HARARE, Mar. 19 (NewsDay Live) — The Government of Zimbabwe is moving to institutionalise wellness across the civil service, warning that gender parity cannot be achieved while female employees face burnout and neglected health.
The remarks were delivered by Patience Zenda, Director of Finance in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, who stood in for Deputy Minister Mercy Dinha at the official opening of the Ministry’s Women’s Wellness Day in Harare.
Addressing female employees drawn from the Ministry and its parastatals—including National Social Security Authority (NSSA), NBS, TNF and Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM)—Zenda said women remain the backbone of Zimbabwe’s social protection system.
“Under the Second Republic, we are not just talking about gender parity; we are acting on it,” she said. “However, parity is meaningless if our female workforce is burnt out or neglected. Those who care for the nation must also be cared for.”
The event, organised by Director for Gender Mainstreaming, Inclusivity and Wellness R. P. Mujeni, adopted a holistic “360-degree” health approach. Partners including the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and St Thaddeus Health Centre provided on-site screenings, reproductive health services and HIV/AIDS counselling.
Zenda said the initiative aligns with a broader national shift toward preventive healthcare, urging women to prioritise their own well-being alongside professional and caregiving roles.
“When the health of women is compromised, families suffer, productivity declines, and our broader development agenda is affected,” she said.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening occupational health and safety, with a focus on gender-responsive social protection systems. The Wellness Day is expected to serve as a pilot for integrated collaboration between government departments and private health institutions to support a healthier national workforce.
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