Junior doctors in public health institutions have been on strike since September 3, 2019, and on 26 November 2019
senior doctors joined the job action. Citizens are failing to access healthcare as the work stoppage continues without
a solution in sight.
The lack of health care professionals in public hospitals is negatively impacting on maternal health care as the
majority of women cannot afford the exorbitant fees charged by private health institutions. Some have resorted to
unregistered backyard services such as those offered by Esther Zinyoro who was widely reported in the media.
Zinyoro’s two roomed apartment in Mbare was being used as a ‘maternity’ centre where she delivered upwards of
10 babies in a week. Images of naked women writhing in agony on a floor covered with canvas material made the
rounds on social media, leading to widespread condemnation and outcry. Of concern is the fact that the first lady
Mrs Auxillia Mnangagwa visited Zinyoro’s premises and commended her for her hard work and donated supplies
such as food stuffs and latex gloves. This move by the first lady may well be perceived as a subtle endorsement of
Zinyoro, despite the fact that she has never received any formal training as a midwife, operates as an unregistered
health institution and has no professional experience in dealing with complications which may arise from the
delivery process and puts both the mother and child at risk of contracting disease. The visit also displays misplaced
priorities and a lack of political will and commitment to see an end to the myriad of challenges facing the health
delivery system.
The continued impasse between the government and health professionals is distressing as Zimbabweans are
suffering and dying from illnesses which could easily be treated. Incredulously, government has fired over 435
doctors with no indications of how they will be replaced. This is a worrying situation which reflects a government
that does not care about the welfare of its citizens.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube presented the ZWD63, 66 billion 2020 budget titled
“Gearing for Higher Productivity, Growth and Job creation”. Notable and commendable changes were that the
education and health sectors received the highest allocations at ZWD10, 7 billion and ZWD6, 5 billion respectively;
a shift from the past where the defence ministry received the highest allocation.Furthermore, government set aside
ZWD200 million to procure sanitary wear for disadvantaged women and girls, a welcome relief for millions of girls
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