Zimbabwean citizens across the civic divide have been encouraged to come together and join hands in speaking with one united voice to push back on the government proposed water privatization in urban areas starting with Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Speaking during a Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) and Water Justice for All co-organized Zimbabwe Roundtable on Water Justice meeting held on 3 April 2025, water justice experts implored Zimbabweans to be organized, unite and resist water privatization.
The meeting which was held to discuss strategies of resisting water privatization in Zimbabwe was attended by 32 Zimbabwean participants and had speakers from international water justice organizations including Africa Water Commons Collective; Corporate Accountability; Public Service International; and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
“It is important to ensure that your campaign against water privatization is not politicized, but remains an honest and pure water justice campaign. That way you will attract many local citizens and groups to understand and support the cause” stressed Tichaona Fambisai from Public Service International.
Another expert, Neil Gupta from Corporate Accountability implored the Zimbabwean anti-privatization campaigners to work together with various civics like labour to ensure inclusivity and broad based support. The same sentiments were echoed by Feaza Meyer from Africa Water Commons Collective.
In Zimbabwe, roundtable discussion was attended by members of the MIHR initiative Bulawayo Water Assembly, civic society representatives and representatives of some labour unions. MIHR is coordinating the Stop Water Privatization Zimbabwe campaign, an initiative that seeks to use collective citizen voice and action to push back on the efforts by the government of Zimbabwe to privatize all water services in urban areas.