Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
VILLAGERS in Zaka have taken decisive action to address persistent cholera outbreaks by constructing household toilets, hand-washing stations and water points for every household, an initiative that local leaders say is already transforming public health outcomes in the district.
For years, communities such as Siyawareva Village struggled with open defecation and limited access to clean water, conditions that fuelled recurring diarrhoeal diseases. With no immediate prospect of large-scale infrastructure investment, residents mobilised themselves to build the facilities using locally available resources.
Mrs Tichaedza Siyawareva, one of the beneficiaries, said the community’s determination was driven by necessity.
“This programme was driven by a lot of commitment. When it started, many of us resisted because we thought it would be too expensive. But recurring cholera cases pushed us to act. Today I am a proud mother; we now have a decent toilet, a hand-washing sink and a water point. We are no longer ashamed to have visitors at our home,” she said.
Other villagers said the initiative, championed by local leadership, has restored dignity and protected families from preventable diseases.
“As a village, we realised our health is in our hands and by working together, we built infrastructure that protects us and future generations. For women, using bush toilets was difficult and unsafe, so this programme has restored our dignity,” another beneficiary, Mrs Melody Mavingirwi said.
Local health workers and traditional leadership played a central role in coordinating construction and ensuring households adopted proper hygiene practices.
“What brought us together was the recurring challenge of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera. We did not have enough toilets or clean water sources. Our village head supported the initiative by calling weekly Wednesday meetings to monitor progress. My role was to educate households on the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene,” local Village Health Worker, Ms Tsitsidzashe Tongoimba said.
Village Head Mr Foster Kudzaishe said the results are already visible.
“This programme has transformed our village. Diarrhoeal diseases are no longer a major challenge, and many households have gone further by establishing clean water sources. We continue to encourage one another to prioritise health and sanitation, working closely with our village health workers.”
Recently, the village gathered to celebrate the milestone, with district leadership applauding residents for taking a proactive role in improving sanitation and promoting safe hygiene practices.
“What we are witnessing today is true community development. This project shows how communities can transform their well-being through unity and collective action. We urge other villages to emulate Siyawareva,” Zaka Rural District Council Chairperson, Councillor Fungai Maregedze said.
“The infrastructure established here, which includes toilets, sinks and water points, will go a long way in reducing disease outbreaks and improving rural livelihoods,” Zaka District Development Coordinator, Mr Gift Machukele said.
Through collaboration between households, village leadership and government partners, Zaka is fast becoming a model district on water and sanitation issues.
