Zimbabwe emergency water and sanitation program (ZEWSP) : baseline survey report, December 2005-May 2006 : Mangwe, Gwanda and Beitbridge District (Matabeleland South Province)

In response to the severe drought in Zimbabwe, World Vision Zimbabwe extended its ZEWSP program to the Beitbridge, Mangwe, and Gwanda districts in Matabeleland South. A baseline survey was carried out between December 2005 and May 2006. Each district survey was carried out independently, as operations applied a sequential strategy, completing interventions in one district before moving to another, in order to save costs and staff resources. As a result, each baseline survey was conducted prior to operation in each district, with the exception of Gwanda, where implementation and baseline surveying was concurrent. In Gwanda, the survey was done in December 2006, in Beitbridge April 2006, and Mangwe district in May 2006.
The objective of the study was to gather data that reflect the water and sanitation situation and align the project to the water and sanitation priorities of the community.
The baseline information also provides a basis for monitoring the progress of the program and evaluates the effectiveness of the program in improving access to clean and safe water and sanitation facilities in the area.
A total of 956 households were interviewed. In all three districts of the total of the correspondents 60 % were female. Generally, the communities do not have access to protected water and lack sanitary facilities. Most households using a protected source travel more than the SPHERE recommended standard of 500m to the water point. It is recommended that the program provides rehabilitation of facilities and provides materials for the building of sanitary facilities.