By Mateline Tsama
As Harare’s unending water crisis continue to haunt residents, women
have raised concern that the crisis is affecting them more than any other
person due to the patriarchal nature of our society as it affects their area of
responsibility in the household.
Rudo
Zimunya (not her real name) from Chitungwiza wakes up as early as 4am well in
time to get to the borehole before sunrise. She walks more than 2 kilometres to
the borehole where 20 other women have queued up. It takes 30 minutes to an
hour to finally get water. Child on her back, 20 litres container on her head
plus a small 5 litres she hurries home in time to prepare breakfast for her husband
and children.
“Unfortunately, the 25 litres is not enough
because my husband uses at least half of it not mentioning my three school
going children, they need to eat, and bath before going to school,” Zimunya
said.
As soon
as they leave, she clutches her child on her back and proceeds to the borehole
again to fetch water for other household chores.
“For the past four months, our area has never received
tape water and this is really burdening me as I have to single handedly provide
water for the family,” Zimunya said.
She
added that rarely does she find time to rest as she has to juggle between domestic
chores and running her small market at Zengeza 3 shops.
“Because
I have a 9 months old child, there is plenty of laundry to do every time and
with this water crisis it’s really nightmarish,” went on Zimunya.
She leaves
for the market where she sells a few wares and in no time, she is on her way
back home and proceeds to the borehole before sunset. This has become routine
and she hardly enjoys a decent night as she will be thinking of how she will
overcome the burden of running a household without water.
Zimunya’s
story is not an
isolated case as there are many women in Zimbabwe facing similar challenges.
The
water crisis has worsened, becoming a routine struggle for women due to
patriarchal burden compelling them to perform routine kitchen chores that include
fetching water, washing laundry and dishes, as well as providing water for all
the household needs.
The
burden is even felt more by employed women who after a horrendous day at the
office or market get to a dry house, where laundry and dishes waits for their
attention.
Glenda
Chademane (37), a vendor from Chitungwiza, said she opens her vegetable market late
as she has to meet the water needs of her house first before attending to her
business.
“My
business used to flourish but since the water crisis started I rarely record
good sales as most of my time is spend at home hustling for water, which has
since become an overriding priority in my life to other income generating
activities,” Chademane said.
The
current water crisis is affecting the day to day lives of most women including
their sleeping habits as they have to wake up as early as 4am rushing to queue up
for the now precious liquid.
“Water
is my biggest worry every day and my husband does not seem to understand the
pain I go through to have water in the house. He always beat me up when he
comes home to an uncooked meal,” said another Chitungwiza woman who spoke in
conditions of anonymous.
Bulawayo
Progressive Residents Association’s Busi Bhebhe explained that women are the
ones mostly affected by water shortages, which she says is fortifying gender
disparities thus drawing back progress and development made towards gender
equality.
“Women
are primary care givers, they are the ones who ensure each child’s needs and
routines are met, taking a key role in feeding, sleeping, bathing and changing
nappies. As such, it’s an added burden and extra labour for a woman because she
can’t cook without water.
“It has
also become a national crisis that holds the impossibility of women to fully
participate in other national development issues, given that they make 52% of
the population of Zimbabwe. There is a need for government to prioritise, get
to the core of this water problem and even work on long term plan that will sustain the nation”,
Bhebhe added.
The
challenges have also extended to affect school children who are forced by the
situation to walk even for more than four kilometres with at least 20 litres of
water on their heads before heading for school as they seek to assist their
parents.
This situation
negatively affects their studies as alluded to by a 10 year young girl from
Seke 11 primary school.
“I wake
up early in the morning to go and fetch water and this affects my concentration
in class. Sometimes I feel sleepy and in some cases get to school late,” said
the girl.
Normal
demand for water in Harare is 900 mega litres a day but due to losses only 350 mega
litres is getting to people.
According
to Director of water, Eng Christopher Zvobgo, daily water requirements for
Harare was expected to rise to 1200 mega litres between September and November
