Building Agency on Maternal Health Rights and Sexual Reproductive Rights in Bulawayo, Beitbridge, Mutare (Rural and Urban), Murehwa and Harare

A consolidated WLSA report documenting how the COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020–February 2021) undermined women’s and girls’ access to maternal health and SRHR across five districts. Based on 22 case studies of women aged 10–54, it exposes systemic failures in public health — women turned away, unassisted home births, corruption, abuse and stillbirths — framing these as human-rights violations.

• About 90% of Zimbabweans lack health insurance; 60% of interviewed women delivered without professional assistance after being turned away.
• Lockdown travel restrictions, transport costs and roadblocks forced unattended home deliveries.
• Health workers subjected women to verbal/physical abuse, denial of postnatal check-ups and bribe demands.
• Documented harms included stillbirths, denial of SRHR services to a disabled woman, GBV and confidentiality breaches.

•          Refer cases of abuse to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Human Rights Commission.

•          Ensure safe, equipped facilities — incentivise nurses, provide PPE and build more clinics.

•          Advocate for the Abuja Declaration 15% health budget target and proper disbursement.

•          Ensure police at roadblocks respect confidentiality and allow women to collect medication.