Zimbabwe: National Assembly Debates Unpaid Care Domestic Work Bill

• A proposed **Zimbabwe Unpaid Care Domestic Work Bill**, drafted in 2024, aims to establish policies supporting women and girls who perform the majority of domestic labor.
• A motion to recognize domestic chores as essential economic labor was debated by lawmakers in the National Assembly on August 20, following its introduction late last year.
• A 2025 survey by the state-owned Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency revealed women spend 5.9 hours daily on unpaid care, domestic, and volunteer work, compared to men's 3.8 hours.
• Lawmakers agreed the government should develop a comprehensive policy, invest in infrastructure and social protection, and conduct a survey to calculate the economic value of unpaid labor.
• Advocates are pushing for government intervention through initiatives like clean cooking technologies and solar-powered boreholes to reduce the burden on women, rather than seeking salaries for domestic work.

Lawmakers agreed the government should develop a comprehensive policy on unpaid domestic labor, and put money into infrastructure and social protection programs that would help ease the workload.

Women and girls in Zimbabwe disproportionately shoulder the extensive responsibilities of unpaid domestic labor, a situation that significantly curtails their opportunities outside the home. This pervasive issue is now at the forefront of policy discussions, with new legislative efforts aiming to formally acknowledge the economic value of this often-overlooked work. Central to these efforts is the proposed **Zimbabwe Unpaid Care Domestic Work Bill**, drafted in 2024, which seeks to establish supportive policies for women and girls who bear the vast majority of these household duties.

The daily life of Cecilia Makumbe, a 43-year-old mother of four residing in Mafuke village near Mutare, vividly illustrates this challenge. Before commencing her custom-sewing business, she dedicates her mornings to household chores, including cleaning, laundry, fetching water, and gardening. This demanding routine leaves her exhausted even before her paid work begins. Her village faces resource scarcity, compelling her to walk nearly a kilometer to a shallow well for water, as the nearest community borehole is twice that distance. Makumbe’s experience mirrors that of many Zimbabwean women who find their time and potential constrained by the demands of unpaid labor.

In response to these realities, a significant parliamentary push is underway. A motion advocating for the formal recognition of domestic chores, such as cooking and cleaning, as essential economic labor was initially introduced in parliament late last year. This motion recently underwent a thorough debate by legislators in the National Assembly, signaling a renewed focus on addressing this critical societal issue.

The disproportionate allocation of unpaid domestic labor is not merely a private household concern but carries profound economic, social, and political ramifications, according to Sizalokuhle Ncube, a communications manager at the Women's Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence, an organization actively lobbying for this cause. Women in Zimbabwe are primarily responsible for a wide array of essential household tasks, including cooking, cleaning, childcare, caring for older persons and individuals with disabilities, and collecting water.

Statistical data underscores this imbalance: a 2025 survey conducted by the state-owned Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency revealed that women spend approximately 5.9 hours daily on unpaid care, domestic, and volunteer work. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 3.8 hours men dedicate to similar activities. Ncube emphasizes that this substantial unpaid workload directly limits women's available time, restricts their economic opportunities, and impedes their participation in public life and political leadership.

Cecilia Makumbe's personal journey further exemplifies these constraints. Despite completing a six-month sewing course, she was unable to pursue further educational or professional development due to the immediate childcare responsibilities that arose after her marriage, coupled with her inability to afford external childcare services. Her situation highlights how the lack of support for domestic and care work can directly obstruct women's advancement and economic independence.

The **Zimbabwe National Assembly domestic work debate** on August 20 saw lawmakers discussing the motion to acknowledge domestic and unpaid care work as a vital component of national development. During this session, legislators reached a consensus that the government should formulate a comprehensive policy specifically addressing unpaid domestic labor. Furthermore, they agreed on the necessity of allocating financial resources towards infrastructure development and social protection programs designed to alleviate the workload currently borne by women.

In a move to formally recognize **Zimbabwe women's economic contribution**, lawmakers also called for a national survey to accurately calculate the economic value of such labor and its overall contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product. Senator Maybe Mbowa, who chairs the Zimbabwe Women's Parliamentary Caucus, clarified that the proponents of this motion are not seeking salaries for domestic work. Instead, their primary objective is to secure concrete governmental interventions that will make household chores safer and less time-consuming.

Specifically, advocates are pushing for the introduction of clean cooking initiatives, such as gas and solar-powered boreholes, particularly in rural areas. These measures aim to significantly reduce the time women spend on arduous tasks like fetching water and firewood, thereby lessening their daily burden and freeing up valuable time for other pursuits.

The vision articulated by Senator Mbowa extends beyond immediate relief, emphasizing the transformative potential of a **Zimbabwe gender-responsive budget policy**. She posits that by addressing women's specific needs through such a budget, the time saved from domestic duties could be strategically redirected by women towards activities that contribute directly to the national economy. This approach aims to empower women to become more active participants in economic development.

Encouragingly, the government is already engaged in initiatives that align with these proposed solutions. In collaboration with various international humanitarian organizations, efforts are underway to promote clean cookstoves and install solar-powered boreholes in rural communities. These ongoing projects are a step towards fulfilling the broader objectives of the proposed **Zimbabwe domestic labour recognition law** and related policies, which seek to support and value the essential, yet often invisible, contributions of women and girls to the nation's well-being and economic fabric.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Zimbabwe should monitor the progress of the proposed Unpaid Care and Domestic Work Bill and related policy developments. This initiative signals a potential shift in how domestic labor is valued economically and could lead to new social protection programs or legal frameworks impacting family law, labor rights, and gender equality policies.

Source: Original reporting via RFI