More than 6,100 babies, 563 mothers died in Zimbabwe during 2025

More than 6,100 babies died within the neonatal period in Zimbabwe during 2025, while 563 women lost their lives from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, exposing persistent weaknesses in maternal and neonatal healthcare despite government efforts to improve outcomes.

Figures presented in Parliament by Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora showed that out of 410,051 deliveries recorded nationwide in 2025, the country registered 6,177 neonatal deaths and 563 maternal deaths.

Harare Metropolitan Province recorded the highest burden, with 84,756 deliveries, 2,205 neonatal deaths and 190 maternal deaths.

Midlands Province recorded 46,770 deliveries, 741 neonatal deaths and 78 maternal deaths, while Bulawayo had 20,649 deliveries, 624 neonatal deaths and 61 maternal deaths.

Mashonaland West recorded 54,283 deliveries, 594 neonatal deaths and 55 maternal deaths, Manicaland had 47,942 deliveries, 493 neonatal deaths and 53 maternal deaths, while Mashonaland Central reported 43,467 deliveries, 434 neonatal deaths and 42 maternal deaths.

Other provinces recorded: Mashonaland East (38,991 deliveries, 368 neonatal deaths, 34 maternal deaths); Masvingo (37,483 deliveries, 385 neonatal deaths, 19 maternal deaths); Matabeleland North (18,616 deliveries, 175 neonatal deaths, 15 maternal deaths); and Matabeleland South (17,094 deliveries, 158 neonatal deaths, 16 maternal deaths).

The statistics were tabled after legislators questioned the minister over the continued loss of mothers and babies during childbirth and the measures being taken to reverse the trend.

Responding to questions, Mombeshora said birth asphyxia, where a baby is deprived of oxygen during delivery after becoming trapped in the birth canal, remains the leading cause of neonatal deaths.

He said neonatal infections were the second leading cause, adding that failures in resuscitating newborns immediately after birth had contributed to preventable fatalities.

“In most cases, the resuscitation part of it, when the neonate is born, has been lacking,” Mombeshora told Parliament.

He said government was introducing neonatal resuscitation equipment to clear secretions from newborns’ airways and reduce deaths caused by birth complications and infections.

On maternal mortality, Mombeshora identified postpartum haemorrhage as the leading cause of death, followed by infections. He said many women arrive at health institutions too late after complications have developed, reducing the chances of saving both mother and child.

“I think infections and birth asphyxia in neonates and then postpartum hemorrhage and infections for the mothers are the major causes.

“In most cases, the mother can be saved through a caesarean section… it may be too late to save the neonates,” he said.

The minister said government had expanded the number of health facilities capable of performing caesarean sections and was implementing a three-pronged strategy focusing on improving health infrastructure and equipment, strengthening the health workforce, and enhancing referral systems.

Opposition legislator Lynette Karenyi-Kore questioned whether financial barriers were contributing to maternal and newborn deaths, saying many women reportedly fail to access emergency caesarean sections because they cannot afford the costs.

“Many expecting mothers report that they are being asked to pay for a caesarean section. Some cannot afford these costs, which results in a delay in receiving the care they need,” she stated.

Mombeshora acknowledged that affordability remained a challenge.

“At times access is indeed difficult because of financial constraints,” he said.

He said government was finalising legislation to establish a National Healthcare Provision Programme, which would provide free healthcare for every Zimbabwean citizen and resident once enacted, reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses that delay access to life-saving treatment.

Parliament also heard concerns over the declining role of traditional birth attendants, with some legislators arguing that they had historically helped reduce maternal and newborn deaths in remote communities.

Mombeshora said government was no longer prioritising the training of traditional birth attendants, describing them as a temporary measure. Instead, he said the focus had shifted to training professional midwives and strengthening scientifically based maternity services.

The debate exposed the scale of Zimbabwe’s maternal and neonatal health challenge, with 6,177 babies and 563 mothers dying in a single year, prompting renewed scrutiny of emergency obstetric care, referral systems, staffing shortages and the affordability of life-saving maternal health services.

The Zimbabwean government has been constantly criticised for failing to prioritise healthcare system.

Analysing the 2026 National Budget in December last year, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) said that although the government met the Abuja Declaration target by allocating 15% of the budget (ZiG30.4 billion) to the health sector, the funding was still inadequate to address Zimbabwe’s growing healthcare needs and improve access to quality primary healthcare services.

The organisation said many communities, particularly in rural and resettlement areas, still lacked accessible clinics, forcing residents to travel long distances for basic health services and undermining progress towards universal health coverage.

CWGH also questioned the government’s spending priorities, noting that the security sector received ZiG46.88 billion, significantly more than the health sector.

It further highlighted that 46% of the health budget was absorbed by employment costs, leaving limited resources for expanding services, while only 0.5% was allocated to biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing and related programmes critical to reducing reliance on imported medicines.