In the community

Alarming number of school girls drop out due to pregnancy

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2024

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A recent National Assembly meeting revealed a staggering statistic: 4557 school girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy in 2023 alone. The majority of these girls (3942) were from rural schools, and most were in secondary school.

Mutsa Murombedzi, MP for Mashonaland West, questioned the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, on the issue.

“The Ministry collects and collates such data on an annual basis and is recorded in our Education Management Information System (EMIS) report shared with all stakeholders. Therefore, for the year ending December, 2023, 4557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy, the majority of these (3 942) being from rural schools,” Minister Moyo revealed.

When asked about measures being taken to address the issue, Minister Moyo said, “We have instituted several measures to curb this problem, one of which is the introduction of Guidance and Counselling in schools. Through the Education Act, we have also ensured that the legal provisions are there to enable girls who fall pregnant to continue with their education.”

Minister Moyo also emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that girls who fall pregnant can continue their education, citing the Education Amendment Act of 2020, which allows girls to take a two-week maternity leave and return to school.

“On the issue of stigma, we have done a lot of conscientisation and also, we have done a lot of dissemination of information in encouraging all the girls who fall pregnant. It is now their right to education, so they are supposed to go back to school,” Minister Moyo said.

When asked about the perpetrators, Minister Moyo assured the House that the law will take its course if the perpetrators are adults and the girls are under 18.

“Assuming the perpetrators are known and they are adults, the law will take its course. If there are circumstances whereby an elder or an adult male has had some relations with a girl and she becomes pregnant, if that girl is under the age of 18, the law will be applied.”

In the community

MPs question poor radio, TV coverage in Mat North

Published

3 days ago

March 23, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Concerns over limited access to national broadcasting services in Matabeleland North Province were raised in Parliament.

MP Discent Bajila of Emakhandeni-Luveve constituency asked the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services:

“To explain why national radio and television coverage remains poor or non-existent in parts of Gokwe North District, Matabeleland North Province, Matabeleland South Province, and nearby districts, and to indicate whether there are any digital signal expansion plans in place before 2026.”

In a separate question, Joseph Bonda for Hwange East Constituency raised concern over weather information gaps in Hwange:

“Why the weather forecast for Hwange is not broadcast, given that it is a resort with municipal status and significant business activities.”

No responses were recorded.

In the community

MP press govt on Binga hospital, mortuary crisis

Published

6 days ago

March 20, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe have raised concern over the state of health services in Binga District, questioning delays in upgrading key facilities.

Binga South MP, Fanuel Cumanzala asked the Minister of Health and Child Care:

“Whether there are any plans to rehabilitate Binga District Hospital to make it suitable for a nursing school, as earlier announced by the government.”

He further queried:

“Whether there are any concrete plans to permanently resolve the challenges faced by Binga District, particularly regarding the mortuary, which has not been fully operational for a long time.”

In a follow-up question, the legislator pressed government on broader service delivery gaps:

“What measures are being taken to improve healthcare services in Binga District, particularly in rural areas.”

“What measures are being implemented to reduce incidence of malaria and waterborne diseases in the Zambezi Valley.”

“Whether there are any plans to upgrade and expand healthcare facilities in Binga District in light of population growth and increased economic activity.”

No response was recorded in the proceedings

In the community

Hwange residents invited to constitutional amendment public hearing

Published

6 days ago

March 20, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Residents in Hwange are set to have their say on proposed changes to the country’s supreme law as the Parliament of Zimbabwe rolls out public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill.

The outreach programme will reach the coal-mining town on Tuesday, 31 March, with the hearing scheduled for 10am at Edmund Davies Hall, located at the No.1 Colliery Club near Thomas Coulter Primary School.

Attendance is free, and members of the public are being encouraged to participate and express their views on the proposed amendment.

According to Parliament, the hearings are part of a nationwide consultation process aimed at gathering citizens’ input before the bill is finalised. The proposed legislation—Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill (H.B. 1, 2026)—seeks to introduce changes to key governance provisions.

The Matabeleland North outreach will begin in Tsholotsho on Monday, 30 March, before moving to Hwange, then to Binga on Wednesday, 1 April, and concluding in Lupane on Thursday, 2 April.

Parliament has also opened channels for written submissions, which can be sent to the Clerk of Parliament or via email.

However, authorities have warned that individuals wearing military uniforms, political party regalia, or carrying flags and badges will not be allowed into the hearings.

Residents in and around Hwange are urged to attend in numbers and make their voices heard.