As observed during our Sexual Reproductive Health Rights activities in Matabeleland South, pregnant women are faced with different challenges that include and are not limited to the lack of health infrastructure, lack of services like clean water and sanitation, lack of transportation, unavailability of essential medicines and the lack of community support as most community elders are strong believers of traditional ways of taking care of pregnancies. The raping of two pregnant women at a hospital`s maternity home by two men in Matobo District last week serves as evidence of CYDT findings in relation to the plight of pregnant women in the province. As published by the Sunday News (https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/rapists-sneak-into-maternity-home-rape-two-pregnant-women/), the victims were in Maphisa District Hospital maternity waiting room, which usually houses eight-month pregnant women to help those who live far away from walking long distances considering the prevailing economic conditions in which pregnant women cannot meet the travel costs to use transport to access a nearby clinic.

The organisation is saddened by the continued lack of health facilities in Matobo District and other provincial districts which has a direct effect on expecting mothers as they cannot afford to walk over 15km to and from the nearest clinic. The way in which the two men accessed the health facility (through a window) also exposes the limited protection of pregnant women since this is not the first time in which they are a target of sexual abuse at local hospitals. For instance, three weeks ago, pregnant women were attacked by a knife-wielding man in Manama Mission Hospital who eventually kidnapped one of them for three hours (https://cite.org.zw/pregnant-woman-abducted-assaulted-in-three-hour-ordeal/). All this raises concerns over the limited security and protection of pregnant women in local hospitals despite the increase of these rape cases.

In light of the latest abuse of expecting women in Maphisa District Hospital and Manama Mission Hospital, CYDT demands, as enshrined in the Zimbabwe Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 76 which states that every citizen of Zimbabwe has the right to sexual health care services, and in tandem with Sustainable Development Goals Number 3, 4, 10 and 16 (Good Health and Wellbeing, Gender equality, Reduced Inequalities, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):

• The strengthening of security services and measures in local hospitals which will enhance the security and protection of pregnant women.
• The building of enough health centres at local level to prevent expecting mothers walking long distances which usually increases chances of being sexually abused along the way.
• The availability of all range of SRHR services in all health facilities which will ensure that expecting mothers have access to all essential medicines. 
• While the police have confirmed these cases of rape in Matobo District, we demand thoroughly investigations by the police and other relevant authorities to bring the rapists to justice which will bring peace and closure for the rape victims.

While it is clear that pregnant women are faced with various challenges in Matabeleland South, it is imperative to appreciate the work being done by the few existing local health centres that have created facilities for housing pregnant women who are close to delivering their babies for instance Maphisa District Hospital and Manama Mission Hospital. More support is needed for these hospitals so they can develop and renovate its facilities for better service delivery.