By Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) recently reported significant improvements in the inclusion and accessibility of public institutions for People with Disabilities (PWDs).
These findings were shared during a feedback meeting held at the Methodist Church’s John Wesley Society.
ZHOCD is an umbrella organization that unites various Christian denominations in Zimbabwe, including the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. The organization has been running capacity-building workshops for PWDs to strengthen their engagement with public institutions and improve their welfare.
Speaking at the meeting, Chiredzi District Social Worker Tichaona Chivave highlighted notable progress in the government and public institutions’ efforts to support PWDs. He cited the establishment of disability desks in various government offices, new building plans that include accessibility features such as ramps, and tax exemptions for private companies employing PWDs as positive steps forward.
“There is significant improvement in the inclusion of PWDs across institutions. Every school is being encouraged to equip itself to educate children with various conditions, though the process is still ongoing. The government is also offering tax exemptions to private companies employing people with disabilities, and local authorities are approving plans for public facilities to include ramps, which is a major improvement,” said Chivave.
Chivave also encouraged PWDs to remain organized and informed to ensure equal access to available benefits.
Another participant, Asual Chikandiwa, noted advancements in employment opportunities, stand allocations, and the establishment of disability desks.
“We have seen progress as companies are now employing PWDs, like myself, who is employed at Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe. We are also receiving stands like everyone else, and disability desks have been introduced in various public institutions,” said Chikandiwa.
Susan Machingura also acknowledged the changes and shared her experience regarding stand allocations. She revealed that consultations with the Chiredzi Town Council resulted in assurances that PWDs would receive their fair share of stands.
“We consulted the Chiredzi Town Council about stands, and we were assured we will get our quota. However, we are required to pay for their value,” said Machingura.
Tapiwa Shumba from the United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (UCHIRRA), who coordinated the meeting, shared plans to assist PWDs in acquiring stands.
“We engaged Chiredzi Town Council to use plough-back funds to subsidize the cost of stands for PWDs so they would only need to pay 50% of the total value,” said Shumba.
The feedback meeting demonstrated collective efforts and progress in ensuring that PWDs are included in the development of public services and infrastructure, while also highlighting areas requiring further action.

By Virginia Njovo

Villagers from Zaka South breathed a sigh of relief after receiving a fully equipped mother’s waiting shelter from SolidarMed at one of their local clinics, following years without an operational facility.
Chiredzana Rural Health Centre, established in 1963, serves a catchment area of approximately 13,000 people. Expecting mothers previously had to travel nearly 35 kilometers to Mashoko Hospital after the old structure was condemned for being sub-standard, which resulted in a number of them either giving birth at home or on the way to the clinic.
Speaking to TellZim News during the commissioning of the shelter and nurses’ quarters on November 30, Ward 31 Councillor Tumai Madzikona highlighted the difficulties women in his area endured. He noted that they had to walk long distances when due for delivery, risking the lives of both mothers and their unborn children.
“Women from my area used to go to Mashoko Mission Hospital, approximately 35 kilometers via the main road or about 25 kilometers using shortcuts, which took around four hours. This was a difficult situation for expecting mothers. Most of them ended up giving birth at their homesteads, which is risky for both mother and newborn,” said Madzikona.
SolidarMed, a non-profit organization operating in Masvingo Province—covering Zaka, Bikita, Chiredzi, and parts of Masvingo District for over half a century—specializes in HIV, maternal and neonatal health, non-communicable diseases, adolescent health, oral health, and digital health. The organization injected US$55,000 to construct a mother’s home, which can shelter six mothers at a time, as well as staff houses.
Memory Zhou, an elderly woman from Ward 31, expressed relief that the maternity home will easy the burden on their community. She explained how it eliminated the fear of young mothers enduring long waits far from home during delivery.
“Young mothers used to go as far as Mashoko or Msiso to wait for delivery, which worried us as elders. We were often unable to see them regularly, and it was difficult to bring them basic necessities. Now, we are happy and appreciate those who made this waiting home available,” said Zhou.
Another villager, Nelisa Kunodziya, added that the shelter would significantly reduce the risk of mothers giving birth on the road while en route to the hospital.
“Waiting mothers were at risk of giving birth on their way to the clinic, especially first-time mothers, as they often miscalculated their delivery dates. The shelter will help us avoid such scenarios,” said Kunodziya.
SolidarMed Project Coordinator Justin Mahuni commended the engagement of stakeholders, which he described as key to the project’s success.
“We actively engaged a diverse range of stakeholders, including our primary partner, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), local government—who own the facility—as well as community leaders and residents. They all showed remarkable commitment and active participation throughout the process,” said Mahuni.
Mahuni expressed high hopes for the project’s impact on improving maternal health services and reducing home deliveries.
“We aim to improve maternal health services and increase health awareness within the community. One of the key outcomes we expect is a significant reduction in home deliveries, as more mothers will use the mother’s waiting home and associated healthcare facilities.
“We hope to see measurable improvements in maternal health, as the waiting mothers’ home will provide a safe and supportive environment, leading to better health outcomes for both mothers and their newborns,” said Mahuni.
Chiredzana Clinic averages five deliveries per month, with one or two deliveries occurring weekly. The new mothers’ waiting shelter accommodates up to six mothers at a time, both before and after delivery.
Maternal health remains a critical issue in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas where many mothers face unsafe delivery conditions. Greater attention is needed in remote areas to address maternal health challenges.