The devastating drought ravaging Zimbabwe has reduced its once-mighty rivers to mere trickles threatening livelihoods, exacerbating food scarcity and pushing the nation to the brink of a catastrophic water crisis. Nearly all 10 provinces across Zimbabwe have been impacted with reports of widespread devastation.
Since December 2023, Zimbabwe has faced an unrelenting drought with prolonged dry spells. This has ravaged crops, caused rivers to dry up and affected livestock production, leaving communities on the brink of disaster. A staggering 7.6 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid and protection in order to survive.
As the rivers dry up, a surge in conflicts between humans and wildlife has been triggered as animals in search of scarce water resources are encroaching on river banks and sparking tension.
The situation is particularly dire at the Kariba Dam where the water is dwindling at an alarming rate. The dam in Mashonaland West Province is a vital lifeline as it is the primary source of hydroelectric energy that powers two nations, Zimbabwe and Zambia. As of September 16, 2024, the water level at Kariba dam stood at an alarming 7.41% usable storage. Against this background, the Zambezi River Authority reduced the water allocation for power generation by 47% to 16 billion cubic meters.
The City Council of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, has temporarily closed the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant as the water supplies from the Harava and Seke dams have been disrupted due to the drought. This shutdown has serious implications for water quality, significantly worsening the already chronic water crisis in the city center.
Precious Shumba of the Harare Residents Trust warns that shutting down the water treatment plant will worsen the city water crisis, leading to conflicts among residents over limited water sources and will have a negative impact on public health, hygiene, and sanitation:
“Harare’s water crisis has worsened with the shutdown of the water treatment plant due to Harava and Seke dams drying up. Residents will now compete for scarce water, fueling tensions and conflict. The lack of clean water also poses serious health risks and threatens food security”, he said.
Against this backdrop, Harare’s municipal clinics face immense challenges in providing essential maternal healthcare services due to prolonged power outages that can last over 15 hours daily which seriously disrupts operations and puts expectant mothers and newborns at significant risk, especially in emergency situations. The clinics are often unable to power critical equipment such as incubators, oxygen machines and sterilization units which jeopardizes lives and will potentially increase maternal and infant mortality rates.
As the drought has caused numerous boreholes to dry up, both urban and rural communities are facing water scarcity and the significantly reduced access to clean water has triggered widespread cholera outbreaks across Zimbabwe. As of mid-March 2024, this had resulted in 28,556 reported cases and 589 deaths, across all 10 provinces and 62 districts.
Zimbabwe’s water crisis has plagued the country for decades. The outdated water infrastructure, built for a much smaller population, is struggling to meet Harare’s current needs. Mismanagement and illegal gold mining that has diverted river flows compound the problem while the 2024 El Nino has merely worsened the situation.
See also: Food crisis worsens in Zimbabwe as El Nino continues to wreak havoc
The Chakahemare family in the southern Mwenezi District rely on rain-fed agriculture, but the drought has turned their once-fertile land into dust. Mrs. Chakahemare shared her concerns:
“We’ve lost everything, we have no water to drink; our rivers are dry and our animals are dying. We’ve sold our livestock, our only source of income, we are on the brink of collapse”.
Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, is also facing a severe drought with over a million residents struggling with acute water stress and lacking access to clean water while rapidly depleting reservoirs are causing widespread desperation.
Climate Minister Sithembiso Nyoni announced that Zimbabwe can expect rains from November onward although October will be relatively dry whereas this is usually when the onset of rains is expected. Minister Nyoni offered assurance that the 2024/25 season will bring normal to above-normal rainfall.
“The month of October is expected to be drier than the long-term average, but from November onwards the forecast is for normal to above normal rainfall. Farmers and the whole nation are guided to plan accordingly,” Minister Nyoni briefed the cabinet.
