Women in Bulawayo face disproportionate service delivery challenges, says BPRA on International Women’s Day

Matebeleland Pulse Reporter

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has highlighted a range of service delivery challenges affecting women in the city, including water shortages, unsafe vending conditions, limited healthcare access and housing in flood-prone areas, as the world marked International Women’s Day.

In a statement released to commemorate IWD 2026, BPRA said women in Bulawayo “continue to face disproportionate challenges in accessing basic services, economic opportunities, and safe living and working spaces.”

“BPRA joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 under the UN theme ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the association said.

“This theme calls for urgent action to uphold women’s rights, strengthen justice, and ensure equitable access to resources and services for women and girls in every community.”

BPRA said unreliable access to water and sanitation remains one of the most pressing challenges affecting women, who often manage household water needs.

“Women remain the primary managers of household water needs. Frequent water cuts and unreliable supply forces them to travel long distances or rely on unsafe alternatives,” BPRA said.

“This increases household burdens and exposes families to health risks such as typhoid and cholera.”

The residents association also highlighted challenges faced by women working in the informal sector, noting that they make up the majority of vendors in the city.

“Women vendors in Bulawayo’s informal sector constitute over 60%, yet they struggle to access safe and hygienic vending spaces, including ablution facilities,” BPRA said.

“There have been cases where women are chased by municipal police, losing stock and income, threatening livelihoods and undermining household food security.”

BPRA also raised concerns about housing developments in wetlands and flood-prone areas, particularly in parts of Cowdray Park.

“BPRA has documented households on wetlands or flood-prone zones, specifically in some sections of Cowdray Park,” the association said.

“These conditions expose women and children to floods, waterborne diseases, and unsafe drinking water.”

The organisation further highlighted gaps in healthcare and reproductive health services, saying women continue to face difficulties accessing affordable and adequate care.

“Access to affordable healthcare and reproductive health services is still limited,”BPRA said.

“Maternal health services, family planning, and care for sick children remain under-resourced, placing additional burdens on women.”

The association also noted that environmental and climate-related challenges, including poor waste management, flooding and droughts, disproportionately affect women because of their roles in caregiving and household resource management.

“Women disproportionately bear the impact of poor waste management, flooding, and droughts due to their roles in caregiving and food and water provision,” BPRA said.

“Inadequate municipal services increase these risks.”

BPRA said the issues highlighted in its monitoring over the past year reflect broader systemic inequalities affecting women’s participation in economic, social and civic life.

“These challenges are not merely individual hardships, they reflect systemic inequalities that limit women’s participation in economic, social, and civic life,” the residents association said.

BPRA called on authorities to prioritise gender-responsive service delivery and measures that protect women’s rights.

“Advancing women’s rights and wellbeing is not only a matter of justice, it is central to building inclusive, thriving, and resilient communities for all,” BPRA said.

Among its recommendations, the association called for “water justice for women” through consistent water supply and accessible sanitation in residential areas.It also urged authorities to support women vendors “who form the backbone of Bulawayo’s informal economy” by providing designated markets with proper facilities and ending harassment that undermines livelihoods.

BPRA further called for stronger mechanisms to protect women from harassment, evictions and discrimination in public spaces while addressing gaps in health services, waste management and urban infrastructure.