SPEAKER of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, has called for regional collaboration to address existing legal gaps related to sexual and reproductive health.
Mudenda said this during the launch of the 2023 to 2026 Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Project at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden last week.
Mudenda acknowledged the progress Zimbabwe has made in advancing SRHR programmes, but highlighted that challenges remain.
“Zimbabwe has made commendable strides in advancing SRHR through legislation, budget allocations and oversight activities. There are persistent legal and policy gaps in critical areas such as gender equality, sexual and gender-based violence, early and unintended pregnancies, safe abortion and comprehensive sexuality education,” he said.
Mudenda said the launch of the SRHR project will help renew efforts across the Sadc region to address these gaps.
“The renewal of the SRHR project is opportune because it will revitalise our efforts in consummating the SRHR initiatives. We hope that the project’s sustainability will be guaranteed in Zimbabwe and within the Sadc region,” Mudenda remarked.
He called for strong collaboration between stakeholders, particularly at the parliamentary level, to address these challenges.
“Parliamentary Select Committees are called upon to actively engage with communities to gather insights into the sexual and reproductive health challenges individuals face,” he said.
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“These committees must also scrutinise health-related legislation and policies to ensure alignment with international human rights standards regarding SRHR issues.”
Sadc Parliamentary Forum secretary-general Boemo Segkoma said the focus from 2023 to 2026 will be on health financing.
“The aim is to increase revenue collection for health while moving away from foreign funding, and instead, bringing innovative means to domestic financing and strengthening health systems,” Segkoma said.
“There is need for a multi-pronged approach across sectors to elevate public health systems to meet universal health coverage standards.”
The project will also focus on unexplored areas at the parliamentary level, including promoting SRHR within democratic frameworks, addressing gender parity in climate change and advocating for renewable energy.
