Author: Ntokozo Gudu

Fresh Calls to Amend Zimbabwe’s 47-Year-Old Abortion Law Gather Momentum

Ntokozo Gudu

By Ntokozo Gudu Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) championing women and girls’ rights in Zimbabwe have called for the urgent amendment of the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP), in order to reduce the high maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortions in the country. Zimbabwe is using a Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Act that was enacted in 1977 which many Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) believe no longer serves the prevailing challenges faced by women and girls. According to the 1977 law, abortion is allowed under the restricted circumstances of rape,…

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Unpaid Care Work Widens Economic Gap For Women In Zimbabwe- Report

Ntokozo Gudu
Musa Hove Safaids hands over SOF Report to Minister Mutsvangwa

By Ntokozo Gudu A new report, the State of The Father Report shows that men in Zimbabwe participate in more financially rewarding work while women struggle with the burden of unpaid work. The report was launched in Harare by SAfAIDS in partnership with ADA partners, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises (MWACSMED) and Sonke Gender Justice in a bid to improve their understanding on the state of fathers towards unpaid care work project. Findings from the report reveal a widening care-giving gap, as women in Zimbabwe take…

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Precious Hearts Haven Commemorates Day Of The African Child

Ntokozo Gudu

By Nthokozo Gudu Iin Zvimba Precious Hearts Haven a non-profit organization working towards the elimination of sexual and gender based violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe joined the world in commemorating International Day of The African Child on 15 June 2024. The commemoration event was held in Zvimba and brought together different organizations in  Zimbabwe, Unathi Children’s Network Trust which advocates for all the rights of children and Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) which specializes in providing pregnancy crisis management, contraception and family planning services across the country also collaborated…

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SAfAIDS Unveils Social Contracting Framework for Effective HIV Response

Ntokozo Gudu

By Ntokozo Gudu in Mutare SAfAIDS and Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research ( ZCHIRe) convened a capacity strengthening dialogue for stakeholders to effectively disseminate and implement the Social Contracting guidelines under the banner of the United for Protection Coalition, in Mutare recently. The dialogue was targeting the National AIDS Council as the key institution for decision making on social contracting, bringing together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively input into the existing guidelines. The conversation highlighted the need to increase domestic financial resources and expand  revenue streams to…

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Increased Domestic Funding Crucial To Ending Family Planning Unment Need In Zimbabwe-UNFPA

Ntokozo Gudu

By Ntokozo Gudu Even though Zimbabwe has made progress in increasing coverage of modern contractive methods, the country still lags regarding expanding domestic financing towards Family Planning services. This was said by the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA  ) programme specialist, Dr Edwin Mpeta during UNFPA International Conference on Population and Development Media Briefing in Harare.    “Commodity security is under threat as it is largely donor funded but also the Government has invested US$3 million in 2022 and 2023 ,we require about US$7 million worth of contraceptives and…

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Government Launches Strategy to Address GBV

Ntokozo Gudu

By Nthokozo Gudu The Ministry of  Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises and Development on Friday launched a Gender Based Violence (GBV) National Strategy for preventing and addressing this scourge. Women’s Affairs, Community , Small and Medium Enterprises and Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government has implemented effective legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender based violence. “Government has put in place legal and policy frameworks backed by institutional mechanisms that are working towards Gender Based Violence prevention and response, laws such as the…

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STREAM Network launches in Zimbabwe

Ntokozo Gudu

By Nthokozo Gudu Zimbabwe has launched its chapter of the STREAM Network,  a new system born out of the STREAM Network created out of a 4-day meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya ,from 30 September to 3 October 2022. In Nairobi, the Network is hosted by Positive Young Women Voices of Kenya and has launched its strategic plan for Zimbabwe in Harare this week. STREAM Network Zimbabwe’s Board Vice Chairperson, Barnabas Muhoma goutlined the objectives of the launch. STREAM stands for Stepping Stones Trainers Engaging with Activists Movements, it was formed…

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Population Solutions for Health launches PREVENT program

Ntokozo Gudu

Population Solutions for Health (PSH), and Populations Service International (PSI) on Monday hosted the Going the Last Mile for HIV Control closeout while launching the PREVENT program meant to protect the gains Zimbabwe has made in the fight against HIV pandemic. By Nthokozo Gudu PSH Executive Director and Managing Trustee, Dr Noah Taruberekera gave remarks and celebrated the successes of the Last mile program. This event is about looking back and celebrating the successes of the US$101 million dollars Last Mile program funded by PEPFAR through USAID. This program was…

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Household Food Insecurity Worries Pushed Mental Health Challenges During COVID-19 In Zimbabwe

Ntokozo Gudu

Rosalina Mutekedza (38), a single mother from Warren Park 1 in Harare is happy the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and there is no more need for any restrictions and lockdowns to contain the spread of the diseases. By Ntokozo Gudu Above all, she is happy that now she can fend for her three children without any fear of breaking the law. She recalls how the COVID-19 induced lockdowns almost drive her into depression owing to uncertainty they brought. I was worried. During the first 21 days of the COVID-19, i…

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Calls on 2024 budget to prioritize health sector

Ntokozo Gudu

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) held the pre-budget meeting in Harare yesterday where calls were made by different stakeholders for the increase of the 2024 Health budget. By Nthokozo Gudu Hwange Central Legislator, Hon MP Daniel Molokele  who is also the Chairman of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health said it was crucial to allocate the 15 percent of the national budget to health as is prescribed by the Abuja target. The growing demand for health services in the country owing to the increase in population and structural changes…

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