People Hail Move to Scrap Duty on Women’s Sanitary Products

By Candice Chikende

Harare – A cross section of female activists and stakeholders in the health sector have welcomed the government’s plans to remove customs duty on sanitary pads, saying the move would improve access to menstrual products.

There have been growing calls for the government to scrap the taxes levied on menstrual hygiene products which are regarded as a basic necessity that safeguards the health and dignity of girls and women.

In one of the pre-budget seminars, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said that the 2019 National Budget would address the cost of sanitary products and removal of attendant duty.

Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe Executive Director, Theresa Nyava, who spoke to VoteWatch263 on the same issue recently, said while the move by the government was a step in the right direction, only the budget announcement would make it possible.

“What we have received so far from the policymakers is a commitment to lower the price of sanitary products and scrap duty on their importation. This is a step in the right direction, although we now have to wait for the actual measures to be pronounced in the 2019 budget,” said Theresa Nyava.

Added Nyava, “What we are looking for is a sustainable and effective solution to the menstrual challenges facing women. A sizable number of women currently suffer from reproductive infections which are linked to poor menstrual hygiene, including complications in pregnancy and giving birth. So, we really are looking for a solution that leaves no woman or girl behind”.

Chipiwa Makuvire, who works in the health sector, also weighed in saying that the pledge by the government would improve access to menstrual products and help enhance the health and welfare of women and girls.

Many female students from poor families miss several days of school every month because they cannot afford to buy sanitary pads.