06 Aug 2026

Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to make menstrual health a national priority, with plans to develop a comprehensive Menstrual Health Management Policy that will ultimately be transformed into an Act of Parliament, as part of wider efforts to ensure every girl and woman has access to safe, quality and affordable
menstrual products.

Officially opening the Zimbabwe Menstrual Health Symposium in Harare on Wednesday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said the proposed framework would consolidate existing gains and provide a coordinated national response to menstrual health challenges.

"The formulation of a comprehensive Menstrual Health Management Policy or Framework represents the critical next phase of our agenda. We are steadfast in our resolve to eventually mature this framework into a full-fledged Act of Parliament, ensuring that menstrual health and hygiene in Zimbabwe are permanently safeguarded by the force of law," she said.

Held under the theme "Advancing Standards, Policy Reform and Market Development for Affordable Menstrual Products," the symposium brought together government, development partners, the private sector, civil society and academia to strengthen standards, improve policy and expand access to affordable menstrual products.

Mutsvangwa said menstrual health was no longer merely a health issue but one linked to dignity, education and economic empowerment.

"Menstrual health is a matter of health, dignity, education and economic empowerment for girls and women in Zimbabwe," she said, adding that strengthening quality standards would promote local manufacturing while ensuring women and girls access to safe and affordable products.

She noted that many girls and women, particularly in disadvantaged communities, continue to rely on unsafe alternatives because they cannot afford sanitary products, exposing them to infections and indignity while also affecting school attendance and economic participation.

Mutsvangwa highlighted recent interventions undertaken by Government, including the removal of Value Added Tax and import duties on menstrual products through Statutory Instrument 4 of 2020 and commitments to provide menstrual health products in schools, especially in rural and vulnerable communities.

She said her ministry was also empowering women and girls by training them to manufacture reusable sanitary pads using approved materials, while providing menstrual health education to both females and males to tackle stigma surrounding menstruation.

"Menstrual health is not solely a women's issue, it is a shared responsibility. By engaging men and boys as informed allies, we are helping to break stigma, promote understanding, and build a more supportive and inclusive society," she said.

Mutsvangwa also revealed that her ministry, working with the World Bank and UNFPA under the East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience Programme (EAGER), is developing an age-appropriate menstrual health education package for schools and communities to eliminate misinformation and stigma.

She said the symposium is expected to strengthen understanding of global menstrual health standards, promote policy dialogue, enhance national coordination, identify measures to make menstrual products more affordable and ensure the voices of girls, young women and the private sector shape future interventions.

Underscoring the urgency of the initiative, Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe's collective objective should remain unwavering.

"No girl should miss school because of her period, no woman should be forced to choose between food and menstrual products, and no girl should endure indignity, discomfort, or infection because she lacks access to safe, affordable menstrual products. This is an issue of dignity, equality, and opportunity," she said.
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