By Cathleen Muchena
Harare – At the Menstrual Health Indaba and Awards Ceremony held on 28 May 2025, Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe stood at the podium not just as a public official, but as a woman, a mother, a community leader, and a witness to the lived realities of countless girls and women whose lives are shaped daily by their menstrual health needs.
In a heartfelt and rousing address, Clr Kadzombe championed the urgent need to shift the conversation on menstrual health from the periphery to the heart of local governance.
“I am not just here as a speaker,” she began, “but as someone whose life, and the lives of those I care for and represent, is profoundly shaped by the very issues we are here to discuss.”
The event, which brought together health advocates, NGOs, policymakers, and community leaders, highlighted not only the challenges but also the growing momentum around menstrual health advocacy in Zimbabwe.
Clr Kadzombe’s message was both passionate and practical: menstrual health is not a women’s issue—it is a human rights issue, a community issue, and most importantly, a local issue.
She painted a vivid picture of the struggles many face: a girl in Budiriro skipping school due to a lack of pads or usable toilets, a market vendor in Mbare Musika spending long hours without access to private, clean sanitation facilities.
“We talk about percentages of girls missing school,” she said. “But what about the shame they carry, the dreams they defer?”
Clr Kadzombe called on local authorities to lead the charge through tangible and transformative action. She laid out a roadmap for how municipal governments can drive change, including:
Infrastructure Development: Prioritizing clean, safe sanitation in schools, markets, and clinics.
Budget Allocation: Establishing a ‘Dignity Fund’ to ensure regular access to sanitary products for vulnerable communities.
Community Education: Breaking taboos and building awareness through grassroots campaigns involving nurses, youth leaders, and traditional elders.
Policy Enforcement: Advocating for progressive policies and sustainable sanitary waste disposal solutions.
“Local government is the bridge between national aspirations and grassroots implementation,” she declared. “We must be bold, proactive, and unwavering in our commitment.”
Her speech also spotlighted the “One Million Pads Campaign” by the City of Harare Junior Council—a youth-led initiative aimed at collecting and distributing sanitary pads to underprivileged girls across urban and rural communities.
Clr Kadzombe hailed the campaign as a shining example of youth leadership and civic action.
“This is not just a campaign,” she said, “it is a powerful beacon of what can be achieved when young minds are empowered. I call upon every leader, every organization here tonight to join us. Together, we can expand this effort and profoundly transform lives.”
Her closing remarks resonated like a clarion call across the hall: “Let us commit to making Zimbabwe a nation where every girl can attend school every single day of the month, confident and unhindered. Let menstruation be supported, not stigmatized. Let it be celebrated, not shamed.”
As the evening transitioned into celebrating champions of menstrual health, the echoes of Clr Kadzombe’s message remained in the air—a rallying cry for action, dignity, and equality.
In a nation striving for inclusivity, her words reaffirmed a simple truth: menstrual health is not a luxury—it is a right.
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