Harare, Zimbabwe - In the informal settlements of Harare Metropolitan Epworth Local Board Wards 1 and 5, rain water has been both a necessity and a threat. Between January and March 2026, relentless rains transformed these wetland communities into flood zones, submerging sanitation systems, displacing families and turning wells into sources of contamination.
With the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) forecasting continued above-normal rainfall, the risk of a devastating cholera outbreak reached a critical point in Epworth.
For many families, the floods brought more than just property damage. Homes were destroyed, residents displaced and the structural weaknesses of the area’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems were laid bare.
Rather than waiting for an outbreak to claim lives, DAPP Zimbabwe responded with a proactive intervention. On 1 March 2026, the organization launched a four-month emergency project titled Strengthening WASH Systems and Cholera Preparedness Among Flood-Affected Households in Epworth funded by DERF through UFF-Humana.
The project adopted an anticipatory approach to prevent a cholera outbreak in Epworth, targeting 17,580 households. It focused on improving access to safe water through the drilling and equipping of a solar-powered borehole, installation of chlorination systems and water quality testing across both wards.
To date, at least 500 households are directly benefiting from improved access to safe water. Community health workers and volunteers have also been trained to support early detection and timely referrals.
Ongoing activities include door-to-door awareness campaigns, community health clubs, and radio programmes. Local clinics are also being strengthened through infection prevention training, provision of protective equipment, and improved isolation capacity to reduce cholera risk.
