Implementation of Community Based Management (CBM) in Zimbabwe: The dichotomy of theory and practice and its influence on sustainability of rural water supply systems

In the quest to address sustainability challenges in the rural water sector the Community Based Management (CBM) approach was adopted by many developing countries including Zimbabwe as the model for managing rural water facilities. CBM having principles embedded on equity, empowerment and effectiveness was expected to promote sustainability, however field evidence has shown that the variance between theory and practice in its implementation has contributed to its failure to deliver expected results. This study was done to investigate how CBM is being implemented in Zimbabwe. The specific objectives were to analyze how practices of different stakeholders in the rural water sector differ from their roles as stipulated in the CBM framework and to analyze how discrepancies between theory and practice in CBM implementation are influencing sustainability of water supply systems. The study also sought to investigate how trainings which are stipulated in the CBM framework are being done. Data was collected using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and a Water Point Committee questionnaire. Pearson Chi square test was used to analyze quantitative data while the thematic approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Results showed that most WPCs were not performing their roles as outlined in the CBM framework. Since most rural water projects were funded by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) their strategies and objectives were taking precedence over CBM guidelines which negatively impacted on technical, social and institutional factors of sustainability. The project nature of NGO programmes which are budget and time bound also resulted in CBM principles not being applied as outlined. Rural District Councils (RDCs) were depending on NGOs to fund water supply activities. WPCs were diverging from their stipulated roles due to incapacitation in technical and managerial skills which negatively impacted on financial and technical sustainability factors. Chi square test results show that there is a significant association between capacity building and sustainability ((chi 2 = 3.20, df = 2, p < 0.02). It can be concluded that the discrepancies in the CBM theory and practice in the Zimbabwe's rural water sector is negatively influencing sustainability of water supply facilities.