A Widow’s Plea: Water Crisis Turns Flats into Health Hazard in Bulawayo
This investigative report was done with the support of Global Press Certificate Program.
The sun casts long shadows across the worn aging walls of Burombo Flats in Bulawayo. Inside one of the cramped rooms, a 68-year-old widow, Nokuthula, (prefers a middle name to avoid being expelled from the flats), stays with her five grandchildren.
As a widow, she has taken on the immense responsibility of caring for them and fetching the much sought precious liquid in the city. But there is one burden she should not have to bear, the constant fear of a deadly health bomb that might be caused by the water crisis that has engulfed the city.
Water Shortages
Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe, has been grappling with severe water shortages for years. The situation has reached a critical point, with residents like Nokuthula forced to live in a dire unsanitary environment.
Nokuthula struggles to provide a safe and healthy environment for her five grandchildren. Their daily lives have become a battle against a ticking health time bomb, as water scarcity and dilapidated facilities have turned their cramped living quarters into a breeding ground for butterflies.
Daily Reality
In an interview, Nokuthula shares her family’s daily reality, her voice heavy with concern, “We have normalized seeing human feces left unflushed in the chamber.”
She adds while wiping tears, “Flushing toilets is now a luxury at the flats. About 50 people share one toilet, and about 11 people stay in one standard-sized room.”
The dire situation is exacerbated by broken and blocked water taps and sewage pipes, rendering waste disposal impossible. Nokuthula fears that this ticking health time bomb will eventually explode, endangering the lives of her beloved grandchildren.
Years of Neglect
“Once cholera strikes, we are doomed,” she whispered. Nokuthula laments, “I dread the possibility of losing my grandchildren to such a tragic fate if nothing changes.”
Burombo Flats, located in one of the oldest parts of Bulawayo, has long been a symbol of resilience and community spirit. However, years of neglect and limited resources have eroded the once vibrant suburb. The water crisis has added another layer of hardship, pushing residents to the brink of desperation.
The shortage of clean water has become a pressing issue across the city. According to the Bulawayo City Council, the water supply infrastructure is outdated and insufficient to meet the growing demand. Bulawayo has a population of over one million, with a population of 1,200,337. As of April 9, 2024, Bulawayo pumps 91.4 mega liters per day against a production capacity of 155 mega liters per day. This has resulted in intermittent water supply to households, with some areas going for days or even weeks without access to clean water.
Health & Dignity
The situation at Burombo flats is a microcosm of the city’s larger struggle. The lack of running water and functioning toilets has left residents grappling with daily challenges, compromising their health and dignity. For Nokuthula and her grandchildren, the absence of basic needs like water and sanitation facilities means making difficult choices.
Nokuthula explains the difficult decisions they face on a daily basis, saying, “When nature calls, you either suppress it or ignore the chamber’s contents and sit on top of it.”
She adds with a sense of resignation, “I really need to live in a better place with proper working toilets and running water, but financial constraints determine our reality, it is your pocket that decides.”
Urgent Action
This dire situation has prompted calls for urgent action from both residents and councilors. Local councilors, associations, and concerned citizens have rallied together, advocating for immediate repairs and improvements to the water infrastructure at Burombo Flats and beyond.
Commenting on the squalid conditions at Burombo flats, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) executive committee member, Ben Moyo, says the current water situation is dehumanizing and it needs urgent attention from the local authority.
He says, “It has become more difficult for residents to use the toilet as there will be no water to flush. Most if not all toilets in Bulawayo use the flush type of latrine which depended on the availability of consistent water supply to properly function. The failure to have reliable water supply had forced residents to find alternative means of relieving themselves, most of which were unhygienic places.”
Renovations Needed
According to Bulawayo City Council’s April 2024 full council minutes, Proportional representation Councilor, Mellisa Mabeza suggested urgent attention and renovation of Burombo flats as the living conditions were no longer conducive.
As I bid farewell to Nokuthula, her words echo in my heart, “I want my grandchildren to have a chance to live at a better life, free from the constant threat of disease. We deserve better, and it is time for our voices to be heard.”
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