Matabeleland North tops in open defecation

Matabeleland North province has emerged as the region with the highest proportion of households practising open defecation in Zimbabwe, according to the 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment conducted by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC). The findings highlight persistent poverty and limited infrastructure in rural communities.

Binga district recorded the most concerning figures, with 80.1% of households lacking toilets, followed by Tsholotsho at 56.5%. Kariba and Mwenezi districts also reported high levels of open defecation, at 50.8% and 49.4% respectively.

Nationally, there has been modest improvement in sanitation. The proportion of households with access to basic sanitation services rose from 51% in 2020 to 55% in 2025, while open defecation declined from 29% to 24% over the same period. Despite these gains, provinces like Matabeleland North continue to face severe challenges, with communities struggling to access resources needed to build or maintain proper sanitation facilities.

The report underscores the importance of these findings for shaping livelihoods policies and targeting interventions where they are most needed. ZimLAC stressed that addressing inequalities in rural sanitation is critical for advancing Zimbabwe's broader development goals.

Voices from affected communities illustrate the daily hardships. In Binga, a 64-year-old grandmother from Sidinda lamented the lack of affordable materials for constructing toilets. "Even when NGOs come, they only build for a few households. The rest of us dig shallow pits which collapse in the rains. That's why many people just go to the bush," she said.

In Tsholotsho, young residents voiced frustration over incomplete sanitation projects. Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, 22, said, "We were told about sanitation projects, but they stopped halfway. People survive by selling firewood; where will they get money for toilets?"

The assessment highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve sanitation infrastructure in Matabeleland North and similar rural areas, where poverty continues to limit access to basic hygiene facilities.