Tariro Zvirevo fetching clean water at an Oxfam water Kiosk in Kuwadzana.

We faced serious water challenges. Our children were getting sick. Now, we are no longer facing these water-borne diseases

— Tariro Zvirevo, Kuwadzana resident

3 mins read time
Published: 19th June 2025
Blog by Samantha Andrades

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Taps of Hope in Zimbabwe

How safe water is helping communities in Harare turn the tide on cholera

For years, communities across Harare Metropolitan Province have lived with the constant threat of cholera. Recurring outbreaks have taken a heavy toll, not only on people’s health, but on everyday life, livelihoods, and the wider social and economic development of the city. At the heart of the crisis lies a simple but devastating issue: access to safe, clean water.

Water shortages, pollution, and deteriorating water quality forced families to rely on unsafe sources, including unprotected boreholes. The consequences were immediate and severe. Children fell ill with water-borne diseases, and households lived in fear of the next outbreak.

We were resorting to unsafe water and unprotected boreholes. Our children were getting sick.

— Tariro Zvirevo, a resident of Kuwadzana

Tariro Zwirevo fetching clean drinking water at an Oxfam Water Kiosk in Kuwadzana.

Everything changed when Oxfam, with support from UNICEF and UNDP and funding from Sweden, partnered with the City of Harare to construct a smart water kiosk serving the community. Designed to provide safe drinking water while reducing waste, the kiosk now reaches up to 40,000 people across Harare Metropolitan Province.

Safe, smart, and dignified access to water

Beyond improving water quality, the kiosk also brings a sense of dignity and safety. The smart, touch-free system reduces the risk of contamination, a critical feature in areas previously hit hard by cholera and typhoid.

“These water kiosks are smart. We don’t have to touch the taps,” Tariro explains. “I just come with my tap card, tap, and go home without taking time.”

For families who once queued for unsafe water or walked long distances, this simple innovation saves time, reduces health risks, and restores a sense of normality.

A community-wide impact

The benefits are being felt far beyond individual households. Reverend D. Dziwedzwiwe from Glenview highlights the wider impact on community health.

“Our community had an outbreak of cholera and typhoid,” he says. “We would like to thank Oxfam for this support to our community. We are grateful that your intervention has helped us in getting clean and safe water.”

Turning taps into hope

Access to safe water is one of the most effective ways to prevent cholera, and one of the most powerful foundations for healthier, more resilient communities. In Harare, these new water kiosks are doing more than delivering clean water. They are restoring hope, protecting children, and helping communities move forward.

For Tariro and thousands of others, the tap now represents something deeply personal: relief, safety, and a future no longer defined by preventable disease.