The Impact of solar-powered community boreholes on waterborne diseases prevention in Glenview suburb, Harare.
- Author
- Mtetwa, Zvikomborero
- Title
- The Impact of solar-powered community boreholes on waterborne diseases prevention in Glenview suburb, Harare.
- Abstract
- This study explored the impact of solar-powered boreholes on water access, health, and hygiene in Glenview, Harare. The international water crisis still affects more than 2.2 billion people, and poorest countries like Zimbabwe suffer most from climate change and lack of proper infrastructure. In Glenview, Harare, a densely populated area with informal settlements, solar-powered community boreholes have been considered a solution to waterborne illnesses. This research evaluated their effect based on questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and field data on 110 stakeholders, including household residents, business proprietors, and community leaders. Observation and photo documentation were used in field visits to verify and contextualize the findings. Findings indicated that 85% utilized the boreholes every day, with 55% experiencing easy access. Improved access to water was associated with improved hygiene, with 70% of the respondents indicating cleaner homes and observable hand washing points. There were fewer disease outbreaks reported by the participants and high levels of satisfaction (75%) with the boreholes. Yet 26% of the population raised concerns pertaining to sustainability and maintenance, which highlighted the need for local repair teams and less dependence on external assistance. The findings suggest solar-powered boreholes have been a major contributor to health benefits in Glenview through increased access to water and hygiene but sustainable success will demand more community-maintained upkeep and more integration within urban water governance systems.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Waterborne Diseases Prevention
- Solar-powered Community Boreholes
- Supervisor
- Dr. E. Pedzisai
- Item sets
- Department of Disaster Risk Reduction
- Media
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Mtetwa, Zvikomborero.pdf