Celebrating Toilets.

This article was published in the Zambia Daily Mail in 2021 to commemorate the World Toilet Day.

On 9^th November students from the University of Zambia protested to bring to the attention of government the various challenges the school is facing one of which is the lack of proper sanitation as shown in a video where their Students Union President Gabriel Banda claimed that East Park Mall toilets have been their salvation. 2 days later, on 11^th November 2021, students from the Lusaka Business Technical College (LBTC) staged a protest alleging poor sanitation at the institution.

If situations can be this dire at higher learning institutions, how about the rural areas?

The Toilet Crisis

According to JMP (2021), only 3.2 in 10 Zambians have access to improved sanitation facilities which are not shared with other households. 1.1 in 10 Zambian disposes human faeces in open spaces as they lack any form of toilet. The true picture is that 1.94 million of rural Zambians have no toilet facility, as compared with 128,694 of urban. While toilet access is generally higher in urban areas as compared to rural, sanitary conditions in urban areas are aggravated by high-density living, inadequate septage and solid waste management, and poor drainage.

Poor sanitation undermines human dignity. Access to safe, hygienic, and private sanitation facilities is one of the strongest indicators of dignity. For many women across the country however, inadequate access is a source of shame, physical discomfort, and insecurity. Cultural norms strictly control behaviour in this area, in many cases requiring that women are not seen defecating – a requirement that forces them to leave home before dawn or after nightfall to maintain privacy. Delaying bodily functions is a major cause of liver infection and acute constipation. The loss of dignity associated with a lack of privacy in toilets helps to explain why women attach more importance than men to sanitary provision (UNDP 2006).

Poor sanitation hurt girls’ education. Young girls, particularly after puberty, are also less likely to attend classes if the school does not have proper toilets. UNICEF estimate that about half the girls in Sub – Saharan Africa who drop out of primary school do so because of poor water and sanitation facilities. That helps explain why improving school sanitation can increase the demand for education among girls. Conversely, inadequate provision can retard progress. Toilets at home, school and at work help women fulfil their potential and play their full role in society, especially during menstruation and pregnancy.

Poor sanitation causes child mortality. Of the 123,355 annual deaths in Zambia, 31,500 (26%) are children under the age of five (GBDx). Of these fatalities, 3,754 children won't survive to their 5^th birthday because of diarrhea. These sickness episodes represent the second largest cause of childhood death after acute respiratory tract infection. Globally, diarrhoea kills more people than tuberculosis or malaria – five times as many children die of diarrhoea as of HIV/AIDS. Most deaths from diarrhoea are caused by shigella, or bloody diarrhoea. Unlike other forms of diarrhoea, shigella cannot be treated effectively with simple oral rehydration therapies – it requires more costly antibiotics. Even for households that can afford treatment, shigella is a growing threat because it has rapidly developed resistance to antibiotics. The economic impact of poor WASH is also staggering as health is wealth. Despite all this background, less than 1.4% of 2022 Zambia's national budget will go towards Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Poor sanitation and undernutrition reinforce each other. When children are undernourished, their resistance to infection is lowered and they are more susceptible to diarrhetic disease and other infections. Where children regularly suffer from diarrhoea, they are also very likely to be malnourished as a result. For infants, particularly those under six months of age, diarrhoea can cause permanent damage to intestinal development, reducing a child's ability to absorb nutrients leading to stunting, both physical and cognitive. And children who are affected by stunting in their early years have lower test scores on cognitive assessments and activity level (Alderman, Hoddinott and Kinsey, 2006). Ultimately, adults who were stunted as children on average earn 22% less than those who weren’t (Anthony Lake, 2012).

Working with line ministries to contribute to stunting reduction in the Zambia, Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) is a project supported by USAID being implemented in 13 selected districts of Central, Copperbelt, Luapula, and Northern Provinces. To achieve this goal, SUN TA targets women of reproductive age with at least one child under 2 years of age, and/or a pregnant woman. The project’s sanitation demand creation and sustainable social behaviours change is promoted through Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) efforts. Given that recent evidence suggesting that poor sanitation is particularly threatening to early life health, efforts to improve sanitary conditions is therefore of urgent relevance.

2021 World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day - a day set worldwide to raise the awareness and inspire action to intensify the construction and use of toilets – falls on 19^th November every year. This year’s theme ‘Valuing Toilets” draws attention to the fact that toilets - and the sanitation systems that fund them – are often underfunded, poorly managed, or neglected. This has devastating consequences for health, economics, and the environment, particularly in our poorest and most marginalized communities. The use of toilets is a topic that is usually ignored and shrouded in taboos evidenced by the outrage UNICEF faced in 2018 for supporting the erecting of billboards proclaiming the eradication of open defecation in selected districts. It will take us to rightly focus such disgust and outrage at the man in the mirror for allowing our fellow Zambians to have the indignity of not having a toilet.

This World Toilet Day show us support that you care about toilets by joining the #WorldToiletDay conversation on all social media platforms.

Climate-Resilient Sanitation Systems

The successful realisation of Zambia's 2030 Open Defecation Free (ODF) Strategy and the broader Sustainable Development Goal 6 which is about “clean water and sanitation for all” hinges on the unwavering commitment of all stakeholders in the sanitation value chain.

Amidst this important mission, a formidable challenge looms: the escalating impact of climate change, manifesting through relentless floods, droughts, and extreme temperatures. These environmental upheavals cast a looming shadow over the very fabric of sanitation systems, ranging from basic pit latrines to waterborne toilets, septic tanks and treatment plants.

Neighbouring countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique experienced the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy early this year, which triggered a cholera outbreak leading to thousands of fatalities. Unrestricted by national boundaries, the outbreak reached Zambia, initially affecting the border town of Vubwi before spreading to other parts of the country.

In Zambia itself, impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident through flooding resulting in damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges and drainage systems, disrupting lives and placing a huge strain on the national treasury. For instance, in the 2022/23 rain season, despite the relatively new Bombay Drainage System, several areas of Lusaka experienced flooding, threatening water sources and sanitation infrastructure.

In view of the adversities of climate change, it is important to design sanitation systems that are resilient. This means it is no longer business as usual for the construction sector; their designs and materials used must factor in the realities of climate change. Solid sanitation systems are key to the preservation of public health and should be underpinned by well-constructed and robust sanitation infrastructure.

Sanitation infrastructure serves as a safeguard for public health, while concurrently providing avenues for the judicious reuse of waste to boost agricultural productivity and elevate energy practices towards a greener horizon.

Regrettably, a stark reality persists. According to the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP, 2023), at least 12.8 million Zambians of lower socioeconomic status remain without access to basic sanitation facilities, i.e. they are using improved facilities which are shared with other households.

Improved sanitation facilities are those designed to hygienically separate excreta from human contact and include flush/pour flush toilets; pit latrines with slabs (including ventilated pit latrines), and composting toilets. There is urgent need for targeted interventions to dismantle the entrenched inequalities and vulnerabilities that plague poor communities.

While climate change is often associated with negative consequences, it is important for us to adopt a proactive approach and explore potential opportunities. Emphasizing the development and accessibility of affordable climate-resilient sanitation technologies such as EcoSan systems and decentralised wastewater treatment can be a useful step towards enhancing sanitation coverage and sustainability across the country.

To achieve these ambitious objectives, various stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations, private sector and communities must join hands. Collaboration among these actors can foster innovative solutions, create funding mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives to drive progress in the sanitation sector.

Promoting public awareness and behavior change campaigns around proper sanitation practices and climate resilience can significantly contribute to long-term success and sustainability of sanitation initiatives.

Promoting awareness and educating communities about climate-resilient sanitation practices can foster ownership and proper usage of sanitation facilities, increasing overall resilience.

Engaging in knowledge-sharing and learning from successful models implemented in other regions can provide valuable insights and support the replication of effective strategies in Zambia.

Implementers of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programs should from the onset integrate climate resilience in their programming and share available sanitation options so that durable facilities are built.

Public funding such as the expanded Constituency Development Fund (CDF) should help communities build climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure to reduce the incidences and prevalence of sanitation slippage which is common in rural areas after every rainy season.  Procurement teams and those supervising public works also need to be aware of this.  

Attaining goals in the 2030 ODF Strategy and SDG 6 requires collective determination and coordinated action by stakeholders.

Sanitation has huge potential to support other sectors like agriculture and energy which provide enormous economic development opportunities at household and national levels.

By acknowledging the critical linkages between climate change and sanitation, we can pave way for a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient Zambia, ensuring that no one is left behind in this transformative journey. 

Improving Sanitation By Placing Value On Toilets

The article below was published in November 2021 in the Zambia Daily Mail Newspaper to commemorate the World Toilet Day. It was relevant then and it is relevant now. 

On 9^th November students from the University of Zambia protested to bring to the attention of government the various challenges the school is facing one of which is the lack of proper sanitation as shown in a video where their Students Union President Gabriel Banda claimed that East Park Mall toilets have been their salvation. 2 days later, on 11^th November 2021, students from the Lusaka Business Technical College (LBTC) staged a protest alleging poor sanitation at the institution.

If situations can be this dire at higher learning institutions, how about the rural areas?

The Toilet Crisis

According to JMP (2021), only 3.2 in 10 Zambians have access to improved sanitation facilities which are not shared with other households. 1.1 in 10 Zambian disposes human faeces in open spaces as they lack any form of toilet. The true picture is that 1.94 million of rural Zambians have no toilet facility, as compared with 128,694 of urban. While toilet access is generally higher in urban areas as compared to rural, sanitary conditions in urban areas are aggravated by high-density living, inadequate septage and solid waste management, and poor drainage.

Poor sanitation undermines human dignity. Access to safe, hygienic, and private sanitation facilities is one of the strongest indicators of dignity. For many women across the country however, inadequate access is a source of shame, physical discomfort, and insecurity. Cultural norms strictly control behaviour in this area, in many cases requiring that women are not seen defecating – a requirement that forces them to leave home before dawn or after nightfall to maintain privacy. Delaying bodily functions is a major cause of liver infection and acute constipation. The loss of dignity associated with a lack of privacy in toilets helps to explain why women attach more importance than men to sanitary provision (UNDP 2006).

Poor sanitation hurt girls’ education. Young girls, particularly after puberty, are also less likely to attend classes if the school does not have proper toilets. UNICEF estimate that about half the girls in Sub – Saharan Africa who drop out of primary school do so because of poor water and sanitation facilities. That helps explain why improving school sanitation can increase the demand for education among girls. Conversely, inadequate provision can retard progress. Toilets at home, school and at work help women fulfil their potential and play their full role in society, especially during menstruation and pregnancy.

Poor sanitation causes child mortality. Of the 123,355 annual deaths in Zambia, 31,500 (26%) are children under the age of five (GBDx). Of these fatalities, 3,754 children won't survive to their 5^th birthday because of diarrhea. These sickness episodes represent the second largest cause of childhood death after acute respiratory tract infection. Globally, diarrhoea kills more people than tuberculosis or malaria – five times as many children die of diarrhoea as of HIV/AIDS. Most deaths from diarrhoea are caused by shigella, or bloody diarrhoea. Unlike other forms of diarrhoea, shigella cannot be treated effectively with simple oral rehydration therapies – it requires more costly antibiotics. Even for households that can afford treatment, shigella is a growing threat because it has rapidly developed resistance to antibiotics. The economic impact of poor WASH is also staggering as health is wealth. Despite all this background, less than 1.4% of 2022 Zambia's national budget will go towards Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Poor sanitation and undernutrition reinforce each other. When children are undernourished, their resistance to infection is lowered and they are more susceptible to diarrhetic disease and other infections. Where children regularly suffer from diarrhoea, they are also very likely to be malnourished as a result. For infants, particularly those under six months of age, diarrhoea can cause permanent damage to intestinal development, reducing a child's ability to absorb nutrients leading to stunting, both physical and cognitive. And children who are affected by stunting in their early years have lower test scores on cognitive assessments and activity level (Alderman, Hoddinott and Kinsey, 2006). Ultimately, adults who were stunted as children on average earn 22% less than those who weren’t (Anthony Lake, 2012).

Working with line ministries to contribute to stunting reduction in the Zambia, Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) is a project supported by USAID being implemented in 13 selected districts of Central, Copperbelt, Luapula, and Northern Provinces. To achieve this goal, SUN TA targets women of reproductive age with at least one child under 2 years of age, and/or a pregnant woman. The project’s sanitation demand creation and sustainable social behaviours change is promoted through Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) efforts. Given that recent evidence suggesting that poor sanitation is particularly threatening to early life health, efforts to improve sanitary conditions is therefore of urgent relevance.

2021 World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day - a day set worldwide to raise the awareness and inspire action to intensify the construction and use of toilets – falls on 19^th November every year. This year’s theme ‘Valuing Toilets” draws attention to the fact that toilets - and the sanitation systems that fund them – are often underfunded, poorly managed, or neglected. This has devastating consequences for health, economics, and the environment, particularly in our poorest and most marginalized communities. The use of toilets is a topic that is usually ignored and shrouded in taboos evidenced by the outrage UNICEF faced in 2018 for supporting the erecting of billboards proclaiming the eradication of open defecation in selected districts. It will take us to rightly focus such disgust and outrage at the man in the mirror for allowing our fellow Zambians to have the indignity of not having a toilet.

This World Toilet Day show us support that you care about toilets by joining the #WorldToiletDay conversation on all social media platforms.

Manual Pit Emptiers: Woes and Opportunities

If wealth was a result of hard work and enterprise, every manual emptiers would have been a millionaire. 

Three months ago, our septic tank was full, so we hired a private emptier with a vacuum tanker to empty it. Last week, to our surprise, there was an indication that the septic tank was full again despite it being built based on the standard guideline. The easiest suspicion was that the emptier had pulled a fast one on us and never really emptied the tank. In response, we engaged another emptier four days ago, who, to everyone's surprise, removed as much sludge as the first emptier. In our confusion about how the septic tank could have filled up so quickly, a freelance plumber on a street corner offered a different possibility.

He claimed that over time, sludge tends to block the honeycomb structures used in soakaway, which ultimately affects soil porosity and creates a cement-like structure that hampers water percolation. This revelation blew our minds; we had never seen it that way before. Now, let me expand on this phenomenon.

Fecal sludge is the solid and semi-solid waste generated from onsite sanitation systems like pit latrines and septic tanks. When fecal sludge is improperly managed or disposed of, it can be applied to the soil as a form of fertilizer or contaminant. The composition of fecal sludge includes organic matter, pathogens, and various substances that can affect soil properties. If excessive amounts of fecal sludge are applied, it can lead to soil compaction and reduced porosity. Compacted soil has fewer pore spaces, limiting the movement of air, water, and nutrients essential for plant growth.

Moreover, the organic matter present in fecal sludge can undergo decomposition, consuming oxygen in the soil. This reduction in oxygen levels can further impact soil health and porosity while inhibiting the growth of beneficial soil organisms. Managing fecal sludge properly is crucial to minimize its negative impact on soil quality and promote sustainable agricultural practices. This entails implementing proper treatment, containment, and safe disposal practices. 

The soakaway, also known as a drainfield or leach field, which is an area of soil or gravel specifically designed to receive and disperse the effluent from a septic tank through a pipe buried in the ground had been blocked by soils. Thus, the effluent was not getting distributed to percolate into the surrounding soil, where it was supposed to undergo further biological treatment and filtration. instead of the soil acting as a natural filter, removing pathogens and contaminants before the water eventually reaches groundwater, it compacted limiting percolation. Soak pits are best suited for soil with excellent absorption, rendering clay, hard packed or rocky soil as not appropriate.

Wastewater collected after the soil compacted in the soak away

In non-sewered areas, septic tanks must be emptied whenever they fill up them because of the lack of space to dig new pits. But whenever space permits especially in rural areas with very low population density and more land available, burying the pits and building another one somewhere is an acceptable feacal sludge management practice. Thus, emptiers play a critical role in fecal sludge management (FSM), which encompasses tasks such as emptying pits of fecal matter, transporting the sludge, and facilitating its treatment and safe disposal.

Though they have been providing non-sewered sanitation solutions in every corner of the country, manual emptiers face numerous occupational health issues, ranging from the stigma associated with their work to the challenging environments they operate in. Regrettably, they have been left to self-regulate despite septage being a very infectious material that can cause disease if ingested or if it encounters broken skin. Thus, relying on operators to be responsible for their personal safety and safety on disposal is a significant mistake with serious public health ramifications.

In 2018, the National Water and Sanitation Council (NWASCO), the regulatory body overseeing water and sanitation in Zambia, introduced the Urban On-site Sanitation and Faecal Sludge Management Framework for Provision and Regulation. According to this framework, NWASCO is responsible for regulating onsite sanitation through existing licenses with water and sanitation commercial utilities (CUs) covering their respective service areas. Any private operator, like the two gentlemen who serviced our septic tank within a CU's service area, should have a management contract with the CU that stipulates adherence to the requirements. However, having a regulatory framework in place is one thing, and its actual implementation is another. Zambia generally struggled with enforcement.

Private sanitation workers should be formalized. Promoting the professionalization of masons and emptiers through official licensing and certification processes authorized by the government not only elevates the standing of sanitation personnel but also enhances the overall strength of the sanitation service chain. Alongside improving the competence and expertise of workers, it is crucial to establish mechanisms that ensure their responsibility for the quality of their services. This can be achieved by facilitating consumer accessibility through the establishment of a local authority or CU managed registry of masons and emptiers and prioritizing their safety and protection during work by formulating standardized protocols for occupational health and safety.

Promoting private emptiers is not a zero-sum game but a win–win situation, protecting groundwater against faecal contamination whilst making a livelihood out of it. This is because emptiers can also be trained in hoy to hygienically collect and transform sludge into other products. Thus, all WASH and human and human rights practitioners - including the governments - must be advocating dignified and safe working conditions for private emptiers. 

Proper Management of Onsite Sanitation Systems in Zambia

Effective management of onsite sanitation systems in Zambia is critical to protect public health and the environment. Proper maintenance, regular desludging, and safe disposal of waste are important components of onsite sanitation management practices. Additionally, it is important to promote awareness and education among the population on the importance of good hygiene practices and the proper use and maintenance of onsite sanitation systems. Developing and implementing simplified guidelines and regulations for onsite sanitation management can also help to ensure safe and effective waste management practices in Zambia.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), established under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) No. 12 of 2011, is the public body responsible for an array of environmental issues, including regulating effluent discharge. In this respect, ZEMA is responsible for issuing waste management licenses to all sanitation service providers (including local authorities) to “reclaim, re-use, recover or recycle waste; collect of dispose of waste; transport waste to a disposal site; own, construct or operate a waste disposal site or transit, trade in or export waste.”

When it comes to feacal disposal in Zambian homes and neighborhoods, the country primarily has two sewer disposal methods: Offsite and Onsite.

1. Offsite has the sewerage reticulation system with pipes and sewer system managed by commercial utility companies.

2. The on-site sanitation system can be divided into two methods: the septic tank and soakaway method and pit latrines.

When pit latrines fill up, many households must empty them because of the lack of space to dig new pits. But whenever space permits especially in rural areas with very low population density and more land available, burying the latrine and building another one somewhere is an acceptable feacal sludge management practice.

Many of the new affluent residential areas that continue to spring up are not getting connected to the sewer system ultimately settling for septic tanks and soakaways.  This creates an environmental hazard if not done correctly as effluent can percolate into the soil and contaminate the groundwater. They can also get flooded during rainy season, leading to environmental contamination and create a scenario where on-site sanitation becomes costly both in direct and opportunity costs. There are also settlements where the ground water table is very high. This makes septic tanks and soakaways unsuitable for on-site sanitation purposes.

This article addresses how a septic tank can be properly built and managed to ensure adherence to environmental concerns.

The common building practice in Zambia is to dig a 3mx3mx3m pit, though it can vary depending on the number of persons that will live in a particular house.  For smaller homes, a smaller tank will be planned, and for bigger housing units like blocks of flats and other multiple dwelling units, a concrete work which will seal the waste into the ground is ideal.

Digging for the storage tank to be underground is ideal because you would not want waste to flow out or mix with other items in the compound like water sources or farms and vegetation as this could lead to contamination and disease outbreaks.

The Zambian building code recommends that sewage tanks and their attached soakaway systems be underground. These soakaway pits are then lined with block work to form the side walls of the tank. Looking at it from the top, you will think it’s a small room being built underground, of course it’s a room, just not rooms for human habitation! We also use reinforced concrete columns to make the corners.

The importance of these columns is for structural integrity and for  prevention of lateral pressure which might bear down on the tank from the top. We also make a middle concrete beam to round the soakaway and septic tanks. These reinforced beams are needed to provide stability.

The next step in the construction of soakaways is the plastering; the plaster work is for the septic tank side, where the effluent is stored. It is important that the effluent will not seep through the tank walls and mix with the ground water in the surrounding areas.

The section of the soakaway where wastewater is meant to seep away is at one side, usually left open in between blocks to slowly let off excess water into the surrounding ground, as opposed to the soakaway where the effluent is supposed to be stored until they degrade.

The decking work on septic tanks is meant to form a rigid cover for the soakaway. That prevents the risk of people or other domestic animals from falling into the pit. The decking will also be reinforced like other decking slabs done in home construction. An opening is then left for the evacuation of waste when it gets filled. It is recommended that septic tanks and soakaway systems be constructed to last for a long time before evacuation, so that the inconvenience of evacuating waste regularly is reduced.

In conclusion, it is imperative that sanitation systems in the country are improved. A standard guide for soakaway construction should be developed and enforced. 

Local authorities and CUs should claim their mandate and guide on where and how to construct septic tanks and soakaways to avoid pollution of groundwater. With population increase and new settlements developing, town planning becomes even more important to ensure that new settlements are properly designed and provide for various social amenities, including fecal sludge management. It is important to ensure every household is connected to a sewer system. As such, onsite sanitation now should be regulated and guided in accordance with the environmental regulations. 

Sanitation Isn't Everyone’s Business. Or Is it??

 The article below 1st appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail Newspaper of 26th November 2022.

“Sanitation is everyone’s business.”

Those were the words of Vice President W.K. Mutale Nalumango as she officially opened the Second Sanitation Summit held in Lusaka on 18^th and 19^th November 2022 under the theme The Sanitation Economy: Making the Invisible Visible.

Organized by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation and its partners in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector, the purpose of the summit was to stimulate political and technocratic will on existing commitments made during the First National Sanitation Summit in November 2018 and to accelerate action aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene services for all and ending open defecation by 2030.

Participants were drawn from the Government, Traditional Leadership, the United Nations, Cooperating Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations, academia, private sector, and the media.

The event was deliberately timed to coincide with commemoration of World Toilet Day on 19^th November, a day that reminds us of urgent need to tackle the sanitation crisis. Resolutions from the summit will be codified into a Statement of Action that will help Government and other stakeholders implement the various commitments to improve sanitation in the country. 

Like other UN members, Zambia has signed up to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all of which have to be attained by 2030. SDG 6 enjoins member countries to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Zambia is behind on this goal of ensuring safe toilets for all by 2030. That is why it is important for all stakeholders in the WASH sector, with strong Government leadership, to implement the various commitments and national strategies to improve the state of sanitation in the country.

Although the United Nations officially recognised access to sanitation as a human right 12 years ago through Resolution 15/9, many people still lack access to safely managed sanitation. Many do not even have a decent toilet of their own. 

Safely managed sanitation is the bedrock to protecting groundwater and positively contributes to good health outcomes. The failure by one household to construct a proper septic tank or pit latrine frustrates not only current aspirations but also the future ability to access clean and safe groundwater.

To achieve progress, all stakeholders should understand their obligations and responsibilities to reach everyone with sanitation services, hence the clarion call by the Vice President that “sanitation is everyone’s business.”

Sanitation is  not just about a clean environment.  The Sanitation Economy has the potential of monetising toilet provision, products and services to provide benefits across businesses and society. This can be done in many ways such as converting faeces to fertilizer and biogas and supporting the entire sanitation value chain.

There are several windows of opportunity for the sanitation subsector.

For instance, taking advantage of the increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF), local authorities could scale up sanitation efforts and partner with private sector to achieve sustainable service delivery. The increase in CDF thus presents unlimited opportunities for the private sector and local authorities to tackle some of the sanitation challenges communities face.

Most, if not all, of the mushrooming informal settlements in Zambia are not connected to either water or sewerage systems, leaving that to individuals as they construct their houses.

In addition, most families still rely on privately-owned boreholes and shallow wells which – if not properly managed – are often contaminated with raw sewage.

Commercial utility companies have the mandate to inspect and ensure property developers comply with prescribed guidelines in the construction of water and sanitation facilities. However, enforcement remains inadequate and in some cases absent.

Non-traditional markets such as rural areas have for a long time been considered unattractive to private sector due to their perceived lack of profitability. But with appropriate risk management tools, market assessments and linkages, private sector should be encouraged to enter rural markets and provide sanitation services. 

Promoting the sanitation economy is not a zero-sum game but a win–win situation, protecting groundwater against faecal contamination whilst making a livelihood out of it.

Investing in sanitation has positive economic returns like creating jobs and contributing to energizing the economy. Failure to invest in sanitation has a huge negative impact on a nation’s economy through mortality and morbidity arising from diarrheal diseases caused by contaminated groundwater.