient infrastructure.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 418 million people on the continent still lack even a basic level of drinking water service, while 779 million lack basic sanitation services, including 208 million who practice open defecation. Additionally, 839 million still lack basic hygiene services. These staggering statistics paint a grim picture of the water crisis unfolding across the continent.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, approximately 226 million people do not have access to basic water services, and 381 million people lack access to basic sanitation services.
Egypt, Botswana, Gabon, Mauritius, and Tunisia are Africa’s top five most water-secure countries, albeit with only moderate absolute levels of water security achieved. Conversely, Somalia, Chad, and Niger appear to be the least water-secure countries in Africa, as stated by a 2022 report by the United Nations University Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
According to a recently released Global Water Security 2023 Assessment by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, out of nearly 7.8 billion people in 186 countries, 5.2 billion (72 percent) face water insecurity. Among them are 1.3 billion Africans, encompassing the entire population of Africa.
While Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, the current water crisis poses a significant challenge to achieving this goal in Zimbabwe.
The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million to 1.7–2.4 billion people by 2050, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2023 by UNESCO. The report warns of an imminent global water crisis as climate change and human activities disrupt the hydrological cycle, leading to droughts, high-impact rainfall events, and water-related hazards that threaten water security for millions of people. It emphasizes the need for proactive measures to safeguard this vital resource.
This closely relates to the situation in Gweru, where water scarcity is influenced by a combination of factors. Environmental challenges, including unpredictable rainfall patterns and high temperatures, have the potential to exacerbate water shortages, especially with the ongoing El Niño phenomenon affecting the country and Sub Saharan Africa.
As the sun sets on World Water Day in Gweru, the city’s plight serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize water conservation and ensure equitable access to this precious resource. Every drop of water saved and every family provided with access to clean water is a step toward collective security and resilience.