The launch of the Social Protection System Strengthening Programme is a key priority of the Government of Zimbabwe to support vulnerable citizens.
This is a positive move towards a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030 and is a testament to the commitment to investing in social protection to support vulnerable citizens, from the womb to the tomb.
“As such, implementing reforms meant to augment social protection systems is very key. I inform you that donors and partners have come up on this important date to complement the government in strengthening social protection systems. Whilst this support has been ongoing through technical and financial engagements, it has just been mostly bilateral, that is between the ministry and a specific partner. This partnership today shows great coordination which we hope will continue going forward,” said Hon Edgar Moyo, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in his keynote address during the launch.
He revealed that he anticipates a revised social protection policy framework to be costed to facilitate resource mobilization. He said that will enable social protection interventions to be delivered uninterruptedly for the benefit of vulnerable persons, thus doing away with negative coping mechanisms.
Tendai Mukurazhiza, the social protection expert in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare alluded to the life cycle approach by the government which starts from the infant stage to the preparatory stage, the youth, working-age adults, and older persons.
“At any point in life, even those of us here, you will need social protection – contributory or non-contributory. But whichever way, social protection is key. So we endeavor as a government to ensure that we will provide for all of us. So these are just the tools that we have that can help you see what we are providing as a government. We have cash-based transfers, we have in-kind transfers, health assistance, education assistance, school feeding, sustainable livelihood projects, support to persons with disabilities, cash or food for work, and drug and substance abuse mitigation, which has become a great menace in our country.
“Then we also work on the prevention of violence against children. Specifically for persons with disabilities, we are looking at providing them with assistive technologies, payment of their vocational training fees, empowering them through loans and grants, we have state service disability benefits, and raising awareness of our disability rights so that everyone is aware. We also have rehabilitation centers, which are run by the government, the one in Ruwa, Beatrice, and Mutare, where we are trying to ensure that we take care of the needs of persons with disabilities,” Mukurazhizha said.
HE Per Lindgarde, the Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, said for Sweden, social protection is both a human right and a powerful tool to strengthen resilience, promote inclusive growth, and reduce poverty.
“It’s not merely a safety net—it forms the foundation for economic opportunity, stability, and sustainable development. Globally, social protection programs have proven to be transformative. They’ve been powerful instruments in improving lives and empowering individuals and communities. A well-designed social protection system goes beyond providing short-term relief. It enables families to recover, rebuild, and thrive.
Evidence shows that timely cash transfers not only offer immediate support but also stimulate local economies, create new opportunities, and empower people to make decisions that improve their lives in the long run,” he said.
The Ambassador added that the impact of recurrent and severe shocks, such as last year’s protracted drought, has been devastating for vulnerable households, communities, and the national economy. Zimbabwe is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, meaning climate-related shocks will only become more frequent and intense. Building a strong and effective social protection system that can quickly be scaled up to respond to these shocks is crucial for climate adaptation and resilience.
“We commend the Zimbabwean government for its commitment to reform and strengthen its social protection efforts. We cannot emphasize enough that collaboration, a whole-of-government approach, and sustained investments are key to the success of this initiative. The multi-sectoral nature of social protection means multiple ministries, institutions, and authorities at both central and local levels need to be onboard.”
At the core of every successful social protection program is a well-functioning targeting system that ensures transfers reach those who need them most, equitably and efficiently. The government is committed to working with the World Bank and UNICEF to establish a social registry. Transparency, non-discrimination, participation, and grievance redress must be fundamental pillars of this effort.
In his address, Mr. Stefano Berti, Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Switzerland, said nothing requires more precision than designing and implementing a social protection system that is transparent, accountable, and efficiently targeted to reach those who need it most and when they need it most.
“Social protection is far more than a safety net – it is an enabler of economic participation, a pillar of stability, and a catalyst for inclusive development. Around the world, well-coordinated and government-led social protection programmes have transformed lives. Investing in social protection means investing in the dignity, resilience, and future of the Zimbabwean people,” he said.
Eneida Fernandes, the World Bank Country Manager for Zimbabwe alluded to the Zimbabwe Social Economic Transformation Fund (ZSTED), which is a product of the generous backing from Sweden, Switzerland, the UK government, as well as the State and Community Building Fund, and the World Bank that will support the ministry’s efforts, particularly in the operationalization and digitalization of the robust Zimbabwe social registry called ZISO.
ZISO will enable the government to better target, coordinate programs, and deliver social services to those who need them the most. It has the potential to inform the efficient and equitable allocation of financial resources for social programs.
The ZSTED will support the government in holding an adoption workshop where stakeholders will agree on the final version of the Harmonized Questionnaire, ensuring that all stakeholders are comfortable with the use of ZISO tools for beneficiary targeting.
Tawanda Zimhunga, the Acting Chief Director in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare, who was representing the Permanent Secretary, Simon Masanga, said the ministry has structures for providing social protection.
“At the community level, we have our childcare workers who are our eyes and ears open to identify the people who work together with the traditional leadership. We have the councillors and members of parliament, to ensure that we reach the nearest areas in the country.
“In terms of human resources, our structures again go down to the district level, but then the usual staffing of some of our social workers go to other areas. We ensure that in every district there are at least five social workers who are dealing with all social protection programs in that area.
The legal framework is there for the protection of our people – social protection. But it is now under this partnership that we want to strengthen this legal framework,” he said.
Etona Ekole, the UNICEF Representative to Zimbabwe, said for UNICEF, a strong social protection system is key to reducing poverty, improving child well-being, and improving household resilience.
“At UNICEF, we believe that social protection is much more than financial assistance. It’s really a fundamental right that empowers families and builds resilience against economic shocks and crises. We foster an inclusive society where, for us, no child is left behind. And through this program, we will need to break the vicious cycle of poverty that families and children face in the country. Today’s launch marks a critical milestone in our collective efforts to create an inclusive society where no city, no community is left behind.
“Zimbabwe faces economic downturns, climate shocks like El Niño, and rising poverty, with children at great risk of malnutrition, limited education opportunities, and poor health care. This program becomes critical to breaking that cycle. Again, as Zimbabwe closes NDS I and moves towards NDS II, and undertakes economic reforms under the debt resolution process, it is crucial to protect funding for child-related programs.,” Ekole said.
