Zimbabwe: Local NGO to petition Mnangwagwa on free sanitary wear
By Tafadzwa Muranganwa – A local Non-Governmental Organisation will petition President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to consider providing free sanitary wear to adolescents girls and young women in Zimbabwe.
Katswe Sistahood ‘s director Talent Jumo
Dubbed the #HappyFlow Campaign, Katswe Sistahood ‘s director Talent Jumo said the petition is for seeking free sanitary wear for girls in school from the government and appeals for a scrap on tax or reduction in the importation duties on the products.
“We are calling for Zimbabweans to sign this petition that we hand it to the President so that they can provide free sanitary wear to young women and girls who are finding difficulties in accessing it because they come from low-income communities,”she was speaking at a hand over donation of sanitary wear.
Jumo also highlighted dire the situation is for many young girls and women saying some are resorting to transactional sex to get money to access sanitary wear.
“There were very disturbing reports that were re-counted by some girls who confessed to having transactional sex in order for them to buy pads during their menstruation cycle,”added Jumo.
Some of the girls who attended the event affirmed that they were indeed facing challenges in accessing sanitary wear.
Katswe Sistahood recently launched a sanitary bank where it is calling for individuals, charity organisations and the corporate to donate sanitary wear that will be distributed to low –income communities.
The first donations at the launch of sanitary bank were made by Richard Kanyangu, the President of the Zimbabwe Unity Party and Kuzivakwashe Mujakachi both based in Canada.
The duo donated 100 reusable packs and one hundred disposable sanitary pads. The reusable packs come with a special packaging which includes 3 reusable pads, pad holder, 2 pants, sanitary soap, face towel and a zip lock bag which enables the pad to clean itself. The disposable sanitary wear lasts up to five years.
