Day: November 26, 2025

An HIV Wave Hitting Only One Side of the Market: Women in Mat South Are Bearing the Brunt

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Mat South In Matabeleland South, the burden of new HIV infections falls almost exclusively on women. The numbers are more than statistics; they depict a crisis where mothers and daughters are diagnosed one after the other, while men’s rates lag behind. This imbalance is shrinking families, disrupting livelihoods, and leaving communities to pick up the pieces. Data from the 2022 National Housing and Population Census shows that Matabeleland South has an estimated population of 760,000 people. Of these, the National AIDS Council (NAC) estimates that 93,000…

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Why Reforming the Termination of Pregnancy Act Can No Longer Wait

Michael Gwarisa

By Edinah Masiyiwa I have been closely following recent developments on access to safe abortion for women and girls in Zimbabwe. As I reflect on the Women’s Action Group’s (WAG) campaign on safe abortion in the early 1990s, I am encouraged by how far the country has come on this issue. When WAG advocated for access to safe abortion then, the organisation faced intense opposition that ultimately silenced the public campaign. Quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy continued, eventually resulting in post-abortion care being adopted as a key component of reproductive health services—an…

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New youth risks emerging in digital age, SAYWHAT warns

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere As Zimbabwe marks the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, with young women and adolescent girls increasingly facing online harassment, Government has pledged to protect young people from digital harm. This was said by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Solomon Mhlanga, while officiating at the 15th anniversary of the SAYWHAT National Students Conference on Tuesday. “The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training firmly believes in digital dignity and ensuring safe and equitable access to technology as…

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ActionAid Zimbabwe Warns of Rising Digital Violence as 16 Days of Activism Begin

Kuda Pembere

By Staff Reporter ActionAid Zimbabwe has raised alarm over a surge in online violence targeting women and girls, calling on Government, regulators, and technology companies to strengthen protections as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begin. The annual campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December. This year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, according to ActionAid Zimbabwe calls attention to the growing dangers women face online and the urgent need for collective action. ActionAid in a statement said forms of digital violence…

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