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Pregnant women forced to pay bribes Chitungwiza Hospital
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By 7am, expectant mothers are already queueing outside the antenatal care section of Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Some hope to register pregnancies, a critical step that secures them a place to deliver at the facility. Others wait for routine check-ups.
Among them is Fortunate Chingwara, 39 weeks pregnant with her third child. With no income for months, she turned to the hospital because it is one of the few facilities where pregnancy registration is officially free. But her hopes are dashed when nurses announce that only women meeting strict conditions-such as those with previous cesarean sections or over the age of 38-will be accepted.
When registration books run out after serving only 20 women, Chingwara pleads with a nurse for help. She is told her name can be added if she pays between US$15 and US$20. Without the money, she leaves unregistered.
An undercover investigation has revealed that midwives at Chitungwiza Central Hospital routinely demand bribes of US$10 to US$25 for pregnancy registration-a service that government policy declares free.
A 2021 Transparency International Zimbabwe survey found that 74% of respondents reported being asked for bribes when accessing healthcare. Analysts warn such practices create hidden financial barriers that deepen inequality and contribute to Zimbabwe's high maternal mortality rate, currently estimated at 365 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Hospital officials deny knowledge of the practice. "We take such allegations very seriously," said Chief Medical Officer Raphael Makota. "If such concerns arise, investigations will be launched and disciplinary procedures enforced." He added that accountability and whistleblower systems were being strengthened.
But insiders paint a different picture. "Announcing that books are finished is a strategy to coerce women into paying," said a nurse who requested anonymity. "The issue is rooted in poor salaries. Some staff simply lack the motivation to work."
The corruption extends beyond pregnancy registration. "When drugs arrive from government supplies, nurses hoard them," the nurse added. "Patients are told medicines are out of stock, then referred to private sellers connected to staff."
The problem is not unique to Zimbabwe. Transparency International has found similar patterns across Africa. In Sierra Leone, despite official free maternal care programmes, 84% of women reported paying bribes for labour or delivery.
Women's rights advocate Edna Masiiwa said underfunding of health services has fuelled corruption. "Policy says maternal health is free in Zimbabwe, but free is not free," she said. "Back in the 90s, hospitals were well-resourced and corruption was unheard of. Today, women are being extorted at their most vulnerable."
*Not real name
Among them is Fortunate Chingwara, 39 weeks pregnant with her third child. With no income for months, she turned to the hospital because it is one of the few facilities where pregnancy registration is officially free. But her hopes are dashed when nurses announce that only women meeting strict conditions-such as those with previous cesarean sections or over the age of 38-will be accepted.
When registration books run out after serving only 20 women, Chingwara pleads with a nurse for help. She is told her name can be added if she pays between US$15 and US$20. Without the money, she leaves unregistered.
An undercover investigation has revealed that midwives at Chitungwiza Central Hospital routinely demand bribes of US$10 to US$25 for pregnancy registration-a service that government policy declares free.
A 2021 Transparency International Zimbabwe survey found that 74% of respondents reported being asked for bribes when accessing healthcare. Analysts warn such practices create hidden financial barriers that deepen inequality and contribute to Zimbabwe's high maternal mortality rate, currently estimated at 365 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Hospital officials deny knowledge of the practice. "We take such allegations very seriously," said Chief Medical Officer Raphael Makota. "If such concerns arise, investigations will be launched and disciplinary procedures enforced." He added that accountability and whistleblower systems were being strengthened.
But insiders paint a different picture. "Announcing that books are finished is a strategy to coerce women into paying," said a nurse who requested anonymity. "The issue is rooted in poor salaries. Some staff simply lack the motivation to work."
The corruption extends beyond pregnancy registration. "When drugs arrive from government supplies, nurses hoard them," the nurse added. "Patients are told medicines are out of stock, then referred to private sellers connected to staff."
The problem is not unique to Zimbabwe. Transparency International has found similar patterns across Africa. In Sierra Leone, despite official free maternal care programmes, 84% of women reported paying bribes for labour or delivery.
Women's rights advocate Edna Masiiwa said underfunding of health services has fuelled corruption. "Policy says maternal health is free in Zimbabwe, but free is not free," she said. "Back in the 90s, hospitals were well-resourced and corruption was unheard of. Today, women are being extorted at their most vulnerable."
*Not real name
Source - The Standard
