Reclaiming lost pride through trust building

Since 2008, Kadoma city had been struggling to resolve challenges in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) delivery. Water supply had never been adequate. Challenges in solid waste included unreliable collection, illegal dumping as well as inadequate supply of refuse receptacles. The city suburbs were also characterised by frequent sewer blockages. In some places very outdated toilets still exist. The main causes of these challenges were inadequate resources and community resistance to pay service bills.

After realising the above inconsistencies, the City for the first time in history drafted a five year WASH strategic plan which was lounged in 2014. This was done through engagement of stakeholders. Before its implementation, the city decided to first diffuse the myths and misconceptions within the stakeholders which made them resist participating in WASH programmes. Kadoma city and its partners then facilitated the Training of Trainers programme and its subsequent rolled out in October 2014. Trainings were held in Customer Care principles, Trust building concepts, Community Support to Service Delivery (CSSD) and GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion).

The District Civil Protection Unit members, Council workers and ward councillors together with community representatives were trained in every ward. Programme Champions were selected in every ward to further spear heard community participation in WASH campaigns. The champions would then encourage other members to fully participate in WASH activities such as cleaning of public places, maintenance of communal toilets, drain cleaning, grass cutting as well as community education on good WASH practices.

Download : 20592_gbv-applicationmain-appplicationrumbidzai-kazingizi.doc