Recent official data shows that, despite some progress, approximately 25% of Zimbabwe’s rural population has lacked access to toilets for the past five years.
This marks a decrease from 30% at the start of the century. According to the latest report from the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC), which is overseen by the Food and Nutrition Council, the situation has remained stagnant.
Currently, about half of Zimbabwe’s rural residents have access to basic toilets, while another 9% have limited access. Many others use toilets that have not been updated or improved.
On average, around 25% of Zimbabwe’s rural population lacks access to toilets. However, the situation is particularly dire in Matabeleland North, one of the country’s most impoverished regions, where the open defecation rate stands at 50%. Within this province, Binga district has an even higher rate of 73%.
In Lupane, the provincial capital, 53% of residents have no access to toilets. Recently, Nkayi, another area in Matabeleland North, received support from a five-year USAID initiative focused on building toilets.
Before the initiative, residents were unaware of the significance of having toilets, local media reported. Bahle Makhalima, a local resident, noted that they used to take pride in using the bush and did not understand the benefits of having a toilet at home.
In contrast to better-off provinces, nearly all regions struggle with inadequate water access for handwashing after using the toilet. The report states that only 6% of households have handwashing stations.
Following the rainy season, which is often accompanied by flooding, Zimbabwe experienced a surge in waterborne diseases due to a lack of clean water in townships and deteriorating water infrastructure. In 2008, the country recorded an African record of 4,200 deaths from cholera. The cholera outbreak persists, with recent cases also reported in Malawi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. Many residents in these regions are still using open wells for drinking and cooking water.
According to ZimLAC, there has been a decline in overall basic water services in Zimbabwe over the past year, with access falling from 60% in 2023 to 52% in 2024.