The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) is facing a severe operational crisis after receiving no government operational funding for three consecutive years, a situation its leadership says is crippling service delivery across the country.
ZNFPC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Farai Machinga, revealed that the organisation is operating without critical resources, including service vehicles, while funding allocations have steadily declined to zero.
“We don’t have service vehicles as Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council. With regards to the operation grants, in 2025 we received ZiG 0 for the whole year. In 2024 we received ZiG100,000 to share for all 10 provinces. In 2026, we haven’t received anything since January to date,” said Dr Machinga.
ZNFPC is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament and operates under the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with a national mandate to coordinate and provide family planning and reproductive health services. Its work is anchored in Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to health care services, including reproductive health. The institution plays a central role in advancing national public health goals, particularly in reducing maternal mortality, preventing unintended pregnancies, and promoting population and development outcomes.
Over the years, ZNFPC has implemented a wide range of programmes that include the provision of contraceptives, sexual and reproductive health education, adolescent and youth-friendly services, and the integration of HIV and AIDS interventions within reproductive health care. The council also supports safe motherhood initiatives and works closely with government and development partners to implement the National Family Planning Strategy, which seeks to expand access to modern contraceptives and improve reproductive health outcomes across the country.
However, the absence of operational funding is now threatening the sustainability of these programmes, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where outreach services depend on transport and logistical support. Without vehicles and adequate resources, field teams are struggling to deliver essential services, raising concerns about increased unmet need for family planning, rising cases of teenage pregnancies, and potential setbacks in maternal health gains.
The funding crisis comes at a time when demand for reproductive health services remains high, especially among young people and vulnerable communities. Health sector observers warn that continued underfunding could reverse progress made over decades in Zimbabwe’s family planning and public health systems. There are growing calls for urgent intervention to ensure that ZNFPC is adequately resourced to fulfil its constitutional mandate and continue safeguarding the reproductive health rights of Zimbabweans.
