Civil society organisations have renewed pressure on government to formalise the employment of Village Health Workers, warning that prolonged delays in placing them on the public payroll are undermining frontline healthcare delivery and community health outcomes.
The Community Working Group on Health said VHWs remain the backbone of primary healthcare, particularly in rural and low-income communities where clinics are understaffed and access to professional health workers is limited.
“Village health workers are the backbone of community healthcare,” CWGH said, urging authorities to move beyond policy commitments and deliver concrete implementation.
The group called on government to honour its pledge to formally absorb VHWs into the public wage bill, arguing that continued reliance on allowances and irregular support erodes motivation, weakens accountability and disrupts service continuity.
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“We urge the government to honour its promise to include VHWs in the payroll and to swiftly fulfil this commitment, recognising their vital role in saving lives and building healthier communities,” CWGH said in an appeal that tagged Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Village Health Workers play a critical role in disease surveillance, maternal and child health services, immunisation follow-ups and health education, often serving as the first—and sometimes only—point of contact between communities and the health system.
Despite this central role, many continue to operate without formal contracts, stable incomes or access to social protection.
The renewed call comes amid broader concerns over health sector financing and workforce retention, as inflationary pressures and fiscal constraints continue to strain service delivery at community level.
CWGH warned that failure to institutionalise VHWs risks weakening Zimbabwe’s preventive healthcare system, pushing avoidable health burdens back onto already overstretched clinics and hospitals.
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