By Kuda Pembere
A new regional report has flagged Zimbabwe as one of the countries where women remain largely excluded from senior leadership positions in the public health sector, despite national commitments to gender equality.
The Stakeholder Analysis Report released by WomenLift Health examines ten Southern African countries, including Zimbabwe, revealing that while gender equity policies exist on paper, they are rarely reflected in real-world leadership structures. The study describes this as a “glass ceiling in disguise,” where institutional culture, biased promotion systems and traditional caregiving roles continue to hold women back.
“In many of our public health systems, what looks like progress on paper is often a façade,” said Akhona Tshangela, Southern Africa Director at WomenLift Health. “Inside health systems, women are still hitting invisible walls. If we are serious about building resilient and effective health systems, we must be serious about intentionally having women being part of the decision-making.”
The findings are particularly relevant to Zimbabwe, where women make up the majority of frontline health workers but are significantly underrepresented in senior roles at district and provincial levels. Similar trends are observed across the region. In Zambia, only 13 percent of district health leaders are women.
The report highlights a significant policy-practice gap, noting that well-meaning gender equality laws lack the funding, enforcement and institutional will to shift workplace dynamics. Patriarchal norms, limited access to mentorship and inadequate support for work-life balance continue to undermine women’s advancement, especially in rural and under-resourced areas.
However, the report also points to solutions. These include investing in leadership development for mid-career women, building advocacy skills in the workplace and actively engaging male allies and senior decision-makers to promote inclusive environments.
“This report validates WomenLift Health’s approach. Sustainable change means lifting both the woman and the system she works in,” Tshangela said.
For Zimbabwe and its neighbors, the message from WomenLift Health is clear. If the region hopes to build strong and equitable health systems, the report suggests those systems must include women in key leadership positions and reflect the realities they navigate daily.
