Coping mechanisms of urban residents in water crisis: a case study of Hopley township, Harare.

Abstract

Water insecurity remains a pressing development challenge caused by rapid urbanization of informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the coping mechanisms employed by urban residents of Hopely Township, a peri-density settlement on the southern part of Harare, in response to water crisis. The study was guided by three objectives to identify the challenges faced by residents in coping mechanisms employed by urban households, to describe the coping mechanisms employed by urban residents in coping with water crisis and to examine strategies that can enhance the resilience and adaptability of residents in Hopely Township. Results from questionnaires shows that 61% of respondents have been experiencing challenges such as lack of storage containers and a similar percentage experiencing limited community support while only 16 % complained having poor water quality. Residents issued complaints on the challenges they have been facing to be a result of not being recognized by the City Council as they do not have piped water in the major parts if the suburb. High vendor costs were also said to be pressing issues in trying to cope with water crisis in Hopely as they have led to financial strains within Hopely households. A number of coping mechanisms are getting used by the Hopely residents in coping with water crisis with results showing 48% households representatives mostly store their water in containers and a slightly lower percentage relying on buying water from vendors and use of communal boreholes. Pictorial evidence during field observations also showed some of the coping mechanisms employed by Hopely residents in coping with the water crisis in their community. Despite a number of coping mechanisms shown in the results, water crisis remains a critical issue in Hopely Township as most of the mentioned coping mechanisms are not long term solutions and other coping strategies are ticking bombs when it comes to both mental and physical health of Hopely Township residents. For durable water resilience in Hopely, integrated response of rehabilitation and expansion of community water infrastructure should be worked on and stigmatization of informal settlements when it comes to infrastructural development should be ended.