5. Implementation Strategy
5.1 Phased Approach
- Short-Term (1-3 Years): Focus on emergency interventions, such as repairing existing water and sanitation systems, providing mobile water treatment units, and constructing temporary sanitation facilities in high-risk areas (e.g., cholera hotspots). Pilot small-scale bio-methane projects in urban informal settlements and rural sanitation hubs to demonstrate feasibility and build community support.
- Medium-Term (3-7 Years): Implement large-scale infrastructure projects, including new water supply networks, treatment plants, sanitation facilities, and bio-methane production facilities, prioritizing rural and underserved urban areas. Scale up successful bio-methane pilots into regional networks, integrating them with energy grids and water infrastructure.
- Long-Term (7-15 Years): Achieve universal access to water, sanitation, and sustainable energy, aligning with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) targets, through sustained investment, policy reform, and capacity building. Establish Zimbabwe as a regional leader in waste-to-energy innovation, leveraging bio-methane to power public services and reduce environmental degradation.
5.2 Monitoring and Evaluation
- Indicators: Use internationally recognized indicators, such as those from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP), to track progress on access, quality, and equity in water and sanitation services (WHO/UNICEF, 2022). Add specific indicators for waste-to-energy systems, such as bio-methane production volumes, energy output, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and waste diversion rates, drawing on frameworks like the UN Environment Programme’s waste management metrics (UNEP, 2022).
- Accountability Mechanisms: Establish regular reporting to parliament, civil society, and international bodies on infrastructure spending and outcomes, ensuring transparency and accountability. Include specific reporting on the performance and impact of bio-methane projects to ensure they meet sanitation, energy, and environmental goals.
5.3 Partnerships
- Key Stakeholders: Engage government ministries (e.g., Environment, Energy, Health), local authorities, civil society organizations (e.g., ZHRO), international organizations (e.g., UN-Water, WHO, UNHCR, UNIDO), private sector partners, and community groups in a coordinated effort to implement recommendations. Include technical experts in bio-methane and waste-to-energy systems to provide training and oversight.
- Regional Collaboration: Work with SADC to share best practices, secure funding, and address cross-border water, sanitation, and energy challenges, as highlighted by ZHRO’s focus on regional advocacy (ZHRO, 2024). Promote regional knowledge exchange on bio-methane technologies, drawing on successful models in other African countries, such as Kenya’s biogas initiatives (UNEP, 2022).
6. Conclusion
Zimbabwe’s infrastructure crisis, particularly in water, sanitation, and energy, represents a profound human rights, public health, and environmental challenge. Addressing these priority needs requires a comprehensive, rights-based approach that mobilizes resources, strengthens governance, and ensures equitable access. By integrating innovative solutions, such as the conversion of organic waste streams into bio-methane, Zimbabwe can simultaneously improve sanitation, generate renewable energy, and advance sustainable development. This policy paper calls for urgent action from the government, international partners, and civil society to ensure that no one is left behind in the quest for universal access to water, sanitation, and clean energy, while positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in circular economy innovation.