Peter Moyo
Bulawayo– Zimbabwe’s public sanitation system is sparking a nationwide debate as the government weighs privatizing and commercializing public toilets.
A new policy brief from the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) and Community Water Alliance (CWA), warns that privatization could jeopardize access to these vital facilities, particularly for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. The report pushes for commercialization managed by local governments instead, arguing it’s a safer path to improve Zimbabwe’s struggling public sanitation infrastructure.
“Public toilets are more than just buildings—they’re a basic human right,” said MIHR Director Khumbulani Maphosa. “Privatization risks turning them into a luxury for those who can afford it, rather than a necessity for everyone.” This sentiment echoes growing concerns across Zimbabwe, where public toilet conditions have long been plagued by poor maintenance and hygiene issues.
The debate kicked off on March 13, 2024, when then-Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon. Winston Chitando, told Parliament the government was exploring privatization to boost funding and efficiency in public sanitation services. Supporters say private sector involvement could breathe new life into a crumbling system, delivering cleaner, better-managed facilities. But critics, including MIHR and CWA, caution that the costs could outweigh the benefits, especially for Zimbabwe’s poorest communities.
The policy brief highlights several privatization risks that could hit hard. Higher fees might lock out low-income residents, driving up open defecation and sparking public health crises—a pressing worry in a country already battling sanitation challenges. Private operators, focused on profit, could also skimp on hygiene and upkeep, leaving public toilets in worse shape than before. Then there’s the legal angle: Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution guarantees safe water and sanitation as fundamental rights, and making access pay-to-play could breach those protections. For street vendors, bus drivers, and other marginalized groups who rely on public toilets daily, privatization could deepen inequality, pushing them further to society’s edges.
“We’ve seen privatization of essential services widen gaps in other countries,” the MIHR director noted, pointing to global examples where profit-driven models left the poor behind. The report argues that keeping commercialization under local government control would balance the need for revenue with the duty to ensure universal access— a middle ground that could revitalize Zimbabwe’s public sanitation without sacrificing human rights.
As Zimbabwe grapples with this decision, the stakes are high. Public toilets aren’t just a convenience; they’re a lifeline for millions, tied to health, dignity, and equality. With the MIHR and CWA sounding the alarm, all eyes are on the government to see whether privatization will move forward—or if a homegrown solution will keep public sanitation in public hands.
