Inclusive WASH Services in Zimbabwe: Gendered and Disability-Related Challenges Faced by Women with Disabilities, Insights from Harare and Bulawayo

Hope Jaricha¹, Daniel Masungwa², Batrice Dzingai³, Notion Manzvera⁴, Vannessa Runyraro Meki⁵, Felistas Mutseyi⁶, Benjamin Tungwa⁷

^1,2,3,4,5,6 Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.  

⁷ Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Reformed Church University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. 

Abstract

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is essential for health, dignity, and social inclusion. Yet women with disabilities in Zimbabwe face continued barriers and challenges that limit equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing insights from in-depth interviews with 25 women with physical, sensory, and mobility impairments, complemented by discussions with 10 key informants from local councils and disability focused organisations. The findings reveal multiple intersecting challenges, including inaccessible WASH infrastructure, socio-cultural stigma, limited awareness of disability inclusive policies, and inadequate implementation of national legislation such as the Disabled Persons Act (1996) and the Water Act (1998). Women with disabilities often bear disproportionate caregiving responsibilities, exacerbating the difficulty of accessing safe water and sanitation facilities, while reliance on informal coping mechanisms exposes them to health risks and social exclusion. The findings underscore gaps between policy and practice, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that integrate gender and disability perspectives into WASH programming. Social work practice is crucial in advocating for inclusive service provision, raising awareness, and supporting communities to implement disability-sensitive strategies. By centering the lived experiences of women with disabilities, this study contributes to the growing African social work scholarship on equity, human rights, and inclusive service delivery.    

Keywords: Women with disabilities, WASH access, Zimbabwe, Social work, Gender equity, Inclusive services 

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