Water disconnections affecting the less privileged

URBAN water disconnections affect rights of women, girls, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Citizens, who attended the virtual MIHR water point conversation this week, have called on local authorities and government to find better ways of enforcing water bill payment instead of resorting to water disconnections as the practice violates fundamental human rights and freedoms, especially for women, girls, the elderly and people with disabilities.

This week’s virtual conversation, which was held on WhatsApp and was attended by 174 participants from various parts of the country including Bulawayo, Lupane, Gweru, Masvingo, Wedza, Rusape, Harare, Plumtree, Gwanda and Mutare, was under the topic Gender Implications of Water Disconnections in Urban Areas.

Participants argued that water disconnections violated human rights, especially the right to healthcare, the right to human dignity, the right to food and water, among others.

Meanwhile, participants further noted that it was important to encourage residents to pay their water and rates bills as nonpayment cripples council operations.

They further recommended that:

● Central government should support local authorities in water provision by meeting some costs;

● Residents need to be educated on their responsibilities especially regarding payment of water bills;

● Local authorities should craft water provision laws that consider the plight of the elderly and child-headed families;

● Local authorities need to deal with corruption in order to develop a strong social contract with residents.

MIHR investigates Matobo Chinese mine human rights violations

Following the NewsDay article of July 8, 2021 where some workers at Yakuts Mine in Matobo district were complaining of being treated like slaves, MIHR has undertaken to investigate the matter in order to protect human and environmental rights.

MIHR has since met with the five affected workers to hear their story and also communicated with the mine management.

The organisation will soon be visiting the mine and the mine workers union to find a solution to the matter.