Gendered Experiences of Water Shortages in Chegutu, Zimbabwe: A Participatory Action Research Investigation

Abstract This paper examines the complex dynamics of women and girls as primary custodians of household water supply, sanitation, and health in the face of escalating water stress in low-income regions, with a specific focus on Chegutu, Zimbabwe, a secondary urban area grappling with water scarcity. Employing the innovative Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, the study engages the affected women to co-create new knowledge and insights. The findings reveal a precarious water situation, delineating diverse socio-economic impacts on women, including heightened susceptibility to water-borne diseases, restricted access to fundamental sanitation and hygiene, persistent gender disparities, elevated risks of abuse and harassment during water collection, compounded health challenges, and enduring conflicts and discrimination. Women’s adaptive capacity is exemplified through diverse coping strategies, such as rainwater harvesting, borehole utilisation, and wastewater recycling, facilitated by interactive sessions. However, most of the strategies are palliative and just measures of last resort. The study highlights the necessity of gender-responsive water and sanitation facilities and gender-sensitive local water management practices to mitigate the disproportionate burdens borne by women and girls. Addressing their unique challenges is central to achieving gender equity and Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, which strives for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030, thus emphasising the collective effort required to ensure equitable access to clean water, leaving no one marginalised in the pursuit of this fundamental human right.