Zimbabwe: Women’s Safety, Health and Dignity Restored as Muchada Villages Achieve Open Defecation Free Status

When Councillor Blessmore Munzara began working closely with Muchada A and Muchada B villages in Ward 12 of Guruve Rural District Council, he found a community facing a serious crisis. Out of 44 households, only 3 had standard toilets. Everyone else relied on the bush-leaving women exposed, children vulnerable to disease, and the entire community at constant risk of diarrheal outbreaks. The Village Head, Mr. Muchada, described the situation vividly when he said, “The open defecation we practiced exposed us to the danger of eating faecal matter deposited on food by houseflies.”

For women and girls, the situation carried added fear and trauma. Without private, safe sanitation facilities, they walked long distances into isolated areas, often in the dark, exposing them to harassment, abuse, and indignity. The lack of proper sanitation was not only a health crisis-it was a gender equality crisis.

Determined to bring change that would last, Blessmore championed a community-led solution. Instead of relying on external builders, he worked with development partners to train 9 local villagers including 3 youths to become builders of standard toilets. Each trainee received a builder’s kit, ensuring the skills and tools remained within the community. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” he often said, explaining the philosophy behind this empowering approach. The use of local builders also reduced construction costs dramatically, from USD 150 to just USD 40, making toilets affordable for every household.

Through collective effort, the villages constructed 41 new standard toilets, including one disability-friendly toilet designed for a household that needed it most. This brought the total to 44 meaning every single household in Muchada A and Muchada B now had access to safe, dignified sanitation facilities. Guruve Rural District Council Chairperson Alderman Fadson Mandaza captured the significance of this achievement when he said, “Having a toilet brings dignity to the household.”

The transformation extended beyond infrastructure. The community adopted a new local rule: no household may build a home before building a toilet. This practice ensured that the shift away from open defecation became permanent and culturally embedded. Women regained safety and privacy, children were protected from disease, and the disabled were included in the design and planning of facilities.

On 31 July 2025, the two villages were officially certified as Open Defecation Free Zones by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. At the celebration held on 31 October 2025, Honourable Christopher Magomo, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, officiated the event and praised the achievement, stating, “Open Defecation Free Status attained in Muchada villages is an indication that the economic progress of the country is leaving no one and no place behind.” The event was marked by joy, pride, and a renewed sense of community ownership, with health workers celebrating this milestone after years of determined effort.

Because the skills and tools are now held within the community, this change is built to last. Youth participation ensures generational continuity, and reliance on locally available materials makes future toilet construction affordable. The community’s policy-requiring a standard toilet before building a house-ensures that Muchada will never return to open defecation.

Blessmore Munzara’s leadership has transformed Muchada A and B into a shining example of how community-driven, gender-responsive development can uplift an entire population. Women now live with dignity and safety, children grow up healthier, persons with disabilities are included, and the entire community stands stronger. The villages have proven that when ordinary people are empowered with skills, knowledge, and a shared vision, extraordinary change becomes possible.