Chief Nzamane’s Chiefdom Celebrates Open Defecation Free Status

“In the past, I used to experience diarrhea frequently. On some days, the pain in my stomach was so bad that I couldn’t even walk, so I would miss class,” recalls 18-year-old Theresa, who has spent her entire life in Mphunza Village under Nzamane’s chiefdom in Zambia’s eastern province. Like many others in her community, Theresa’s village was heavily affected by waterborne diseases, impacting both children and adults.

“We didn’t have toilets or handwashing facilities,” Theresa explains. “We used to go into the bush to relieve ourselves, not realizing that we were creating problems for ourselves. We would eat without washing our hands, and flies carrying dirt would land on our food, which we didn’t always cover or cook properly.”

In 2023, World Vision Zambia, through its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, trained 80 community members in Kasenengwa District to raise awareness about the importance of hygiene and sanitation. According to Theresa, these sensitization efforts have had a transformative effect. “We no longer go to the bush to defecate because now we have pit latrines,” she says, adding that cases of waterborne diseases have significantly decreased.

World Vision’s interventions have fostered a shift in mindset, as the community now understands the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene practices. On September 6, 2024, Kasenengwa District was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), a significant achievement for the area.

Speaking at  the ODF celebration, Kasenengwa District Commissioner Ms. Racheal Phiri emphasized the importance of proper sanitation. “Using toilets, washing hands with soap at critical times, and managing both liquid and solid waste properly can prevent bacteria, viruses, and parasites in human waste from contaminating water and food sources,” she said. 

She also highlighted the government's efforts to support the National Vision 2030, which aims to improve the overall health and prosperity of the nation.

“These initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to Zambia’s National Development Plans (NDP) and Integrated Development Plans (IDP),” Ms. Phiri noted. She applauded the collaboration between World Vision, Living Waters International, and Chief Nzamane’s leadership in conducting sensitization meetings, training community champions, and funding various WASH activities.

“We greatly value this partnership and encourage you to extend your efforts to other wards in the district so that they too can experience the joy that Mphunza feels in celebrating this milestone,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of the WASH Technical Programme Manager, Ms. Jessy Samuyachi, the WASH Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Mr. Masauso Nqumayo, highlighted World Vision’s efforts to scale up sanitation services. “World Vision is focused on both building demand for sanitation services and ensuring a sustainable supply of affordable household sanitation products,” he said. 

He added that World Vision Zambia’s strategic goal for 2021-2025 is to contribute to the sustained well-being of 1.5 million children, particularly the most vulnerable, by working closely with children, families, communities, and partners.

“This ODF celebration marks a significant milestone for the 75 villages in this chiefdom, as well as for the community members who played a crucial role in achieving this goal,” Mr. Nqumayo said. He also commended the Government of Zambia, particularly the Ministry of Water, for their support and resources in making the transformation of these villages possible.