Madhamu (Common ablution facilities) in Hwange
Poor sanitation practices and water shortages are the main causes of the cholera outbreak in Hwange, an act of negligence by the Hwange Colliery Company Limited’s (HCCL).
Hwange, a coal mining town in northwest Zimbabwe, is home to one of Southern Africa’s biggest collieries. The town’s success in industry overshadows the lesser-known treatment of its citizens under the colliery’s concession, despite the town’s reputation for producing high-quality coal and black rock by-products like coke.
Hwange is commended for maintaining a flourishing business in the face of Zimbabwe’s alarmingly high unemployment rates. However, residents of the mining town revealed startling information during an investigation into the cholera outbreak.
According to a situational report issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), as of January 24, 2024, Hwange had a startling 97 suspected new cholera cases and two reported deaths, putting it the district with the highest number of illnesses in Matabeleland North Province. The investigation into the underlying reasons of this pandemic revealed some sobering facts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that cholera is an acute diarrheal illness brought on by consuming tainted food or water.
The main causes of the cholera outbreak in the concession zones, according to the locals, were inadequate sanitation and shared restrooms. The account of Natasha Ncube, a 31-year-old resident of Lwendulu, a high-density suburb under the concession number 1 region of the Hwange Colliery Company, eloquently captures the daily fight for basic hygiene.
At 7 a.m., just after the cleaners have finished cleaning the public restrooms, Natasha awakens. She is afraid to use the facilities any time after that because overuse quickly renders them unusable. Residents in Hwange Colliery concession areas 1, 2, and 3 share the same restrooms, which were previously only cleaned once a day until a cholera outbreak recently compelled the colliery to clean them twice a day. This arrangement was created by the mining corporation for its low-grade employees.
The toilets are cleaned in the morning between 5 and 8 am and in the evening between 4 and 6 PM.
Shunning archaic facilities
A visit to these public restrooms showed ongoing obstructions and unsanitary conditions in spite of the cleaning efforts. According to locals, blockages have continued for years under the colliery company’s supervision without taking significant action. Residents like Clara Mwembe (43) voice their annoyance, pointing out that these restroom and bathing facilities are frequently unclean and insufficient. Mwembe emphasizes the risks of overpopulation, claiming that the population growth of the concession jeopardizes people’s safety.
“These are the only ablution facilities we have for both bath and washrooms, they are common facilities and you cannot help but use them. Most of the time they are dirty,” said Mwembe.
The elderly claim that even though the arrangement is cruel, the facilities were well-maintained and catered to a tiny population per sector in the company’s prime.
“There are now many non-mine workers in the concession; there is an explosion, and people cannot be safe in such circumstances.” Craig Shoko, a resident, added, “The toilets have also outlived their lifespan.”
These communal restrooms are referred to by the locals as “madhamu,” which refers to a location similar to a dam where dozens of people use restrooms and toilets in one area. Since then, Shoko, like other parents, has prohibited her kids from using the public restrooms.
Water shedding
The community’s senior citizens have turned to buying big bathing dishes to use in their houses as a result of inadequate sanitation. Water scarcity, however, makes matters worse; the concession area goes 16 hours without water every day, which has an impact on ablution facility cleanliness and general hygiene.
The availability of water affects the cleanliness of the restrooms and the general hygiene of the patrons in the concession area. The water is accessible in the morning from 4 to 9 a.m. and in the evening from 4 to 7 p.m.
Speaking about the cholera outbreak, Mr. Fidelis Chima, coordinator of the Greater Whange Residents Association (GWRA), characterized the concession area’s communal restrooms as a breeding ground for the disease.
“Imagine 50 families sharing a single toilet that has two chambers and without running water. We will engage Hwange Colliery Company on the matter to make sure that they modernise sanitation facilities that the community uses,” said Chima.
From Blocked toilets to the underground fire
Coal fires have killed at least a dozen individuals in the last ten years, many of them children. Parents typically send their children to relieve themselves in isolated areas across the complexes due to clogged toilets and a fear of becoming sick.
Children have been burned by coal flames while using bush toilets because the Hwange Colliery Company failed to properly map the area and install warning systems. Most of the time, the victims are sucked underground when the earth gives way. The burns have claimed the lives of a few of the kids.
The Hwange Colliery Company says the victims are trespassers in order to avoid taking responsibility for these tragedies. However, locals like Mandlenkosi Ncube contend that these mishaps are a result of the company’s disregard for restroom facilities.
“The business consistently avoids accountability, but the reality is that it is not providing ablution facilities, which causes parents to avoid them. We wouldn’t have these victims if the restrooms were in good condition,” Ncube stated.
In January 2022, HCCL hired a private, international consultant to look into the extent of the underground fires in Hwange after one of the deaths.
However, for almost two years, the results of that investigation have not been made public.
According to this inquiry, open defecation is increasing as inhabitants avoid using the communal restrooms, which makes it easier for cholera to spread.
Temporary Intervention
The residential zones of Cinderella, Number 2, and Number 3 were designated as cholera hotspots in Hwange by the Civil Protection Committee. Victoria Falls Hospital has responded by designating Mkhosana Clinic as an isolation center and allocating 45 beds for suspected cases. Additionally, all medical facilities will offer rehydration centers to treat mild cases.
The public health officer from Hwange Colliery Hospital, Medicine Shonai, acknowledges the need for improvement in water provision and ablution facilities.
“We are trying to make the concession area’s water supply better. We acknowledge that the public restrooms aren’t in the best condition at the moment,” Shonai remarked.
At the same time, the Hwange Local Board took action by prohibiting outdoor church meetings without restrooms and closing unlicensed food establishments.
Residents of Hwange continue to face a reality that demands immediate attention and all-encompassing solutions as the battle against cholera heats up. Despite these obstacles, the World Health Organization (WHO) sent more than 800,000 oral cholera vaccines to Zimbabwe. Representatives from WHO and UNICEF emphasised the value of immunization and a coordinated response to the pandemic.
Cholera vaccines, like other vaccines, are meant to save lives, according to UNICEF Country Director Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale.
“So, it’s imperative for people to go out and get vaccinated. As UNICEF, we remain committed to ensuring communities are given the best health services,” said Dr Oyewale.
Professor Jean Marie Dangoe, the WHO country representative for Zimbabwe, called on organizations and individuals to take the initiative in coordinating resources and skills to combat cholera.
“WHO and UNICEF combined efforts have improved knowledge on cholera prevention measures, and strengthened healthcare systems in affected communities. The fight demands a united front.”
