Accessing Safe Water A Challenge For Women with Disabilities In Zimbabwe

Accessing Safe Water A Challenge For Women with Disabilities In Zimbabwe

“It is survival of the fittest here. We have to wake up early and join the queue to get water from this borehole. 

If you wake up late, you may not get the water,” said Nyarai Mudavanhu (27) as she narrated how the shortage of water in her community is posing serious challenges to persons with disabilities especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carrying a 20 litre bucket of water on her head with a walking stick in one hand to support her physically challenged leg, Nyarai walks home after spending nearly 3 hours in the queue to get water.

Many people came after her and jumped the queue to get the water. They connived with some people in front of the queue while others bribed some assistants at the borehole to get water first. For Nyarai, she does not have the money to bribe the assistants. She has to follow the slow-moving queue every day and no one gives her preferential treatment despite her disability.

Nyarai is not alone in this. Many women with disabilities in the informal settlement of Hopley in Harare, Zimbabwe face similar challenges. The area does not have piped water and people have been relying on wells for water. However, because of drought, most of the water wells have dried up and residents are now forced to queue for hours at the few community boreholes.
Accessing Safe Water A Challenge For Women with Disabilities In Zimbabwe
Accessing Safe Water A Challenge For Women with Disabilities In Zimbabwe

Women and girls with disabilities in Hopley said they need improved access to clean and safe water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and abuse. Some of the women and girls were trained by the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ) (one of the Spotlight Initiative Implementing Partners) and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), and became advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities, including the access to water as a basic human right.

Women with disabilities are expected to perform household chores, like other women and most of these require water which they cannot easily access due to their disabilities, further contributing to stigma and in other cases gender-based violence against them. The crowded community boreholes have become ripe places for the spread of COVID-19 as people do not exercise physical distancing and the correct wearing of masks and sanitisation.

FODPZ solicited for more information from other women and girls in the area and established that the local authority provides them with sanitisers at water points, but this is always insufficient due to the large numbers that come to fetch water. More needs to be done to improve the safety of women and girls.

Among these women engaged by FODPZ is Nyasha Shanga who has cerebral palsy who confirmed that the water situation in Hopley has become a source of stress.

“What if the assistant decides not to sanitize as they help me fetch water, it exposes me to extreme danger”, she said anxiously. It was reported that residents are charged ZWL5 per one bucket of water, which is a lot of money for them considering that most of them do not have a stable source of income.

The women said they do not feel comfortable among their counterparts without disabilities as they appear as burdensome to them. It hurts worse when one does not have money to pay assistants from the community who end up calling them derogatory names demeaning their dignity and lowering their self-esteem.

FODPZ and women with disabilities is making strides towards ensuring that the City of Harare and the department of Social Welfare address the issue of shortage of water in Hopley including advocating for drilling of more boreholes. Through such efforts, women and girls with disabilities have engaged in dialogue with the duty-bearers and local authorities to demand their rights and improve their situation.

Zimbabwe is one of the eight countries in Africa selected to deliver the EU funded Spotlight Initiative, a comprehensive programme on ending all forms of Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices and to promote the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of women and girls. The other countries include: Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda.


ProWater Solutions Zimbabwe Has Extensive Coverage Around Zimbabwe.
We also have a substantial presence and exprerience in Borehole Siting and Borehole Drilling, Borehole Installation and Solar Systems.
Please Call Us On +263 77 389 8979 or +263 71 961 3479.
Please Note: If you are interested in getting Expert advice on Borehole Drilling and Borehole Installation in Zimbabwe, we provide that information for FREE here at ProWater Systems Zimbabwe. So feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your project by calling or sending a WhatsApp message.

ProWater Sales 1: +263 77 389 8979
ProWater Sales 2 +263 71 961 3479.

ProWater Solutions makes no representations or warranties express or implied in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.

ProWater Solutions shall not be responsible for, and disclaims all liability for loss, injury, expense or damage (whether direct or consequential) of any nature whatsoever which may be suffered as a result of or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of or reliance upon any information, links or services provided through this website.

ProWater Solutions reserves the right to in its absolute discretion to modify, upgrade, update, suspend or withdraw this website or any part thereof at any time.

ProWater Solutions Through Borehole Drilling In Zimbabwe links you to the best borehole drilling service providers in Zimbabwe.

These service providers can assist you right from initial consultancy up to the drilling itself. Request ProWater Solutions Services from the comfort of your home – through the ProWater Solutions WhatsApp Number:
on +263 77 389 8979 or +263 71 961 3479.
ProWater Solutions Zimbabwe is your premier choice for all your water well drilling needs. Our team of highly trained and experienced drillers and water technicians have a proven track record of delivering quality results. We take pride in our excellent safety and performance records, which have earned us a reputation as a reliable and trusted service provider.

With our customer-centric approach and state-of-the-art equipment, we are equipped to handle any type of water well drilling job with precision and efficiency. Our commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the high level of success we have achieved in our projects.

Contact us today for a quote and let us exceed your expectations with our exceptional services - +263 77 389 8979 and +263 71 961 3479.
We Guarantee All Our Workmanship.

Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Our mission is to raise awareness about water access, management and use, and generate discussion that allows improving people's lives. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

Supported by its values of integrity, innovation and involvement, ProWater Solutions has achieved a milestone year by celebrating 10 years in business in the industry. Our experience, along with our close clients relationship and case by case solutions, have helped lead the way in keeping ProWater Solutions as the preferred partners in the Borehole Drilling industry in Zimbabwe.

ProWater Solutions or Borehole Drillers Zimbabwe members are situated around Zimbabwe, forming the largest international network of water professionals working towards a water-wise within Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.

Copyright © | ProWater Solutions - Borehole Drilling in Zimbabwe [All Rights Reserved]
Terms and Conditions. - Privacy Policy.

ProWater Solutions: is the online hub or portal relating to everything on Borehole Drilling In Zimbabwe. We aim to be the go-to online hub of Borehole Drilling In Zimbabwe and assist other borehole companies by sharing our traffic and leads to them.

The ProWater Solutions website was built and is optimized to rank on the first page of google for every city, provinces as well as potentially every keyword pertaining to boreholes. (We have invested a lot into SEO and other digital marketing strategies in Zimbabwe.)

Contact Us:

+263 77 389 8979
+263 71 961 3479
Call or WhatsApp

ProWater Soluitons celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022, and it is especially pleasing that it will be a year of achievement. Despite strong competition, we gained market share and delivered sound earnings performance. In marking the 10th year of ProWater Solutions, we extend our appreciation to ProWater Solutions employees for their efforts, and for the support of our business clients and investors, as well as our partners and affiliates.

Form WhatsApp

This order requires the WhatsApp application.

Order now
avatar
ProWater Solutions Online
ProWater Solutions comprises a cross-section of water professionals, including engineers, municipal leaders, CEOs, and environmentalists, among others. ProWater Solutions Team
Chat with WhatsApp