Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has issued a plea to the government, urging immediate action to ensure the universal right to hygienic and dignified sanitation services as they join the wolrd to commemorate Harare World Toilet Day.
This year’s World Toilet Day, marked under the theme ‘Sanitation for Peace’, highlights the need to make toilets more than just facilities but spaces of dignity, safety, and security.
“Access to safe sanitation, which is an essential service that often goes overlooked, is not only a matter of convenience but is a cornerstone of social and economic development,” reads the ZLHR statement.
Zimbabwe faces a mounting sanitation crisis, with many public toilets in deplorable conditions.
ZLHR describes these facilities as exposing users to “highly inhumane conditions, which strip them of their basic human dignity.”
The dire state of public toilets has contributed to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like women, children, and persons with disabilities.
The lawyers note, “The continued outbreaks of cholera in Zimbabwe reflect a broader national crisis, which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.”
Adding to the indignity, some local authorities demand a “tissue fee” from users, turning away those unable to pay.
“Such conduct by local authorities is not only a breach of people’s right to dignity and the right not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment but also leads to the pollution of the ecosystem,” ZLHR said.
The statement highlights that access to water and sanitation is a human right.
ZLHR notes that these rights are enshrined in sections 51 and 53 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which protect against inhuman and degrading treatment.
However, global statistics reveal the scale of the issue.
According to the United Nations, over 3.5 billion people worldwide still lack access to basic toilets.
“The absence of safe toilets threatens health, human dignity, safety, privacy, and progress,” ZLHR explained.
ZLHR is urging local and central government authorities to take immediate steps, including:
“Allocating more funds in the national budget to address sanitation deficiencies.
“Repairing and upgrading public toilet infrastructure, including flushing, sewer, and water systems.
“Eliminating the practice of charging “tissue fees.” Ensuring equal access to sanitation for all citizens,” the statement reads.
The organization also reminds local authorities of their legal obligation to provide decent public toilets under the Urban Councils Act.
“Sanitation for peace means making toilets a place of safety, dignity, and security for all.
“We implore local and central government and other critical stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to safe, secure, and dignified sanitation services regardless of circumstances,” ZLHR urged.
World Toilet Day, officially declared by the United Nations in 2013, serves as a stark reminder of the global struggle for safe sanitation.
