WASH Cannot Wait: NGO Forum Calls for Water and Sanitation to Top Zambia's 2026 Election Agenda  

By Alain Kabinda 

As Zambia prepares for the 2026 General Elections next week, the NGO WASH Forum is urging all political parties and aspiring leaders to place water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) at the centre of their campaign promises, arguing that access to these essential services is fundamental to the country's health, development and resilience. 

Speaking to the media in Lusaka on Friday, NGO WASH Forum Coordinator Ms. Bubala Muyovwe called on all political parties and candidates to make clear, measurable and adequately financed commitments to WASH, warning that millions of Zambians continue to lack access to basic services despite years of policy commitments. 

                                                       (Ms. Bubala Muyovwe)

Ms. Muyovwe said that safe water, decent sanitation and good hygiene are not partisan issues but essential public services that affect every household, community and sector of the economy. 

According to data research shows that only 62 percent of Zambians have access to basic drinking-water services, while just 37 percent have access to basic sanitation and 31 percent have access to basic handwashing facilities. The greatest disparities are found in rural, peri-urban and other underserved communities. 

She also said these gaps have far-reaching consequences, contributing to recurring cholera outbreaks and other preventable diseases, disrupting children's education, placing additional pressure on health facilities and reducing productivity, particularly among vulnerable households. 

Ms. Muyovwe expressed concern over declining public investment in the sector. It noted that WASH allocations have fallen from 2.5 percent of the national budget in 2020 to 1.06 percent in 2026, despite growing demand for reliable water and sanitation services. 

And the research report pointed out that while the National Development Plan estimates that approximately K3.5 billion is required annually to meet the country's WASH needs, only K1.5 billion was allocated, with actual disbursements amounting to K31.9 million. Ms. Muyovwe added that approximately 87 percent of financing for the sector continues to come from development partners, a situation it described as unsustainable for long-term national development. 

She further warned that climate change is placing additional strain on Zambia's water systems through prolonged droughts, floods and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. It said these challenges underscore the need for climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, particularly in communities most vulnerable to climate shocks. 

To address these concerns, the Forum is calling on political parties to make WASH a national development priority by setting measurable targets, increasing domestic financing, giving sanitation and hygiene equal attention alongside water supply, expanding climate-resilient services, strengthening transparency and accountability in WASH financing, and integrating the sector into public health, disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies. 

Ms. Muyovwe also urged all citizens to make WASH a key election issue by asking candidates a simple but significant question: What is your practical, funded plan to ensure every Zambian has access to safe water, decent sanitation and hygiene? 

As Zambia works towards achieving its national development goals and Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation, the Forum argues that future progress will depend not only on political promises but on sustained investment and effective implementation. 

The organization has further said the decisions made today will shape whether millions of Zambians can enjoy healthier, more productive and more resilient lives in the years ahead.

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