ZLHR Urges Zimbabwe Government to Invest in Water and Sanitation Infrastructure

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has urged the Zimbabwe Government to urgently strengthen investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, warning that worsening shortages and pollution are deepening disease outbreaks, inequality and poverty. In a statement issued to mark Africa Day on 25 May 2026, ZLHR said access to safe and clean water remains a fundamental constitutional and human right directly linked to health, dignity and life.

The human rights organisation cited several environmental and public health concerns across Zimbabwe as evidence of a growing national water crisis.

Among the cases highlighted were:

• Recent cholera infections in Zvishavane

• Ongoing water rationing in Bulawayo

• Raw sewage pollution flowing into Lake Chivero

• Mercury contamination affecting Lake Alexander near Mutare

According to ZLHR, mercury levels detected at Lake Alexander were nearly 45 times higher than Zimbabwe’s national safety threshold due to unregulated artisanal mining activities. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that mercury contamination poses serious health risks, including neurological damage, especially for communities relying on contaminated water sources.

ZLHR called on authorities to intensify environmental protection measures and hold polluters accountable. The organisation urged the government to:

• Prosecute polluters responsible for contaminating Lake Chivero

• Stop issuing mining licences in critical water catchment areas

• Improve access to safe water and sanitation infrastructure

• Ensure equal access to clean water for women, children and marginalised communities

The group said failure to address water and sanitation challenges continues to undermine social and economic development.

ZLHR reminded authorities that Section 77 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to safe, clean and potable water. The organisation said the State has a legal obligation to progressively realise these rights using available national resources.

“Protecting these rights is essential to building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Africa envisioned under Agenda 2063,” the statement said.

Zimbabwe has faced recurring challenges related to water shortages, aging infrastructure, sewer system failures and pollution in recent years, particularly in major urban centres. Public health experts warn that poor sanitation and contaminated water supplies increase the risk of cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases. The latest call by ZLHR comes amid growing pressure on authorities to modernise Zimbabwe’s water infrastructure and strengthen environmental monitoring systems.

Zimbabwe water crisis