The Zambezi Watercourse Commission has highlighted the critical role played by women and girls in ensuring household water security, noting that they are primarily responsible for collecting, managing and utilising water for daily needs.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Water Day, the Commission’s Programme Manager for Information, Communication and Partnerships, Leticia Ngorima, said women and girls often travel long distances to access water, exposing them to risks such as harassment, physical danger and violence.
She noted that women also disproportionately shoulder the burden of caring for family members affected by waterborne diseases. In addition, inadequate sanitation, or the complete lack of it, contributes to increased school absenteeism among girls, particularly during menstruation, negatively affecting their education and future opportunities.
Ms. Ngorima said these challenges place significant strain on the time, health and economic opportunities of women and girls, stressing the urgent need to ensure their inclusion at all levels of water governance and decision-making.
According to the 2023 Gender Snapshot report by the United Nations, more than a quarter of women worldwide, approximately 1.07 billion, do not have access to safely managed drinking water. The report further indicates that 205 million women rely on unimproved or surface water sources, with the majority, about 124 million, residing in Sub-Saharan Africa…
