The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) said teenage pregnancies are prevalent in mining communities. The ZGC also raised concerns about the poor condition of maternity waiting shelters in rural areas.
In a study assessing the experiences of pregnant women in six rural provinces, including Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, the ZGC found that 211 expectant mothers under the age of 18 were recorded at 13 health facilities over a year. Reads the report:
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The Commission also noted relatively high statistics of girls below the age of 18 being admitted at the maternity waiting homes.
A total of 211 expecting mothers below 18 years were recorded in the period of 12 months at 13 health institutions visited, with health institutions in mining communities recording higher cases of teenage pregnancies.
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The report revealed that maternity waiting shelters, created by the government to help pregnant women reach healthcare facilities more easily, are in bad condition and lack proper security. Reads the report:
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A total of 24 health institutions were assessed across six provinces; Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South.
Issues noted included dilapidated infrastructure, poor living conditions, lack of nutritional support, shortage of skilled personnel, and high-security concerns around the maternity waiting homes.
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The ZGC recommended improving waiting shelters and adding support services for survivors of gender-based violence, including counselling.
Health Deputy Minister Sleiman Timios Kwidini said the government is upgrading maternity waiting shelters and building new clinics in rural areas with devolution funds. Said Kwidini:
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The waiting shelters for expecting mothers are temporary shelters and as a ministry, we are working towards standardising some of them to make it comfortable for women as they come to deliver.
They were designed to ensure that women do not travel long distances when coming to deliver. They aim to reduce home deliveries which can come with complications that put women’s health at risk.
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Itai Rusike, the executive director of the Community Health Working Group, told <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/alarming-teenage-pregnancy-rates-in-mining-communities/">Chronicle</a> that although there has been some improvement in maternal health, the government needs to support clinics in urban areas. He said:
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When facilities lack waiting mothers’ shelters, pregnant women may be discouraged from seeking care due to the costs of staying at the facility or the absence of proper accommodation.
Delays in seeking help are a major issue, which is why maternal and child health activities, community engagement, and health education must be strengthened…
The Government should provide health grants to urban local authorities to enable them to fully implement the free user fee policy for pregnant women.
This would prevent the collapse of urban clinics, which currently rely on user fees for operational costs.
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The Zimbabwe Gender Commission found that many teenage girls in mining communities are getting pregnant. They also discovered that maternity waiting shelters in rural areas are in bad condition. The government is working to upgrade these shelters and build new clinics to help pregnant women. The Commission suggested adding support services for survivors of gender-based violence. It is important for pregnant women to have access to proper healthcare facilities to avoid complications during childbirth. The government needs to support clinics in urban areas as well to improve maternal health.

Teenage Pregnancies Rampant In Mining Communities, Says Gender Commission

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) says the government should regulate churches to combat sexual offences against girls within some religious sects.
ZGC chairperson Margaret Sangarwe-Mukahanana on Tuesday told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004651/regulate-churches-zgc-urges-govt">NewsDay</a> that although churches are currently voluntary organisations that are not regulated, there is a need for authorities to intervene to end the sexual abuse of minors. She said:
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Churches are voluntary organisations and they are unregulated. There is no code of conduct which governs them, and it is difficult to monitor sexual offences at churches lest we are told that we are infringing on the fundamental rights of worship and association.
However, if we want to arrest the scourge of child marriages and sexual offences, there should be at least some regulations that govern churches.
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Sexual offences at religious places such as Apostolic faith sect shrines and churches have been on the rise over the years.
Under the new Marriages Act, the minimum age of marriage is 18 years for both girls and boys. It is, therefore, a crime to marry off a child and anyone involved in that will be prosecuted.
According to a 2019 survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 33% of women reported that they were married before reaching the adult age of 18.

Gender Commission Urges Govt To Regulate Churches

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has started investigations into the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse of women by Walter Magaya, a self-styled prophet.
Magaya is the founder and leader of Prophetic and Healing Deliverance Ministries church.
ZGC said an investigation into Magaya’s conduct was gazetted on 23 August 2019, but he launched a court challenge, stalling the investigation.
The commission said the courts have since handed down judgements which have allowed it to continue with the probe.
The ZGC is therefore inviting people who have sexual exploitation and abuse complaints against Magaya to come forward and present their cases. ZGC said:
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The Zimbabwe Gender Commission wishes to advise members of the Public that the Zimbabwe Gender Commission in its Commission meeting number 38 on the 4th of August 2022 resolved to recommence the investigation of the allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Women levelled against Prophet Walter Magaya of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries.
The investigation which was gazetted on the 23rd of August 2019 (General Notice No.1444/2019) was halted by the Legal Challenge launched by the key respondent Mr Walter Magaya (Prophet Magaya).
We are happy that the courts have given legal judgements (SC592/19, HC 7347/19 and HH688/19) which have paved the way for the continuance of our processes.
As such, we are calling on all citizens who might have complaints of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving the conduct of Walter Magaya to present particulars of their complaints to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. 
The invitation is also being extended to all the complainants and witnesses to such acts which consist of SEA of Women within the denomination.
Please refer your complaints to the CEO of Zimbabwe Gender Commission 1st Floor Pax House 89 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare +263(0242) 250 296; +263(0242) 701101, or email complaints@zgc.co.zw
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