ZIMBABWE’S investment in early health and water interventions helped avert major cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks in vulnerable districts during the 2026 rainy season, demonstrating the effectiveness of anticipatory action in reducing disaster risks, a new report shows.
The programme was launched after meteorological authorities warned of an increased risk of disease outbreaks driven by La Niña-induced heavy rains, flooding and deteriorating water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions. Humanitarian agencies responded by implementing preventive measures before outbreaks could occur, shifting the focus from emergency response to early preparedness.
According to the Start Network report, Anticipation of Disease Outbreaks in Zimbabwe, the alert issued in January this year triggered a coordinated response involving humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, Tearfund, HelpAge and Catholic Relief Services.
The organisations worked alongside local partners, including Community for Water Alliance, FACT Zimbabwe, the National Age Network of Zimbabwe and Caritas Masvingo.
The interventions targeted high-risk districts, including Bikita, Zaka and Chiredzi, where flooding and contaminated water posed heightened risks of cholera, malaria and acute diarrhoeal diseases.
The programme reached more than 77 000 people through a combination of clean water provision, disease prevention training, hygiene awareness campaigns and emergency preparedness initiatives.
Community boreholes were rehabilitated, inline chlorinators were installed, and water trucking was introduced to reduce dependence on contaminated water sources.
Households received WASH kits containing soap, buckets and water treatment chemicals, while women and girls were provided with dignity kits.
- GBV survivors share horrific stories
- Chitungwiza sewer infrastructure collapses
- GBV survivors share horrific stories
- Chitungwiza sewer infrastructure collapses
Keep Reading
Communities also benefited from the introduction of the Sydney 905 bucket filtration system, designed to purify and safely store drinking water.
Health workers underwent advanced cholera management and infection prevention training, while village-level structures were strengthened to improve disease surveillance and rapid response.
“The training was a game-changer. We are no longer just a clinic waiting to be overwhelmed by a crisis. We are the community’s eyes and ears now, equipped to spot the warning signs and act fast,” said one health professional who participated in the programme.
The initiative also distributed US$10 000 worth of e-vouchers to 1 000 people, enabling households to purchase hygiene and disease prevention supplies such as mosquito repellents and handwashing soap from local vendors.
Community awareness campaigns were conducted through roadshows and radio programmes promoting hygiene practices and cholera prevention.
The report said the anticipatory interventions played a major role in interrupting disease transmission pathways and reducing exposure to contaminated water.
“Unlike in neighbouring districts, zero cholera cases were recorded and no major acute watery diarrhoea outbreaks were reported in the targeted districts, with fewer than 100 malaria cases witnessed in the project areas,” it said.
The programme has been hailed as an example of how early preparedness can save lives and reduce emergency response costs.
“This anticipatory action model is a blueprint for the future. It proved that investing a small amount upfront in preparedness, training, rehabilitation and community engagement can save millions in emergency response costs and, more importantly, save lives,” said one participant quoted in the report.
One of the project's standout features was its emphasis on local leadership and community ownership.
Community for Water Alliance was given co-leadership status rather than serving merely as an implementing partner, allowing local actors to drive mobilisation, targeting and community engagement.
The programme also relied heavily on collaboration with the Health and Child Care ministry, district civil protection units, rural district councils and district water and sanitation committees.
A cascade training model enabled knowledge transfer from nurses to environmental health technicians and village health workers, strengthening grassroots preparedness and outbreak monitoring.
The report said pre-positioning of supplies and early deployment of interventions before the peak of the rainy season was critical to the programme's success.
However, it also warned that short-term emergency interventions alone are insufficient to address Zimbabwe's deeper WASH infrastructure challenges.
