BY STAFF REPORTER
Nearly one in every 11 Zimbabwean women aged between 15 and 49 has experienced sexual violence at some point in her life, while one in 20 reported suffering sexual violence in the 12 months preceding the latest national survey, according to figures reported by The Standard from the 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS).
The findings were highlighted during the launch of revised National Clinical Guidelines on the Care and Management of Survivors of Sexual Violence in Harare last week.
The updated guidelines, developed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supported by the Health Resilience Fund, aim to standardise the care and support offered to survivors across health facilities nationwide.
Officials said the revised framework seeks to improve access to services for all survivors, including persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the prevalence of sexual violence underscores the need for a coordinated national response.
“The fight against sexual violence requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” Mombeshora said.
He said healthcare services alone cannot address the full impact of sexual violence, adding that stronger collaboration is needed between health institutions, police, social welfare services, the judiciary, victim-friendly courts, schools and local authorities.
According to UNFPA, its network of seven One Stop Centres and mobile outreach teams provided assistance to 7,723 survivors during 2025, while awareness programmes reached a further 17,327 people.
The centres provide medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid and police services under one roof, reducing the burden on survivors seeking assistance.
UNFPA country representative Miranda Tabifor said the effectiveness of the revised guidelines would depend on their implementation.
“While these revised guidelines mark a significant milestone for Zimbabwe, we must remember that guidelines on paper are only as powerful as their actual implementation on the ground,” she said.
Tabifor said UNFPA would continue supporting government efforts to ensure survivors receive dignified and standardised care.
The initiative is funded through the Health Resilience Fund, a multi-donor programme supported by Britain, Ireland and the European Union.
Reports indicate that the programme has helped expand access to gender-based violence services through the One Stop Centre model, which aims to reduce barriers to healthcare, protection and justice for survivors.
Source: The Standard
