The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is moving closer to rolling out a maternity protection scheme for women in the informal sector, in what is being viewed as a major breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s social security and women’s welfare systems.
The proposed programme, now in the final stages of approval, is designed to provide income support and maternity protection for thousands of self-employed and informal sector workers who currently lack financial cover during pregnancy and childbirth.
For years, many women operating outside formal employment structures have faced loss of income and economic hardship during maternity periods due to the absence of structured social protection mechanisms.
NSSA General Manager Dr Charles Shava said the scheme is undergoing the final approval processes before implementation, adding that it forms part of broader reforms aimed at expanding social security coverage to previously excluded groups.
Dr Shava said the maternity protection initiative is actively being motivated for approval by NSSA principals, with authorities viewing it as a critical intervention to strengthen financial security, dignity, and welfare support for working women.
The development comes amid increasing calls for enhanced protection for informal sector workers, who constitute a significant share of Zimbabwe’s labour force but remain largely outside conventional insurance and social benefit systems.
Once operational, the scheme is expected to ease the financial burden on vulnerable mothers, improve social inclusion, and mark a significant step towards building a more inclusive and responsive national social protection framework.
Breeze FM