A Long-Standing Crisis: Sanitation, Dignity, and the Future of UNZA

 

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.