Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is finalising a maternity protection scheme designed to provide income support and social security cover for women with no formal protection during pregnancy and childbirth.
The initiative, which is at an advanced stage of approval, is expected to plug a long-standing gap in Zimbabwe’s social protection system where thousands of self-employed women lose income during maternity periods due to a lack of structured benefits.
NSSA general manager Dr Charles Shava said the scheme is part of efforts to expand coverage to previously excluded groups, with a special focus on women working in the informal sector.
The scheme will also modernise Zimbabwe’s social security architecture and align it with inclusive development goals under Vision 2030.
“The Authority envisions a future where all workers, regardless of sector or income level, have access to meaningful social protection that promotes dignity, security and social inclusion,” said Dr Shava.
The maternity scheme, Dr Shava said, is being developed alongside the broader informal sector social security framework that targets more than three million workers currently outside pension systems.
Women make up a significant proportion of Zimbabwe’s sector economy, with some working as vendors, cross-border traders, small-scale farmers and home-based entrepreneurs.
They operate with no maternity leave, maternity income support or health-related financial cushioning beyond basic healthcare access.
Under the envisaged scheme, NSSA says it will design a flexible contribution and benefit structure that accommodates the irregular income earned through informal work.
Dr Shava said the Authority is currently conducting research, stakeholder consultations and actuarial modelling to ensure the scheme will be accessible and financially sustainable.
“The envisaged scheme seeks to provide accessible and flexible social security solutions that cater for workers in the informal economy, such as self-employed individuals, small-scale traders, cross-border traders and other previously excluded groups,” he said.
The maternity protection scheme is expected to provide income-replacement support during pregnancy and postnatal recovery, helping to reduce the economic pressure faced by women who often return to work prematurely due to financial constraints.
Social protection experts say maternity insecurity remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities facing women in the informal economy, where absence from work directly translates to loss of income.
The proposed intervention is also expected to contribute to improved maternal health outcomes by reducing the need for pregnant women to continue working under physically demanding conditions late into pregnancy.
Dr Shava said the authority is also pursuing digital transformation initiatives to improve access to services and simplify registration and claims processes for informal workers.
