“It Still Haunts Me”: The Hidden Toll of Unsafe Abortions in Zimbabwe
By Anna Miti HARARE — Every year, an estimated 65,300 induced abortions take place across Zimbabwe. For many of the women and girls behind this statistic, the procedure is not a medical one but a desperate gamble involving any number of methods. The limited circumstances under which abortion is legally permitted under the Termination of
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95 Out of Every 100 Zimbabwean Babies Now Born in Health Facilities
Michael Gwarisa If 100 Zimbabwean women gave birth in 2024, about 95 would have delivered their babies in a clinic or hospital, while only four would have given birth at home, reflecting the country’s continued shift towards safer, facility-based childbirth. The figures were revealed during the launch and dissemination of the 2023-2024 Vital Statistics Report
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Press Release: Mysterious Grave in Epworth Revealed as National Intervention for Public Health Crisis
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – [24 April, 2026] A striking public installation of graves that appeared overnight in Epworth sparking widespread curiosity, public speculation, and viral social media debate has been revealed as a deliberate national intervention to spotlight Zimbabwe’s escalating public health crisis of unsafe abortion. The installation marks the launch of “In the Shadows of Epworth,” a
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The Cost of Inaction: Urgent Attention to Abortion Law in Zimbabwe
By Mildred Mushunje (PhD) & Dean Mutata (BSc, MSc) Background Zimbabwe’s health crisis is often framed in terms of economic decline or health financing gaps. Yet there is another crisis, silent, gendered, and entirely preventable, rooted in abortion policy inaction. Trapped between inherited colonial law, religious anxiety, and political discomfort and misinformed moralistic judgemental attitudes,
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Growing Awareness Slowly Reduces Stigma Around IVF Births in Zimbabwe
Michael Gwarisa For many years, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has been widely misunderstood and heavily stigmatised in Zimbabwe and across much of Africa. The procedure, which involves fertilising an egg with sperm outside the body in a laboratory before transferring the embryo into the uterus, has often been dismissed as “unnatural” or seen as interfering
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From Isolation to ‘Slaying’: Young Mother Reclaims Her Life After Fistula Surgery
Kuda Pembere in Gweru At just 22, Rangarirai (not her real name) says she is finally ready to step back into the world and “slay” again. For many young Zimbabweans born in the 2000s, often called Ama2Ks or Gen Z, the slang means showing up confidently, looking good, dressing well and embracing life with pride.
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Study Finds Toxic Chemicals in Menstrual Pads May Affect Hormones and Raise Health Risks
Michael Gwarisa For many women, sanitary pads are an essential part of daily life. They help manage menstrual hygiene and keep women comfortable and active. But a recent South African study has revealed a hidden risk, some pads and panty liners may contain chemicals that interfere with hormones and could increase long-term health risks, including
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Africa Cervical Cancer Diagnostics Still Very Low – Africa CDC
Michael Gwarisa As the world marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concern over the continent’s low diagnostic capacity for cervical cancer, a gap that has contributed to preventable loss of life over many years. Regional data shows that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 23 percent of
Read MoreGlobal Leaders Urge Governments to Treat Care Work as Core Economic Infrastructure
By Michael Gwarisa Global health leaders have called for governments to recognise care work as essential economic infrastructure, arguing that investing in women-led care solutions is critical to strengthening health systems and driving economic growth. The call was made during a high level side event recently hosted by Pathfinder International and convened in partnership with
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Zimbabwe’s Top 10 Health Champions for 2025
As has become tradition at HealthTimes, every year we honour leaders in the healthcare sector who are making a difference and contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s health system. This year, we are doing things differently. We have categorised the champions according to their sectors or areas of influence, focusing on innovation and the strategies that healthcare leaders in Zimbabwe
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