By Staff Reporter
Harare recorded 42 babies, a slight decline from what was recorded in 2024 across polyclinics around the city.
Announcing the figures through his official Facebook account, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume expressed delight at the safe arrivals while noting the significance of the day for the newborns and their families.
“Forty-two babies were delivered successfully at our 12 polyclinics on Christmas Day. The males won the draw of birth with 22 of them coming through and the female babies lost by two, being 20,” said Mafume. “I delivered hampers to the babies donated by Angel of Hope. The mothers were at work on Christmas Day. Hope the babies realise the significance in future of sharing the world’s most celebrated birthday. It’s a tough act to follow.”
Mayor Mafume also highlighted the city’s strong maternal services, saying Harare continues to deliver an average of 30 babies per day at council clinics alone, excluding major hospitals, private facilities and home births.
Additional figures from central hospitals show a continued national decline. This Christmas, more than 97 babies were born at the country’s largest referral institutions in Harare and Bulawayo.
At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Chitungwiza Central Hospital, 47 babies entered the world on Christmas Day — seven girls and nine boys at Parirenyatwa, and 19 boys and 12 girls at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Statistics for Sally Mugabe Central Hospital were not yet available by publication time.
Bulawayo recorded 50 births at Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals combined, with a slight majority of girls — 28 girls and 22 boys.
While the drop in Christmas births may reflect broader demographic or socioeconomic patterns, Harare authorities remain focused on service delivery and maternal health support.
