Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe Trust

17/04/2026

Remembering Jackline Chepngeno, a 14-year-old student at Kabiangek Primary School in Kenya. On 6 September 2019, Jackline took her own life after being shamed for staining her clothes during her first period. No child should face humiliation for a natural biological process. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available and please reach out.

14/02/2026

02/01/2026

Can you relate?

30/12/2025

The mango season is upon and Baba Taku was fortunate enough to harvest a full sack for his family.

18/12/2025

Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe is concerned by the reduced budget allocation for school girls’ sanitary wear in the 2026 National Budget. According to the 2026 Estimates of Expenditure from Zimbabwe’s Treasury, the targeted number of female pupils to receive sanitary wear is 1 500 000 for the year 2026, rising from 1 450 000 in 2025. However, despite the increased targeted number of beneficiaries, Treasury has cut the sanitary wear budget by 43%, from ZiG211 million (US$7.99 million) in 2025 to ZiG120 million in 2026 (US$4.58 million). The budget cut, coming at a time when government is targeting to increase the coverage of beneficiaries, creates a mismatch between policy goals and fiscal commitment. We therefore urge Treasury to realign this allocation so that it commensurate with the expanded target of school girls. This would require a minimum resource envelope of ZiG217 million (US$8.27 million). However, we still maintain that an annual allocation of at least US$15 million would be ideal in expanding the programme’s reach and impact in fighting period poverty. Section 4(1a) of the Education Amendment Act obliges that “the State shall ensure the provision of sanitary wear and other menstrual health facilities to girls in all schools to promote menstrual health”.

18/12/2025

We commend Treasury for its clear commitment to prioritising sanitary wear for school girls in budget allocations, as stated by the Secretary of Treasury in this interview. We also kindly urge Treasury to ensure that these funds are disbursed timeously, as this has been a challenge in the past. For example, while the 2025 budget allocated ZiG211 million for schoolgirls’ sanitary wear, only ZiG16.8 million had been disbursed by 30 September 2025, according to the 2026 Blue Book. It is important to ensure that these allocations are made in time so that girls won’t miss school.

24/10/2025

On 22 October 2025, Hon Gladys Hlatywayo asked an important question in Parliament on what the government policy is regarding menstrual leave. In her response, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, said “there is no Government policy that directly addresses menstrual leave.” She added that those who suffer from serious menstrual pains take sick leave to recuperate. Minister Mutsvangwa said: “Menstruation is a natural process for any woman, it is not a disease and therefore, this does not warrant any form of leave. The challenge we have is access to affordable sanitary wear and not the natural process of menstruation.” What is your take? Meanwhile, do you know that Zambia is the only African country with a menstrual leave policy, which grants women one paid day off per month for menstruation! The leave, known as “Mother’s Day,” which was introduced in 2015, allows women to take leave without a doctor’s note and provides legal recourse if an employer denies it.

10/10/2025

Rest in peace Hon Desire Moyo. Your voice for women and girls will forever echo in our hearts.

poem against GBV based on Uzalo

09/09/2025

Supporting girls to manage their periods with dignity protects them from discrimination and unnecessary absence from daily life.