Media Centre - Zimbabwe

Government Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to shift from institutional child care towards family and community-based systems, revealing that more than 95 percent of children without parental care are already being supported within extended family structures across the country.

Speaking at the Regional Conference on Family Based Care and Placement held in Livingstone, Zambia on Wednesday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister, Mercy Dinha said Zimbabwe is implementing structured reforms aimed at deinstitutionalising child care and strengthening family support systems.

Dinha said Zimbabwe has approximately 7.1 million children, including 562,872 orphans, with around 4,500 children currently in residential care institutions and 660 in formal foster care arrangements.

She said the majority of vulnerable children continue to rely on kinship care systems, reflecting the enduring importance of traditional African family structures.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that Zimbabwe’s alternative care reforms are anchored in Section 81 of the Constitution, which guarantees every child the right to family or parental care, while the Children’s Act promotes family preservation and early intervention measures to prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families.

She also told delegates that residential care institutions are now expected to provide only temporary support as authorities prioritise family reunification and family-type care models that promote children’s wellbeing and dignity.

According to Dinha, the reforms are being implemented through the National Policy for the Care and Protection of Children Without Parental Care, which prioritises family and community-based care under a six-tier safety net system. The policy is also informed by the African Union’s 2023 Continental Study on Children without Parental Care in Africa.

Zimbabwe is also implementing the National Action Plan for Children IV, which seeks to prevent family separation through strengthened social services, economic support systems, and community-based interventions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the country’s National Development Strategy 2.

Dinha said partnerships between government and child welfare organisations were already producing “tangible results” through programmes aimed at reintegrating children from institutional care into kinship and foster care environments. She cited a joint initiative between the Government of Zimbabwe and SOS Children's Villages that has helped strengthen gatekeeping systems and support safe community reintegration for children leaving institutions.

She added that authorities had significantly reduced new admissions into institutions except for the “most deserving cases,” while expanding parenting support, counselling services, foster care grants, education assistance, and economic strengthening programmes to support vulnerable families and reduce child separation.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted the growing role of digital systems in child protection, saying the National Case Management Information System was improving case tracking, accountability, and evidence-based decision making within the sector.

Despite progress, Dinha acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by children transitioning out of institutional care, warning that weakening kinship ties and the erosion of traditional Ubuntu support systems were complicating reintegration efforts.

She said Zimbabwe was currently developing an inclusive National After Care Policy designed to support children leaving care institutions as they transition into adulthood, including children with disabilities. Once completed, the framework is expected to position Zimbabwe among the pioneering African countries with a comprehensive after-care support policy.

Dinha said investing in family-based care was not only beneficial for children’s development but also more cost-effective than institutional care, reducing long-term dependence on state support systems. She urged African governments and child protection stakeholders to strengthen regional cooperation and continue sharing experiences to ensure that “no child in Africa is left behind.”

Police in Gweru have launched a manhunt for suspects travelling in a Ford Everest who are allegedly passing counterfeit US currency across the city.

The alert was issued last Sunday by the ZRP Gweru District Community Relations Liaison Office. It follows a report that the group defrauded a retail shop in the Athlone suburb at about 6 pm on 26 April.

Police said the suspects are using a mid-size seven-seater SUV with registration number AHH 0950. They were last seen passing fake US$100 notes.

Residents, especially business owners and cashiers, have been urged to take extra care when handling high-denomination notes from unknown sources.

The public is advised to check bills for standard security features such as watermarks, embedded security threads and colour-shifting ink.

Anyone approached with suspicious currency or who sees the vehicle should report to the nearest police station immediately.

Information linked to the investigation can be given to the police on 0773 643 249 or 0712 040 179.

Residents have also been asked to share the warning widely to help prevent further financial losses in the district.

The High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division) has moved to freeze the assets and ground the private jet of controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, as his divorce battle with estranged wife Sonja Madzikanda intensifies.

​In a ruling delivered on April 23, 2026, Madam Justice Teffo J granted an order reviving an interim anti-dissipation order originally issued in January 2026. The order effectively bars Chivhayo from transferring or disposing of significant assets—including a luxury private jet—pending the finalization of the couple’s matrimonial dispute.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has elevated his son, Sean Mnangagwa, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army, a move that has triggered widespread debate and criticism.

The promotion was announced by state media on Wednesday and places Sean Mnangagwa among nine officers advanced to the rank, which is considered one of the senior levels within the army hierarchy.

Sean Mnangagwa previously held the rank of Major and currently serves in the Presidential Guard, the elite unit responsible for protecting the head of state. He has also recently been part of President Mnangagwa’s personal security team.

The development comes at a politically sensitive time as Zimbabwe continues to witness internal discussions around succession within the ruling establishment, alongside debate over possible constitutional changes that could extend President Mnangagwa’s tenure.

*Mixed reactions on social media*

The promotion has sparked divided reactions on social media, with some critics questioning whether family connections played a role in the military advancement.

Some commentators argued that such promotions risk damaging public confidence in the professionalism and independence of state institutions. Others claimed the move could be seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen control over key security structures during a period of political uncertainty.

However, some voices defended the promotion, saying family ties alone should not disqualify someone from career progression. Supporters described the backlash as politically motivated and congratulated Sean Mnangagwa on his appointment.

The development has once again placed issues of leadership succession, governance and institutional credibility at the centre of Zimbabwe’s political conversation.

🚨 URGENT MEDIA INVITATION 🚨

All media houses, journalists, editors, sports reporters, digital platforms, radio stations, television networks, and content creators are urgently invited to attend a crucial Press Conference hosted by ZIMSPORTS4ED.

📢 Key Issues to be Addressed:
✅ Consolidation of impact through successful sporting events
✅ Official response to false leadership claims
✅ Future direction of ZIMSPORTS4ED initiatives

🎙️ Addressed By:
Gabriel Togarepi
(Zim_Sport_Dvpt for Ed National Chairperson)

📅 Date: Tuesday, 28 April 2026
⏰ Time: 1130hrs
📍 Venue: Media Centre
2nd Floor, Bothwell House
Corner 1st Street & Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare

📸 Your presence and coverage are highly valued as important announcements affecting the sporting and educational sector will be made.

📞 For inquiries and confirmations, please contact organizers immediately.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), says Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 7.5% in 2025, faster than the estimated 6.6% by the government.

For 2026, the IMF projects growth of 5%, matching Government forecasts. Across the continent, the Fund sees growth easing slightly to 4.3% this year from 4.5% in 2025, warning that “risks are significant amid high global uncertainty”.

Despite rising risks, the IMF still expects growth in Zimbabwe to beat the regional average. The Fund says “Zimbabwe’s economic recovery continues”, supported by what it sees as “improving fiscal discipline”, plus growth in agriculture and mining.

The IMF has also announced a 10-month Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Zimbabwe. The SMP is a programme under which the IMF closely tracks economic policies against agreed targets, serving as a credibility signal to lenders.

Zimbabwe sees the SMP as a key step towards winning over international creditors in negotiations for debt relief.