There’s little to get poetical about in Zimbabwe’s current plight but `Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,’ has a certain relevancy.
Last September, Tearfund reported how parts of the country were facing serious shortages, with the second largest city Bulawayo particularly hard hit.
Four dams were completely dry and people were resorting to sourcing water from health-threatening sources, such as sewer streams.
Clean water became in such short supply that people resorted to collecting from unsafe sources, in this case a sewer. Photo: Tearfund
The problem was blamed on a combination of causes - disputes between national and local government over supplies, vandalism and drought.
Since then there have been unusually heavy rains. Indeed some parts of Zimbabwe have been badly flooded and 21 people have lost their lives.
The effect of the rains on the environment has been radical, says Tearfund’s Karyn Beattie who was in Zimbabwe back in September and has recently returned from another visit.
`The rains have transformed the countryside,’ said Karyn. `Everything is green, rivers are full.
Unhappy
`I expected the water shortages to be over in Bulawayo but residents are still not happy.
‘Bulawayo’s supply dams are nearly full but the city council has no chemicals to treat the water. So in spite of the downpours, the taps remain empty.’
Last autumn Tearfund launched an appeal for Zimbabwe and some of the money raised has been used to help people through the water crisis.
Tearfund has provided storage tanks for people to access clean water. Photo: Tearfund
Working with our partner Churches in Bulawayo, there are now 20 tanks, which can hold 5,000 litres, being used in the western suburbs.
Tearfund has also paid for water supplies by private contractors when the city council has been unable to do so.
Such action has made a real difference to people who previously had to spend three hours waiting for access to a borehole.
Karyn said, ‘One young lady looking after three children under five said that she had to take the children, one a baby, with her to collect the water about four kilometres away.
‘Since she could only carry 20 litres at a time, she’d have to do that three times a day to have enough for her children.
‘She was now walking about 400 metres and waiting no longer than about 20 minutes for her water.’
Water tanks ensure clean supplies for many communities. Photo: Tearfund