Zim: Tax scrapped off sanitary pads

By Busi Bhebhe

Bulawayo, 9 November: Zimbabwean Sexual Reproductive Health Rights activists are celebrating a recent guarantee made by the country’s Minister of Finance Dr Mthuli Ncube to remove duty on sanitary wear.

Ncube who is expected to deliver his 2019 annual budget statement to the nation on November 22, last week pledged to ensure that duty on sanitary pads would be lifted.

The move will see prices of sanitary pads drop considerably as many women depend on imported products due to quality and cost.

Campaigns to make sanitary ware free or subsidised has grown over the years with women’s rights groups pointing out that if government can afford to provide free condoms for an act that can be avoided, then why not provide free pads for a natural cause that women and girls have no control over.

Many diseases like cervical cancer and virginal infections have been attributed to the use of unhygienic methods of padding by women and girls especially in under privileged and vulnerable circumstances.

Lately women’s organisations have been teaching women how to make reusable pads in a bid to ensure all women and girls have access to clean and safe sanitary towels. Zimbabwean Sexual Reproductive Health Rights activist are celebrating a recent guarantee made by the country’s Minister of Finance Dr Mthuli Ncube to remove all excise duty on sanitary wear.

Ncube who is expected to deliver his 2019 annual budget statement to the nation on November 22, last week pledged to ensure that duty on sanitary pads would be lifted.

The move will see prices of sanitary pads drop considerably as many women depend on imported products due to quality and cost.

Campaigns to make sanitary ware free or subsidised has grown over the years with women’s rights groups pointing out that if government can afford to provide free condoms for an act that can be avoided, then why not provide free pads for a natural cause that women and girls have no control over.

Many diseases like cervical cancer and virginal infections have been attributed to the use of unhygienic methods of padding by women and girls especially in under privileged and vulnerable circumstances.

Lately women’s organisations have been teaching women how to make reusable pads in a bid to ensure all women and girls have access to clean and safe sanitary towels.

This article was written by Busi Bhebhe of Amakhosikazi Media. It whas been published with permission from Amakhosikazi Media.