WASH News Southern Africa
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Africa: self-help sanitation for more than 2 million people
01 Jun 10
More than 2 million people and over 740 schools in Africa are getting improved sanitation. In a new five-year programme, development organisation Plan International will expand its existing self-help sanitation programme in six African countries (Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi) and introduce it in two other countries (Ghana and Niger). The programme [...]
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal: poor people’s movement draws government wrath
07 May 10
The rise of Abahlali baseMjondolo, a militant non-aligned shack dwellers movement in KwaZulu-Natal province, is being met with increasing hostility by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government. The movement has been at the forefront of frequent service delivery protests. In the first quarter of 2010, there were 54 such protests throughout South Africa, compared [...]
Blantyre Pursues Overhaul Of Water Infrastructure
28 Apr 10
Malawi’s Blantyre Water Board has issued an international tender for the supply and delivery of pipes, fittings and various repair equipment and materials for the ongoing Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Blantyre, which is being financed by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. The project entails overhauling Blantyre’s water infrastructure. The [...]
Mozambique: New Xai-Xai Water Supply System Inaugurated
21 Apr 10
Mozambique’s Minister of Public Works, Cadmiel Mutemba, on Monday inaugurated a new water supply system in the city of Xai-Xai, capital of the southern province of Gaza.The city’s old water system was severely damaged in the catastrophic Limpopo floods of February 2000. Emergency repairs were undertaken with support from the European [...]
Mozambique: Dramatic Increase in Maputo Water Supply Under Way
16 Apr 10
The Mozambican government and foreign donors and funding agencies are investing 95 million euros (about 129 million US dollars) to rehabilitate and expand the water supply system for the cities of Maputo and Matola and the neighbouring town of Boane, more than doubling the number of people in the Greater Maputo area with access to [...]
Sub-Saharan Africa: development aid and access to water and sanitation in
14 Apr 10
A study by the African Development Bank (AfDB) concludes that improved sector coordination and capacity building at the local level are some of the key elements to increase efficiency in the water and sanitation sector.The AfDB study [1] examines the trends in access to water and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa using secondary data, desk research [...]
Zimbabwe: Mbare Flats, Time Bomb
09 Apr 10
Unsightly heaps of rotten uncollected refuse, which are home to swarms of buzzing flies, welcome visitors and residents alike outside Nenyere Flats in Mbare.Sewage drips from worn-out pipes on the third floor each time any one of the many toilets is flushed and lands on the ground next to the refuse [...]
Swaziland: Swazi Village Gets a Self-Sustaining Water Supply
07 Apr 10
It’s a thankless task in the scorching heat of the drought-prone Lubombo Region in the eastern part of Swaziland. Shongwe not only has to dodge vicious dogs at many homesteads each month, he finds many people just won’t pay.“As the chairperson of the water scheme I have to ensure that we raise [...]
Angola: Water for All Programme to benefit over three million people
05 Apr 10
Over three million people in Angola’s rural areas will benefit from the “Water of All” programme, by 2012, as outlined at the inception in 2007.The Water for All programme is a presidential initiative.Speaking at the end of the programme’s fifth balance meeting, Energy and Water minister, Emanuela Vieira Lopes, said on 27 March 2010 in [...]
Madagascar: first national Global Sanitation Fund programme launched
24 Mar 10
The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) launched its first national Global Sanitation Fund programme on 22 March 2010, World Water Day, in Madagascar. Approximately US$ 5 million will be disbursed over the next five years to sub-grantees – community groups, non-governmental organisations, etc. – to implement projects and programmes that raise awareness [...]
