Cholera Outbreak Spurs WASH Action

Government and partners push for faster, funded interventions

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia — February 2026 — Zambia’s latest cholera outbreak has spurred renewed calls for urgent action to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, as government and partners warn that weak coordination and underinvestment continue to drive preventable infections and deaths.

The call was made during a high-level Public Health and WASH Evidence Sharing Forum organised by WaterAid Zambia in Lusaka under the theme “Evidence to Action: Strengthening Public Health and WASH in Zambia.” 

The forum brought together senior government officials, cooperating partners, researchers, civil society organisations and youth advocates to push for faster, evidence-based and funded interventions.

At the forum, WaterAid Zambia launched two research reports — Missed Opportunities: The Stalled Fight Against Cholera in Zambia and The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Household Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Improvements in Zambia. 

The studies highlight persistent gaps in cholera prevention and show that household-level WASH investments deliver strong public health and economic returns.

The discussions come amid a renewed cholera outbreak. Since August 2025, Zambia has recorded 785 cases and 14 deaths, including cases in Lusaka and Mpulungu, a border town with Tanzania. 

As of 2 February, 13 new cases were reported countrywide, with Lusaka accounting for 10. The most recent outbreak alone has resulted in 185 cases and five deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 2.7 percent.

Speaking on behalf of Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, Acting Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Matilda Kakungu Simpungwe said the continued spread of cholera shows the need for stronger and better-coordinated WASH and public health responses.

She said government efforts to eliminate cholera require multi-sectoral action supported by credible evidence and strong partnerships.

“The Government seeks to control and eliminate cholera, but this cannot be achieved without strong partnerships, credible evidence and coordinated action across sectors,” Dr. Lishimpi said.

He said the Ministry of Health, working with the Zambia National Public Health Institute, local authorities and cooperating partners, has strengthened disease surveillance, improved case management in hotspot districts and scaled up emergency WASH interventions to reduce transmission.

Dr. Lishimpi stressed that evidence presented at the forum must lead to funded and measurable actions, with resources directed to the most vulnerable districts. 

He also called for stronger domestic and cross-border coordination.

“Prolonged cholera outbreaks should not be seen as inevitable. They are the result of missed opportunities that can still be addressed,” he said.

Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation Permanent Secretary Eng. Romas Kamanga, represented by Director of Water Supply and Sanitation Eng. Richard Kangwa, reaffirmed his ministry’s role in providing policy leadership for the WASH sector.

He described WASH as a foundation for public health, education, gender equality and inclusive economic growth. 

He highlighted reforms such as the National Water Policy, the Zambia Infrastructure Investment Plan and the review of the Water Supply and Sanitation Bill.

However, Eng. Kamanga acknowledged that financing remains a major challenge. 

He said the WASH sector has received an average of ZMW 3.5 billion per year between 2022 and 2026, despite growing infrastructure and service delivery needs, while the cost of service provision continues to exceed approved tariffs.

WaterAid Zambia Executive Director Yankho Mataya said the outbreak underscores the urgency of closing financing and implementation gaps in the WASH sector.

She called for the cholera elimination agenda to be elevated to the Office of the Vice President to strengthen coordination and accountability across government.

Mataya also urged increased investment in WASH, noting that the sector currently receives only 0.72 percent of the national budget, a level she said does not reflect the scale of the public health and economic risks posed by cholera.

The forum also featured Youth WASH Ambassadors, who called for sustained political commitment and accelerated investment to end recurring cholera outbreaks and ensure safe water and sanitation for all Zambians.