Human Cost of Neglect in Matabeleland

A grim reality is beginning to emerge in the dry plains of Matabeleland North, one that has significant consequences for the well-being and dignity of its people. The province has recently topped the national charts for open defecation, a behavior that demonstrates deep-seated marginalization and the inability of both infrastructure and administration to meet fundamental human needs. It also jeopardizes the well-being of the people living in the region.

A pressing problem that has gone unaddressed for far too long is revealed in a recent report from the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee Rural Livelihoods Assessment: almost half of the households in Matabeleland North still defecate in the open because there aren’t enough sanitary facilities.

This is more than just the discomfort of substandard housing. There are serious health hazards associated with open defecation, as it can result in the spread of infectious diseases such diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, especially children.

Human waste pollutes the environment and water supplies when it is not properly disposed of, providing the perfect habitat for pathogens to grow and spread, potentially causing catastrophic epidemics. Inaction feeds the cycle of poverty and disease in areas like Matabeleland North, where access to better sanitation has been stagnant for years.

This lack of progress is further shown by the 2024 report, which indicates that since 2020, the percentage of families with access to improved sanitation has not increased much.

The overall situation is still grave, with almost half of the province’s inhabitants turning to habits that jeopardize their health and dignity, even if open defecation has slightly decreased from 53% to 48%.

Though not unique to this crisis, Matabeleland North’s position at the top of the list highlights a glaring geographical imbalance. Following suit, Masvingo and Mashonaland West have populations that practice open defecation at rates of 34% and 30%, respectively. This suggests that the problem is a national one, with some areas suffering a disproportionate share of the effects.

The continued prevalence of such high levels of open defecation in Matabeleland North calls into doubt the efficacy of government initiatives and policies intended to improve rural sanitation.

Not much real progress has been made in providing basic sanitary facilities to vulnerable communities like Matabeleland, despite many promises and regulatory frameworks. Not only is the absence of investment in these places a case of carelessness, but it also represents a systematic marginalization that exacerbates the region’s health and socioeconomic issues.

Matabeleland North’s pervasive poverty and underdevelopment are important factors in this circumstance. Many of the region’s towns lack access to basic amenities like clean water and sanitary facilities because infrastructure development in the area has been neglected for a long time.

Due to past grievances, the region has frequently been disregarded in national development objectives, which is the root of this neglect.The consequences of this marginalization are felt in the everyday lives of the people, where access to toilets and clean water remains a luxury rather than a basic right.

Furthermore, the issue is exacerbated by Matabeleland North’s topography, which consists primarily of wide rural areas and sporadic towns. Policymakers sometimes emphasize the logistical challenges and high costs associated with building infrastructure in these places as justifications for their impracticality.

This should not, however, be interpreted as an excuse for the region’s ongoing disregard. Rather, it highlights the need for more creative, inclusive solutions that put these neglected communities’ needs first. After all, as the population’s long-term health effects and the recurrent outbreaks of preventable diseases demonstrate, the long-term costs of inaction are significantly higher.

Defecating in the open is a symbol of inequality as well as a public health concern. The persistent dominance of Matabeleland North among the provinces involved in this practice indicates a pervasive imbalance in the allocation of resources in Zimbabwe.

While water and sanitation conditions have improved in certain areas, Matabeleland North is still mired in poverty and neglect. Given the inherent connections between inadequate sanitation and poverty, hunger, and stunted economic development, this has significant ramifications for the welfare of the local population.

While the negative effects of open defecation on health are well-established, the wider societal ramifications are frequently disregarded. Children in areas where this practice is prevalent are especially susceptible to the negative impacts of inadequate sanitation.

In sub-Saharan Africa, diarrheal diseases—which are intimately linked to open defecation—are a major contributor to malnourishment and infant mortality. Improved sanitary infrastructure could prevent the public health disaster that these diseases cause, especially in Matabeleland North, where access to healthcare is already scarce.

Defecating in the open entails social stigmas that disproportionately impact women and girls, in addition to the immediate health hazards. Women and girls are especially exposed to harassment and abuse in rural areas where they have to go far to find private places to defecate because of the lack of privacy and dignity that come with this habit.

Their already challenging lives are made even more difficult by this, further marginalizing them in their communities.

A ray of hope is provided by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee report, which calls for increased access to potable water. Despite having a bad reputation for cleanliness, Matabeleland North has the greatest percentage of households (88%), obtaining drinking water from improved sources.

There is a gap in the way public health efforts are being implemented, though, as this achievement in increasing access to water has not resulted in comparable gains in sanitation. Access to clean water must be improved, yet the presence of open defecation undermines the health benefits of clean water without proper sanitation.

An all-encompassing strategy is needed to properly handle the problem.—one that goes beyond simply supplying restrooms. Communities need to be made aware of the value of good sanitation and hygiene, and the necessary infrastructure needs to be provided to support these practices.

To guarantee that underprivileged areas like Matabeleland North are not left behind in the nation’s development strategy, there also needs to be a change in the priorities set by the government.

In Matabeleland North, finding lasting solutions to the underlying causes of open defecation is not merely a technical matter. In order to guarantee that every Zimbabwean has access to fundamental human rights like clean water and sanitary conditions, it requires political will, the allocation of resources, and a commitment.

The health and dignity of Matabeleland’s people are at stake, thus the region’s marginalization cannot be ignored any longer.

Zimbabwe’s authorities must grasp that the ultimate measure of a nation’s progress resides not in the wealth of its urban centers but in the welfare of its most vulnerable residents.

Up until Matabeleland North and other areas dealing with comparable difficulties—The cycle of open defecation and the health dangers it poses will persist throughout the nation unless they receive the support and resources they are entitled to.

It’s time for a more fair strategy for development, one that puts the needs of every Zimbabwean first, wherever they may reside.

More: The Zim Bulletin