Floods Force Mzimba Families to Break Deep-Rooted Toilet Taboos

In Ngoni culture, sharing a toilet between a father-in-law and a daughter-in-law is a serious taboo, rooted in long-standing beliefs about respect, boundaries and family dignity. Separate sanitation facilities are traditionally maintained to uphold these values.

But in Kapopo Ward under Traditional Authority Mmbelwa, relentless heavy rains have swept away homes and latrines, forcing families into an unthinkable reality: breaking cultural norms that have been respected for generations.

With toilets collapsed and compounds flooded, some households are now compelled to share the few remaining latrines, while others have been pushed into open defecation — a practice equally frowned upon and dangerous.

Seventy-one-year-old Wilfred Nyirenda said the floods have not only destroyed property but also shaken cultural foundations.

“In our tradition, a father-in-law must never share a toilet with a daughter-in-law. It brings shame to the family. But the rains have taken everything. We are suffering,” he said.

Elderly residents Albert Mtonga (64) and Kenan Ngwira (79) said the disaster has stripped families of privacy, dignity and peace, appealing for urgent assistance to rebuild both homes and latrines.

Local authorities say the damage is widespread. Ward Councillor Lewis Thole and district disaster risk officer Faith Longwe, who inspected the affected areas, said flooding has rendered many households unsafe and exposed communities to serious health and social risks.

They said a comprehensive report has been submitted to Mmbelwa District Council to mobilise emergency relief and reconstruction support.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health deputy director for public health Holystone Kafanikhale warned that the destruction of sanitation facilities during the rainy season creates ideal conditions for outbreaks of diarrhoea and cholera.

He urged communities to construct temporary toilets and share them where necessary as a disaster-response measure, stressing that emergencies sometimes force difficult cultural compromises.

“Floods disrupt not only infrastructure but also social systems. Protecting life and health must take priority,” Kafanikhale said.

As climate-related disasters become more frequent, communities in Kapopo Ward are facing a painful dilemma — choosing between preserving deeply respected cultural traditions and adapting to the harsh realities imposed by extreme weather.