adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE government has expressed concern at low investment in sanitation infrastructure, a development that has seen 31 percent of the country’s rural population resorting to open defecation. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Water and Climate, Prince Muparizviho, said this while addressing delegates to the water, sanitation, hygiene and energy expo (WASHen) which opened in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Muparizviho said there had been little progress in improving water and sanitation hygiene issues in rural communities.“Investment in sanitation facilities has remained low in the communal areas and next to zero in the new resettlement areas with open defecation practice estimated at 31 percent,” he said. Muparizviho said the situation was worsened by damaged borehole infrastructure with the majority of the country’s boreholes dysfunctional.
“In rural areas, access to safe water supply remains poor due to low investment in water infrastructure rehabilitation and a sustainable operation and maintenance system. Anecdotal evidence indicates that more than 65 percent of more than 100,000 hand pumps in the country are not functional and this is aggravated by a shortage of and subsequent use of substandard bush pump spares,” he said.
Muparizviho said urban centres were not immune to sanitation challenges. He said this was exposing the country to waterborne diseases such as cholera which have claimed thousands of lives in the past.
“Zimbabwe continues to be plagued by morbidity and mortality due to Wash-related epidemics since the cholera outbreak of 2008-2009 which claimed over 4,000 lives. Despite significant efforts by the government and sector partners, the country remains vulnerable to recurring cases of dysentery, typhoid, and cholera in both urban and rural hinterlands largely due to poor wash service delivery systems,” Muparizviho said.
He said these challenges saw the country failing to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 on providing access to clean water and sanitation.
Economic challenges were a major hindrance in efforts to provide the country’s citizens with quality water. Muparizviho said despite the challenges being experienced, the government remains committed to providing safe water as highlighted in the country’s economic blue print, Zim-Asset.
“It’s, however, encouraging to note that Zimbabwe prioritises Wash. The service delivery infrastructure and utilities cluster of Zim-Asset focuses on the rehabilitation of infrastructure assets and recovery of utility services related to water and sanitation among other things,” he said.
The expo, which is held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds, ended yesterday. It was attended by the Minister of Environment Water and Climate Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri among other senior government officials.
Online Reporter