Zimbabwe Parliament Grills Health Ministry Over Fees Pregnant Women Are Allegedly Paying
Concerns over maternity charges have sparked a debate in Zimbabwe’s Parliament, with MPs questioning whether the Government’s free maternity policy is reaching women at clinics and hospitals. The issue was raised on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, amid claims that some expectant mothers are still being asked to pay for services.
MPs Question Reported Maternity Fees
VicFallsLive reports that Zivai Mhetu asked the Ministry of Health and Child Care what it was doing to prevent women from avoiding health facilities because they could not afford maternity-related costs.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini said pregnant women should not pay to register their pregnancies and that Government was working with local authorities to remove delivery fees at council facilities.
Mhetu, however, said research he had conducted suggested some rural facilities were charging US$10 (about R160), while some urban facilities allegedly demanded US$20 (about R320).
MP Lynette Karenyi Kore also raised concerns over reported caesarean section costs, citing US$150 (about R2,402). She said such charges could create difficulties for women requiring maternity care.
Government Repeats Free Maternity Policy
Kwidini maintained that medically necessary maternity services, including caesarean sections, should be provided without charge.
He also said women transferred between hospitals because of complications should not be charged.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged transport as another challenge, saying Government was working with the Ministry of Finance to address cases where pregnant women were expected to cover fuel costs to reach health facilities.
He urged people who encounter facilities allegedly charging pregnant women to report them to the Ministry for investigation.
The post Zimbabwe’s “Free” Maternity Care Under Fire As MPs Reveal What Women Are Allegedly Paying appeared first on iHarare News.
