Over 400 Learners at Risk as Zaka School Depends on ‘Mufuku’ for Water
ZAKA- Sazaume Primary School, located in Ward 29 of Zaka South Constituency, is grappling with a critical water shortage that has affected more than 400 learners and staff for over a decade.
With no access to a dedicated clean water source, teachers and students rely on an uncovered shallow well near the school, raising serious concerns about health and sanitation.
According to TellZim, previous efforts to drill a borehole at the school failed, as the area only yielded dry wells.
School head Wilfred Mutanda confirmed the crisis, stating that authorities have pledged to drill a borehole once the water table stabilizes, though no clear timeline has been provided.
The situation at Sazaume Primary School is particularly alarming, as learners are forced to rely on unprotected water sources.
Teachers told TellZim that the open well used by students is exposed to livestock, increasing the risk of contamination.
If the well dries up, the school community is forced to fetch water from a nearby river or dig temporary underground pits (mufuku) to access water—an unsafe practice that could lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Beyond health concerns, the lack of safe drinking water is negatively impacting learner concentration and school attendance.
Students reportedly miss lessons when water shortages become severe, while teachers struggle to maintain hygiene standards.
Some educators have considered leaving for schools with better facilities, but remain due to their commitment to the community.
Despite being established after Zimbabwe’s independence, TellZim reports that Sazaume Primary has never had a safe, dedicated water source, with its former community borehole malfunctioning over 15 years ago.
Mukwirimba Primary School in Zaka North faces similar difficulties, with local council authorities pledging to drill a borehole under a flexible payment plan to ease the crisis.
Stakeholders are now calling for urgent intervention, urging the government, NGOs, and corporate sponsors to help fund borehole drilling and sustainable water solutions for rural schools.
In the meantime, alternative solutions such as rainwater harvesting and filtration systems could provide temporary relief to affected institutions.
With no permanent solution in sight, urgent steps must be taken to ensure that learners and educators at Sazaume Primary School have access to clean water.
