Examining institutional (policy) and administrative framework for water and sanitation (WSS) services in Zimbabwean cities to inform development of a new framework

Abstract

The lack of access to water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in developing countries has caused various waterborne diseases and related millions of deaths. The challenges have compelled various countries to take note of the need to incorporate both technical and policy aspects of WSS services in order to promote the delivery of these services. This research examines the current institutional (policy) and administrative framework for water services in Zimbabwean cities in order to find insights that will inform the development of a new framework. The study examines the causes of urban water conundrums by identifying qualitative gaps between the ZNWP and its implementation using both an empirical and a secondary-based study; assesses the causes of urban water conundrums by focusing on quantitative gaps between the ZNWP and its implementation in the provision of water supply services using both an empirical and a secondary-based study; evaluates the current service level on water supply and sanitation, risk assessment and audit water safety plans; and also evaluates the existing paradigm, institutional and administrative framework for WSS services in urban areas to inform the development of a new management framework. Water policy implementation gaps are examined using a four-part capacity framework that includes institutional, technical/human, financial and social capacities. The framework for assessment of service level is informed by the human rights principles on water and sanitation provision that incorporates the human rights normative and cross-cutting criteria. Data for the study is collected from a literature review, semi-structured interviews with households and other stakeholders that include water service authorities and other institutions that were systematically selected. Additional data is collected from water sampling using the Compartment Bag Test (CBT), field observations across communities in Masvingo and Harare city councils with residential (suburb) categories used as units of analysis. Both descriptive and inferential and risk assessment. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) version 26 is used to analyse quantitative data and a thematic approach used to analyse qualitative data. Themes are drawn phenomenon under study and data coded and put into categories based on the research aims. The study also identifies the elements of implementation of the ZNWP that constrain the provision of services in urban areas in the City of Masvingo and Harare and these are: financial, institutional, technical/human and social capacities. Other constraints that include political al meddling in city council duties by the central government, financial and technical/human resource capacity shortages that impact on urban local authorities (ULAs)’s capacity to deliver on WSS services are also considered in the study. The results show that financial capacity is needed to support the ZNWP programmes that include the provision of drinking water and recruitment of skilled staff among others. The notes the need for adequate political support to implement the ZNWP programmes, adequate financial support to be offered to ULAS by central government to assist in capital intensive programmes investments such as WSS service augmentation, and for transparency , communication, education and awareness to be enforced at all levels in ULAs. The study recommends that there be an urgent development of water safety plans including education on household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS), and for the establishment of an emergency response plan by ULAs to safeguard public health and protect the right to safe drinking water for all. Consequently, the study proposes a new institutional and administrative framework that includes modifications of the old framework to reduce or eliminate the identified gaps, incorporates an independent WSS regulator who must enforce regulation of WSS services, and consists of a component of urban WASH that should be overseen by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare’s Department of Health in light of recent episodes of drinking water related diseases which are mostly the result of poor hygiene including poor storage drinking at household level. The new institutional and administrative framework should also ensure an active role of water users by including civil society organisations (CSOs) such as the rate payers’ associations as legal entities in the management of WSS services.