Can Collective Action Lead to Sustainable Outcomes in the Provision and Management of Domestic Water in Zimbabwean Urban Areas?

Emmanuel Manzungu,Vupenyu Dzingirai,Lindiwe Mangwanya

doi:10.5539/jsd.v5n5p65

Abstract

This paper investigates prospects for collective action in the provision and management of domestic water in Zimbabwean urban areas in the light of the deteriorating water situation. It interrogates the view that a collective of individuals in a community can be an important resource (social capital) that, together with appropriate institutional design, be harnessed for the good of the community. The paper uses Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, as a case study to test this assumption. Empirical data was collected from two low income suburbs that represented an established suburb and a new suburb that was being developed by a co-operative. In both suburbs collective action has been and continues to be attempted with regards to domestic water provision. The study was undertaken between February and December 2011. Key informants, focus group discussions and participant observation were used to study the dynamics of collection action. There was more evidence of collection action in the newer than in the established suburb. However, the collection action was experiencing problems. The paper discusses the reasons behind this observation. The paper concludes that while collective action seemed desirable and was being attempted, its operationalisation proved to be a challenge, which underlines the need to identify the conditions under which this may work. Understanding the physical and social context of social capital, as well as defining the role of the state, is critical if the benefits of collective action, in the form of sustainable water service outcomes for the residents, are to be realized.

Highlights

In many urban areas in developing countries the demand for clean and safe water is outstripping supply mainly because of rapid population increase (Banerjee et al, 2008), and the general failure of water supply and sewerage systems
This paper investigates the prospects for collective action in the provision and management of domestic water in Zimbabwean urban areas
The precarious water situation in Zimbabwean urban areas, which in itself is symptomatic of a general deterioration of basic social services in the country, has more by default than design led to some form collective action in the provision and management of domestic water, especially among the poor

Summary

Introduction

In many urban areas in developing countries the demand for clean and safe water is outstripping supply mainly because of rapid population increase (Banerjee et al, 2008), and the general failure of water supply and sewerage systems. It is estimated that by 2020 the urban population in Africa, Asia and Latin America will have increased from its 1980 total of 1 billion people to reach more than 3 billion people (Douglass, 1992). This explains why, of the over one billion people in the world who do not have access to safe drinking water, the majority are in developing countries (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2006; UNDP, 2004). The fragile socio-political and environment of many African countries has made the continent very vulnerable to cholera outbreaks -over 90% of the cholera cases reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) originate from the continent (Said et al, 2011)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion