The government has come under renewed pressure to urgently prioritise the provision and improvement of sanitation facilities in schools across Zimbabwe, amid growing concerns over inadequate infrastructure that continues to compromise the health and academic performance of thousands of learners.
The call was made during a recent session of the National Assembly by Harare proportional representative legislator Vivian Pamela Chiteme, who painted a grim picture of the state of hygiene in some educational institutions, particularly in rural districts. Chiteme emphasised the urgent need for the rehabilitation and construction of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in schools to create a healthy and conducive learning environment for all learners.
“Government must prioritise rehabilitation and construction of sustainable water supply, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion (WASH) infrastructure so that all learners have a supportive environment for learning and health,” she said.
Chiteme cited the example of Herbert Chitepo Primary School in the Zvimba North district, where children are reportedly learning in abandoned tobacco grading sheds due to the absence of proper classrooms. She described the situation as dire, saying such infrastructure is completely unfit for any form of learning, let alone the development of young children.
“Without reliable WASH facilities in schools, students are vulnerable to waterborne diseases, and this becomes even more of a challenge for girls during their menstrual periods, which can lead to absenteeism and long-term negative impacts on their academic performance and self-esteem,” she added.
Government Urged to Improve Sanitation Facilities in Schools to Safeguard Learners’ Health and Education
Chiteme stressed that access to clean water and hygienic sanitation is not just a matter of comfort, but a fundamental right that empowers students, particularly girls, and promotes gender equality in education.
Adding her voice to the debate, Masvingo proportional representative MP Sethulo Ndebele noted that many schools in Matabeleland North province are severely under-resourced in terms of basic water and sanitation facilities. She said that in the absence of reliable water infrastructure, many schools rely on assistance from non-governmental organisations such as the Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP) to meet basic hygiene needs.
“Students travel long distances—sometimes up to five kilometres—to get to school, and when they arrive, there are no water facilities for them. This makes their lives extremely difficult and compromises their ability to focus on learning,” said Ndebele. “I strongly urge the government to prioritise the drilling of boreholes within school premises to ensure that every learner has access to clean, safe water on site.”
Ndebele also urged authorities to incorporate adequate WASH facilities in the design and construction of all new schools to ensure that learners are not just attending school, but doing so in a safe and healthy environment that promotes their full academic and personal development.
Education experts have long warned that poor sanitation and inadequate access to clean water in schools not only pose a health risk to students and teachers, but also undermine efforts to deliver quality education. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea—often linked to poor sanitation—can spread rapidly in overcrowded and poorly maintained schools, leading to high absenteeism and disruptions in learning.
In addition, gender disparities in education outcomes are often exacerbated by poor sanitation. Studies have shown that a lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities is one of the leading causes of absenteeism among adolescent girls, who may miss up to 20% of school days annually due to lack of access to private, safe, and clean toilets.
WASH advocates have welcomed the concerns raised by legislators like Chiteme and Ndebele and called on the government to allocate adequate resources in the national budget towards water and sanitation infrastructure in schools, especially in rural and underserved areas. They argue that such investments are not just about health and dignity, but are essential to achieving equitable and inclusive education in line with national development goals and international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Efforts by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with development partners and NGOs, have seen the rollout of some WASH-in-schools programs. However, these initiatives are not yet comprehensive or far-reaching enough to meet the growing demand across the education sector.
With the 2025 national budget formulation process underway, advocacy groups are calling on Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to ring-fence funding specifically for school-based water and sanitation development. Stakeholders insist that urgent and coordinated action is needed to reverse the current situation and ensure every Zimbabwean child has access to safe, healthy, and dignified learning conditions.
As the rainy season approaches, concerns about hygiene and disease outbreaks will likely intensify, adding urgency to the calls for decisive government intervention. For many communities, access to clean water and proper sanitation in schools remains a distant dream—but one that legislators and advocates insist must now be realised.
Source- Newsday
