Recent
public discourse on the sanitation crisis at the University of Zambia (UNZA)
Great East Road Campus has brought renewed attention to a problem that has been
decades in the making.
As a
former student (1996–2004), I have witnessed this challenge evolve—from early
signs of strain to the current situation where students must seek basic
sanitation services outside campus.
Sanitation as a Human Right
Access to
adequate sanitation is not optional—it is a recognised human right.
The United
Nations recognises the human right to water and sanitation, as
affirmed in the 2010 UN General Assembly Resolution. This includes access to
safe, clean, accessible, and affordable sanitation services.
Similarly,
Zambia’s constitutional framework and public health laws emphasise dignity,
health, and wellbeing—principles that are directly undermined when sanitation
systems fail.
A System Under Strain
UNZA’s
sanitation infrastructure was designed decades ago for a much smaller student
population. Since then:
- Enrolment has significantly
increased
- On-campus accommodation has
not expanded proportionately
- Informal coping mechanisms
(such as “squatting”) have intensified pressure
Facilities
originally designed for a limited number of users now serve far beyond their intended
capacity.
Gender, Dignity, and Menstrual Health
Sanitation
challenges are not gender-neutral.
Female
students require facilities that support menstrual hygiene management,
including:
- Privacy
- Access to water
- Proper disposal systems
(e.g., sanitary bins)
Without
these, students face compromised dignity, health risks, and barriers to full
participation in academic life.
Coping Mechanisms and Their Limits
Students
have adapted in remarkable ways:
- Sharing overcrowded rooms
- Locking facilities to manage
access
- Seeking alternative
facilities off-campus
The
increasing use of nearby facilities such as those at East Park Mall reflects
both resilience and systemic failure.
A Case for Public-Private Partnerships
To
address this long-standing challenge, we must move beyond temporary fixes.
A Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) model offers a viable long-term solution:
- Development of modern,
standalone sanitation facilities
- Sustainable maintenance
through user-fee systems
- Reduced burden on existing
hostel infrastructure
This
approach has proven effective in other public spaces and could be adapted to
the university context.
A Call to Action
The UNZA
sanitation crisis is not merely an infrastructure issue—it is a dignity,
health, and human rights issue.
Solutions
require collaboration between:
- Government
- University leadership
- Private sector investors
As an
alumnus, I believe the time has come to act decisively—not just to fix toilets,
but to restore dignity.
