Connect with us

National

Covid-19 forces Nkayi girls to abandon school for menial jobs

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Fourteen-year-old Sabelo Ndlovu was determined to become a nurse and was one of the few pupils in her rural school in Nkayi that took their studies seriously.

Advertisement

Ndlovu, an orphan badly wanted to lift her grandmother and extended family out of the poverty cycle of poverty synonymous with Nkayi’s Donsa village, but her dream was crushed when Covid-19 struck last year.

Her grandmother said she was no longer able to pay her school fees because Covid-19 lockdowns had made it harder for her to generate any income from her basket weaving business.

Ndlovu had to drop out of school after completing Grade 7 and moved to Nkayi centre to look for a job as a domestic worker.

Advertisement

“I have been working as a maid for a family at Nkayi Centre for the past nine months,” she said.

“At first, the job was a huge burden on me because of the duties and responsibilities that come with being a domestic worker and looking after a family, but I am now used to it.”

Her main duties involve looking after three minors, the youngest being three months old in addition to preparing meals for the family, cleaning, gardening, and helping the children with their homework.

Advertisement

Ndlovu has to use part of her meagre salary to support her grandmother and siblings back home.

“I earn $800 per month,” she said.

“It is not enough, but my employer always dares me to leave when people are being laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Advertisement

On the parallel foreign currency market, Sabelo’s salary is equivalent to US$4.50 and can hardly sustain her.

Her story is similar to that of Natalie Ncube from Guwe in Nkayi, who started working at the age of 15 after dropping out of school in 2019 when she was doing Form One.

Ncube got her first job in Bulawayo, but it was short-lived after her employer died suddenly.

Advertisement

She moved to Inyathi in Bubi district where she also worked as a maid, but also lost her job after a few months following the outbreak of Covid-19.

“I would’ve loved to be at school, but my parents never prioritized that when they lived in South Africa,” Ncube said.

“Covid-19 has even made it worse as l no longer have employment nor education and l am just here in my rural home without any plans.”

Advertisement

The tale of the two Nkayi girls is shared by tens of thousands of young people throughout Zimbabwe, who have been forced out of school by the Covid-19 pandemic to look for jobs to sustain their struggling families.

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) 2021 Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report, 23 percent of children within the school-going age are not going to school because of the pandemic.

The ZimVac report stated that the major reasons children are not in school include financial constraints, pregnancies, early marriages, and children being considered too young.

Advertisement

Other reasons children were not in school included illnesses, lack of interest in school, and long distances to school.

The report recommended urgent strengthening of the government’s humanitarian programmes and stronger partnerships with its development partners.

It said Matabeleland South had the highest number of children not attending school with 27 percent followed by Matabeleland North with 26 percent.

Advertisement

Mashonaland West had 24 percent while Mashonaland Central had 23 percent, with Midlands at 22 percent.

Masvingo and Manicaland had the lowest numbers at 18 percent.

Guwe village head Enock Dladla said many teenagers in his area were now working at a young age after dropping out of school.

Advertisement

While some are getting jobs locally; others are illegally crossing into South Africa searching for jobs, he said.

“It has become a norm for teenagers in rural areas to not complete their education, and then they look for employment. Some even start working at the age of 15,” Dladla said.

” At that age, the teenager will still be a child, and she won’t be ready mentally or physically to assume the responsibilities of a domestic worker.

Advertisement

“This is a sad reality, and something has to be done to address it.”

The Guwe community leader said there was a need for the government to put in place more programmes to fund education for children from underprivileged families.

He said some children, who have great potential are missing out on an opportunity to get an education and better their lives because of financial challenges.

Advertisement

“Every child must go to school because it’s their basic right,” Dladla said.

“A child would rather go through school and not do well than dropping out.

“A child’s future must not be destroyed because they

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

Migration on the rise: Matabeleland North tops outbound movement in latest ZimLAC report

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINK

Matabeleland North has recorded some of the highest levels of migration in Zimbabwe, with 12.6% of households moving to urban areas and 7.8% leaving the country, according to the 2024–2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) report.

Advertisement

The figures highlight a growing trend in which families are uprooting in search of work, education, and better living conditions, with the province’s migration rate well above the national averages of 9.9% for rural-to-urban moves and 5.0% for emigration.

For many in Matabeleland North, economic necessity drives these decisions.

“I had to send my son to Bulawayo because there was simply no work here,” said Thabani Ncube, a smallholder farmer in Lupane. “Even piece jobs have dried up. At least in town, he can hustle and maybe support the family.”

Advertisement

The ZimLAC report shows that employment opportunities are the leading reason behind rural-to-urban migration nationally (6.3%). In Matabeleland North, 7.7% cited education as the next big pull factor, followed by new residential land and improved living standards.

Experts warn that while migration can bring relief through remittances, it also risks hollowing out rural communities.

“This trend is a double-edged sword,” explained Dr. Nomalanga Sibanda, a livelihoods researcher in Bulawayo. “Families may benefit from remittances, but local economies lose critical labour and skills. Over time, this weakens resilience in rural districts.”

Advertisement

Other Provinces: Contrasting Patterns

Matabeleland South recorded the highest rate of emigration, with 13.5% of households reporting that members had left the country — nearly triple the national average. Masvingo followed closely, with 16.5% moving to towns and 7.7% leaving for the diaspora.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland Central had the lowest levels of outward movement, with just 4.4% moving to towns and 1.0% emigrating.

Advertisement

Midlands also stood out, with 12.9% shifting to urban areas and 6.2% relocating abroad, driven mainly by job opportunities and schooling.

National Picture

Across Zimbabwe, nearly one in ten households (9.9%) reported rural-to-urban migration, while 5% indicated emigration outside the country. Employment, education, and improved living standards remain the strongest motivators.

Advertisement

For ordinary families, the story is about survival and hope.

“My husband left for South Africa last year,” said Memory Dube of Gwanda, Matabeleland South. “He sends money when he can, but life is tough there too. Still, we rely on that income to buy food and pay school fees.”

ZimLAC, which advises the government through the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), says the data will guide evidence-based interventions. The report stresses that migration trends are not just statistics, but reflect deeper issues of economic opportunity, resilience, and service delivery across provinces.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

National

Matabeleland North tops in open defecation as sanitation gaps persist

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The latest 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) has revealed that Matabeleland North province has the highest proportion of households practising open defecation in the country, underscoring deep-rooted poverty and infrastructure challenges in rural communities.

Advertisement

According to the report, Binga district leads with a staggering 80.1% of households without toilets, followed by Tsholotsho at 56.5%. Kariba (50.8%) and Mwenezi (49.4%) also recorded alarming levels of open defecation.

Nationally, there has been modest progress. The proportion of households with basic sanitation services increased slightly from 51% in 2020 to 55% in 2025. At the same time, open defecation declined from 29% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.

While these statistics point to progress at a national level, the reality in provinces like Matabeleland North paints a starkly different picture. Communities continue to struggle with extreme poverty, limited resources, and inadequate support to build or maintain proper sanitation facilities.

Advertisement

ZimLAC noted that the findings are critical for shaping livelihoods policies and targeting interventions where they are most needed. The report emphasized that tackling inequalities in rural sanitation remains central to advancing Zimbabwe’s development goals.

Community Voices: Life Without Toilets in Matabeleland North

In Binga, where most households lack toilets, villagers say poverty is at the heart of the crisis:

Advertisement

“We want toilets, but we cannot afford cement or bricks,” said 64-year-old grandmother from Sidinda. “Even when NGOs come, they only build for a few households. The rest of us dig shallow pits which collapse in the rains. That’s why many people just go to the bush.”

In Tsholotsho, young people express frustration over promises that never materialize:

“We were told about sanitation projects, but they stopped halfway. People survive by selling firewood; where will they get money for toilets?” asked Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, a 22-year-old.

Advertisement

For families living along the Zambezi in Binga, land conditions add another challenge:

“The soil is sandy and unstable. Even if we dig, the pit does not last long. Poverty makes it worse, because we cannot reinforce the toilets like people in towns,”another villager explained.

In Nkayi, the harsh climate compounds the problem:

Advertisement

“We focus on finding food and water first. A toilet is a luxury for many families here,” said Joseph Moyo, a farmer battling drought conditions.

Despite the struggles, communities across Matabeleland North expressed a strong desire for better sanitation, linking the lack of toilets to health risks, dignity, and children’s wellbeing.

As ZimLAC’s findings show, progress is possible — but without targeted support in the hardest-hit areas, open defecation will remain entrenched in Zimbabwe’s rural poverty landscape.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

National

Zimbabwe selected for groundbreaking HIV prevention initiative

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe has announced an exciting development in the fight against HIV: Zimbabwe has been selected as one of the ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a breakthrough in HIV prevention.

Advertisement

“Yes Zimbabwe, it’s happening!” the embassy declared, highlighting the significance of this initiative.

“For decades, we’ve fought to turn the tide against this epidemic, and each day we get closer,” the statement continued. This new treatment represents a pivotal moment in HIV prevention efforts, as it is the first twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine.

The implementation of lenacapavir is made possible through a partnership with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund. A key finding from a large-scale clinical trial shows that more than 99% of people on lenacapavir remained HIV negative. While this has the potential to save millions of lives, the Embassy emphasized that for Zimbabwe, it represents a major step toward ending new infections.

Advertisement

“But this is more than medicine—it advances us on a pathway to a safer, stronger, and healthier future!” noted the embassy’s announcement.

The initiative particularly focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women, aiming to protect the next generation. It will also work toward strengthening healthcare systems, empowering Zimbabwe to lead its own fight against HIV. Moreover, the goal of making lenacapavir more affordable and accessible ensures that no one is left behind.

The embassy highlighted, “This is American leadership at its best: driving innovation, and building a world where children, mothers, and communities can thrive.”

Advertisement

As this initiative rolls out, the message is clear: “Together, we’re not just fighting HIV—we’re winning.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage