Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
AT least 500 000 people from 15 districts accross the country are set to benefit from a new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to end water insecurity and improve sanitation and hygiene services in rural areas.
The Government and World Vision officially unveiled the WASH Business Plan 2026–2030 at the launch event on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the country’s push to expand climate-resilient water and sanitation services.
The US$51 million programme launched by the Government in partnership with World Vision Zimbabwe, the Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) and other key partners, seeks to transform access to clean water and sanitation in underserved communities between 2026 and 2030.
According to the WASH Business Plan, only 13 percent of people in rural areas have access to safely managed drinking water, while just 30 percent have access to safely managed sanitation facilities.
The plan also shows that only 36 percent of rural households have a designated place to wash hands with soap and water.
The project aims to address these gaps by expanding climate-resilient water systems, improving community-level sanitation, supporting hygiene behaviour change and strengthening the sustainability of boreholes and piped water schemes.
The launch also drew participation and commitment from a wide network of civil society, humanitarian and development partners.
PLAN International, Trocaire, Tree of Life and Stroke Care pledged to support the implementation of activities at community level, particularly around behaviour change, protection and capacity building.
Financial and development agencies—including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and FAO—expressed commitment to providing technical expertise, funding support and global best practices in climate-resilient WASH programming.
UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) were highlighted as strategic partners with whom World Vision will work to ensure every child in programme areas has access to life-saving WASH services, including full coverage of schools and health centres.
Speaking during the launch, Director of the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordination Department in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Nesbert Shirihuru, said the programme is a major step towards achieving national development goals.
“This US$51 million investment aligns with our national vision, Vision 2030.
“At national level, 81 percent of the population has access to safe water, but sanitation remains low and hygiene indicators are still at 6.7 percent. This programme will significantly contribute to improving those figures,” he said.
Mr Shirihuru said Government is strengthening the water governance framework through the review of the Water Act and the ZINWA Act and the creation of a water and wastewater regulator by 2026.
“We urge our partners: let us work together for service delivery, for development, and for the prosperity of our water sector,” he said.
World Vision national director Mr Assan Golowa said the programme goes beyond drilling boreholes, highlighting that it is designed to empower communities, especially women and girls who bear the burden of fetching water.
“Across the 15 districts, this programme will not only provide water but also dignity, empowerment and improved livelihoods.
“Together with Government and our partners, we are committing ourselves to a transformed WASH future for vulnerable communities,” he said.
