Councilors in Bulawayo have raised concerns over the impact of water shedding on young women, warning that it poses serious risks to their safety and well-being, and disrupts their academic lives.
Ward 23 Councilor Ntombizodwa Khumalo She described how, in many instances, women and girls have to start queuing for water as early as 5 or 6 a.m. to avoid long waits.
“Most of the time, women and girls are already at the wells by dawn, trying to secure water early,” Khumalo said.
The councilor noted that the time spent gathering water takes away from the girls’ focus on their education, as they are forced to juggle between household duties and school preparations. “In the mornings, girls should be preparing for school, but instead, they’re out fetching water,” she explained, emphasizing how this interferes with their studies.
Additionally, Khumalo highlighted the dangers young girls face when fetching water at night due to shortages. “Some prefer to go during late hours, and they may be at the wells until 9 or even 10 p.m.,” she noted. This, she added, makes them vulnerable to various forms of abuse.
