Cholera response forges community ownership of safe water sources

Kariba, Zimbabwe - Breaking the rules governing the communal Kamaradha Water Point in Kariba district’s Ward 2 has consequences.

“It can be a fine or a punishment imposed by the village headman. If the offense is criminal, we can even involve the police,” explained Raina Jota, secretary of the water point committee secretary.

She held up the water point’s constitution, a handwritten document outlining maintenance obligations, rules against vandalism, littering, and open defecation, and guidance on managing livestock near the water source.

“But we haven’t had to enforce it,” she smiled. “The compliance has been excellent. This borehole is our only source of safe water—it is everyone’s baby, and we all take care of it.”

A shared responsibility

In this remote area of northern Zimbabwe, community members have embraced a shared responsibility for safe water to prevent another cholera outbreak. The outbreak between November 2024 and February 2025 resulted in 128 suspected cases, including one death, primarily due to unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation.

Rapid intervention by various government ministries and agencies, working alongside UNICEF and partners such as Welthungerhilfe, led to the swift rehabilitation of boreholes and deep wells. The response, which included restoring critical water infrastructure in Kariba, Chitungwiza and the capital city, Harare, was supported by US$2 million in funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

Recognising that sustainability depended on community involvement, UNICEF and its partners revived local water point committees. These committees oversee water source maintenance, monitor water quality and hold regular feedback meetings with residents to ensure inclusive decision-making.

In Kariba, the success of the water point committees is primarily due to strong local leadership, including councillors and traditional chiefs who actively support the efforts.

“We are the ones who depend on these boreholes, not the government or the donors,” said Samson Mashedzanwa, the traditional leader of Mudzimu village. A borehole in his village, which had been non-functional for two years, was restored as part of the project. He ensures that Water Point Committee representatives speak about water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at every village meeting.

The involvement of traditional leaders was a deliberate move by the government and its partners to boost local partnerships.

“We engaged the Chief and addressed village heads to emphasise that this infrastructure belongs to the community and that they should work with water point committees and Village Health Workers to address overall WASH issues, including the construction of toilets ,” said Takura Mahanzu, Acting District Development Coordinator for Kariba.

He said that efforts by local people's efforts are vital to ensuring that the infrastructure remains functional, he said.

To ensure sustainability, each household contributes US$1 monthly for minor repairs and maintenance. Community members trained by Welthungerhilfe and government technicians conduct basic repairs, while residents take turns cleaning the surroundings of water points to keep them pristine. Plans are also in place to establish vegetable gardens, enhancing both nutrition and household income.

Before the intervention, many boreholes in the area were either broken or barely producing water. This led to severe consequences, including the use of unsafe water from shallow wells and Lake Kariba, increasing the risk of disease, conflict, and gender-based violence due to overcrowding at water points, said Truckmore Mutatika, the local Environmental Health Technician.

"Some people had no choice but to fetch water from unsafe sources. It was a dire situation that no one wants to return to," said Mutatika.

Better days for children

For 11-year-old Taona, the rehabilitation of the boreholes has been life-changing.

One afternoon, she laughed with her friends as they filled containers at a recently rehabilitated borehole. Now, after collecting water, she has enough time to focus on her homework—a luxury she couldn't afford in the past.

“Before, I had to walk five kilometers to the lake after school,” she recalled. “By the time I returned, it would be dark, and I would be too tired to do homework. I was always in trouble with my teachers.”

With clean water nearby, Taona is determined to improve her grades. Like many in her village, she now sees education and health as achievable goals, thanks to accessible and safe water sources.