The Unsung Heroes of WASH | Ruwa Local Board in Zimbabwe

This new series shines a spotlight on Urban Water Service Providers (WSPs), who despite facing enormous challenges, continue to provide essential water and sanitation services on a local level — protecting public health, well-being and economic security.

By Shannon Roxborough

While many people tend to focus on the work of NGOs like ROCKBlue, contributions of water service providers (WSPs) often go overlooked.

Case in point: In Ruwa, Zimbabwe, a town of some 120,000 about 13 miles southeast of the capital city Harare, the Ruwa Local Board has continued to provide water to people, businesses, farms and institutions against all odds.

In a nation grappling with its worst economic crisis in more than a decade, years-long drought has left water sources at their lowest levels in a century, setting off a severe water and sanitation crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Making matters worse, many skilled, educated workers have fled the country for greener pastures, leaving Zimbabwe’s water, sanitation and hygiene sector with a much smaller pool of talent.

Despite staff shortages, aging infrastructure and inadequate resources, the Ruwa Local Board and its often-invisible team of employees continue providing vital, lifegiving water.

After losing valuable members of senior management and technical (engineering) staff, Rabson Madzivire stepped into a lead role to take charge of all operations, working tirelessly day and night. His small team of three municipal workers, including engineer Joseph Zvareva, also rolled up their sleeves to tackle everyday tasks usually handled by a team of 10 people.

Steep declines in revenue caused by the pandemic has left the Ruwa team scrambling to make ends meet at a time when vehicles are not available, fuel is scarce, salaries are inadequate, and maintenance and repair budgets have been slashed to a bare minimum.

Along the way, ROCKBlue has been there to provide Team Ruwa with much-needed support at no cost. Our local utility specialist, Thami Mpala, has acted as a mentor and connector, with valuable assistance from our resident representative, Clarence Mapenzauswa, who has also freely given him time.

In the face of everything, they all work together to keep the taps flowing.

We salute the entire team at the Ruwa Local Board — and our on-the-ground volunteers — for a job well done! You are, indeed, true heroes who do extraordinary things everyday for your community, country and the WASH profession.

Thank you all! ?

Shannon Roxborough is chief marketing officer of ROCKBlue and a longtime freelance journalist. He writes frequently about international development, world affairs, global trends and cross-cultural issues.

For global water and sanitation news, information and insights, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.