CHOLERA CRISIS EXPOSES ZIMBABWE’S COLLAPSING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

The cholera outbreak in Harare has spiraled into a public health emergency, exposing the deep failures of Zimbabwe’s leadership and the collapse of basic service delivery. Recent statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care show that suspected cholera cases have risen sharply to 1,744 by November 26th, up from 1,259 the previous week. These numbers paint a grim picture of a city – and a nation – in crisis.

At the heart of the outbreak is Harare, the capital city and supposed centre of governance. Harare alone has recorded 705 cumulative cases, and the numbers keep rising. But this is not just a health issue – it is a direct result of years of neglect, mismanagement, and corruption by those in power. Other hotspots, like Chitungwiza, reported 163 cases in just one week between November 16th and 23rd, showing that this crisis is spreading rapidly.

The root causes of the outbreak are well known, yet remain unaddressed. A major factor is the deteriorating sanitation in high-density residential areas. A survey by The NewsHawks revealed that areas such as Kuwadzana 1 and 4 and Chitungwiza are living with untreated sewer bursts that remain unfixed for weeks. Raw sewage flows freely, creating pools of waste in the streets and near homes, turning communities into death traps.

The situation is worsened by shocking behaviour from some city council workers. According to the Harare Residents Trust (HRT), residents are being asked to pay US$5 per household to get sewer bursts repaired. This is extortion. Public service workers, who are already salaried, are demanding bribes from desperate residents who simply want to avoid deadly disease. As a result, water and sewer pipes remain broken and leaking, polluting underground water sources. Contaminated water then flows into homes, fuelling the outbreak even further.

The City of Harare reports that it loses around 60% of its treated water due to leakage along the aging distribution network. This is an enormous and unacceptable loss, especially in a city where clean water is scarce. HRT has urged the city to urgently replace broken underground water and sewerage pipes in the worst-affected communities. Doing so would both reduce health risks and improve water access.

Water scarcity is now amplifying the cholera outbreak across both urban and rural Zimbabwe. Communities in Harare and beyond have gone for weeks, even months, without consistent access to safe, clean water. The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has warned that this shortage is a major factor in the resurgence of cholera.

Itai Rusike, Executive Director of CWGH, has sounded the alarm. He noted that since the devastating 2008-2009 cholera outbreak – which killed over 4,000 people – Zimbabwe’s water and sanitation systems have remained in crisis. He pointed to Harare’s unreliable water supply, often of questionable quality, as a clear sign of government failure. These conditions are not only shameful but are also creating fertile ground for preventable disease outbreaks.

Rusike called for more than just an emergency response. He said Zimbabwe needs a complete overhaul of its public health system, starting with primary healthcare. This is not just about fighting cholera – it’s about rebuilding the country’s broken health infrastructure and addressing years of neglect.

The ongoing cholera crisis is a tragic reminder of what happens when a government fails its people. This is not just a health issue – it is a political issue. Zimbabweans are suffering and dying because of poor governance, corruption, and a system that prioritises elite interests over public safety.

The people of Harare deserve better. All Zimbabweans deserve access to clean water, proper sanitation, and a functioning healthcare system. The time for empty promises is over. What is needed now is urgent, coordinated action to stop this outbreak and prevent future ones. Lives are at stake. Those in power must act – or be held accountable.