Harare – In a landmark move that could transform Zimbabwe’s economic and social landscape, Parliament has formally adopted a motion demanding comprehensive legislation to recognize, reduce and redistribute the vast burden of unpaid care and domestic work—labour overwhelmingly performed by women and girls with no recognition, reward or rest.

The motion, moved by Honourable Sibanda and seconded by Honourable Perseverance Zhou, ZANU-PF Proportional Representation Member of Parliament for the Midlands, was accepted by Speaker Jacob Mudenda after a five-day period elapsed.

It declares that Zimbabwe’s “invisible engine” remains unrecognized in national budgets and infrastructure development despite being a vital pillar of socio- economic stability.

The House expressed alarm that unpaid caregivers are neither recognized nor compensated, creating significant social and gender inequalities. Women and girls in Zimbabwe dedicate an average of 25.9 hours per week to unpaid care and domestic tasks, compared to just 6.1 hours for men.

According to the ZimStat 2025 Time Use Report—the first of its kind in Zimbabwe—females spend approximately three times longer on committed work activities than males per day, while male employment participation is 1.6 times higher.

The motion directs two government ministries to take action:

· The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare must develop comprehensive policy and legislation on unpaid care work and commission a national survey to assess its economic worth, including its contribution to GDP.
· The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion must prioritize and increase budget allocations for social protection programs, infrastructure development and social services.

Globally, unpaid care work is estimated to contribute the equivalent of 9–15% of GDP if monetized. In Zimbabwe alone, the value of unpaid care performed annually has been estimated at US$10.8 billion. The motion notes that over 75% of this work falls on women, with 63% of Zimbabwean women citing care duties as the main barrier to skills training.

Six-Year Campaign by WALPE

The parliamentary motion is the culmination of sustained lobbying by the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) and its partners.

WALPE, a national feminist women’s rights organization established in 2018, has spent the past six years spearheading research, producing academic papers, creating documentaries and conducting grassroots advocacy to raise awareness about the economic and social impact of unpaid care work.

WALPE developed a model Unpaid Care and Domestic Work Bill in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, along with a gendered devolution framework and a gender-responsive Constituency Development Fund to influence policy change.

The organization has also presented a “Dummy Budget” to the Finance Ministry urging investment in public services that recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work.

In 2024, WALPE facilitated cross-country learning visit to Kenya for Zimbabwean delegates including parliamentarians and government ministries to study Kenya’s national UCDW policy.

The organization has also engaged the private sector, partnering with Padare/Enkundleni Men’s Forum on Gender to lobby for workplace policies that address care responsibilities.

WALPE former executive director Sitabile Dewa has consistently called for reform, emphasizing the importance of valuing unpaid domestic work as a key driver of social and economic stability: “Unpaid care and domestic work falls squarely on women’s shoulders, hindering their participation in the paid economy and society. By recognising it as legitimate work, the bill acknowledges the valuable contributions women make to their families and communities”.

If the proposed bill passes, it would mark a historic shift in the country’s legislative framework, placing women’s invisible labour at the centre of national policy for the first time.