ZANU PF’s Deadly Legacy: The Collapse of Maternal Health in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the worst maternal mortality crises in the world, a direct result of decades of misrule and systemic collapse under ZANU PF. With a staggering 960 deaths per 100,000 live births, the situation is not just an emergency—it is a damning indictment of a failed government. The global average maternal mortality rate is three times lower, and even within Sub-Saharan Africa, where healthcare systems struggle, Zimbabwe fares far worse. The regime’s corruption, mismanagement, and disregard for human life have turned childbirth into a death sentence for many Zimbabwean women.
In January 2025 alone, at least 300 infants and 54 women lost their lives during childbirth. These are not just numbers; they represent real families torn apart by a broken health system. The primary causes of maternal deaths—pregnancy-induced hypertension, postpartum hemorrhage, puerperal sepsis, malaria, and obstructed labor—are largely preventable with a functioning healthcare system. Yet under ZANU PF’s rule, even the most basic medical interventions have become a privilege rather than a right. Worse still, HIV/AIDS-related conditions account for 25% of maternal deaths, an indication of the government’s failure to implement effective prevention and treatment programs.
One of the key factors exacerbating this crisis is the lack of access to skilled care during childbirth. Only 66% of births in Zimbabwe are attended by trained health professionals. The rest are left in the hands of traditional birth attendants, untrained relatives, or, in a shocking 3% of cases, completely unattended. These figures paint a grim picture of a healthcare system that has been bled dry by corruption, negligence, and the sheer incompetence of a regime that prioritizes political survival over human life.
In a desperate attempt to address the crisis, the government and international partners have turned to Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs), which provide temporary accommodation for high-risk pregnant women near health facilities. While these efforts are commendable, they are merely band-aid solutions to a crisis that requires structural reform. No amount of external aid can compensate for the rot within Zimbabwe’s health system—a system that has collapsed due to years of leadership failure, poor governance, and disastrous policies.
ZANU PF has reduced Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector to ruins. Hospitals lack essential drugs, medical professionals are overworked and underpaid, and expectant mothers are forced to provide their own medical supplies before they can receive treatment. This is not just a failure; it is a crime against humanity. A government that cannot protect its most vulnerable citizens—pregnant women and newborns—has no moral authority to govern.
The maternal mortality crisis is not just a tragedy; it is a political statement. It reflects the consequences of a regime that has looted state resources, prioritized the elite over the masses, and abandoned the most basic tenets of governance. Zimbabweans must recognize that every maternal death, every infant lost at birth, is another reminder of why ZANU PF must go. The time for change is long overdue, and the fight for a better Zimbabwe continues.
