HARARE (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Health and Child Care has initiated the long-awaited review of Zimbabwe’s Mental Health Act, creating a significant opportunity for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to influence the future of mental health services in the country.
This was revealed by Fabian Musoro, National Manager in the Mental Health Department in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, during the Annual National Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) Learning and Sharing Event held on Thursday.
The event, convened under the theme “Stories That Spark Action: Learning, Connecting and Leading Change,” was organized by the Zimbabwe National Association for Mental Health (ZIMNAMH) in partnership with other stakeholders.
It brought together OPDs from across the country, civil society actors and representatives from various government ministries.
Addressing delegates, Musoro said engagements with OPDs had already begun influencing internal reflections within the ministry.
“I have learned a lot from these engagements,” he said. “When I went back to provide feedback to my superiors, we reflected on how we can better interpret and integrate the work of OPDs within the ministry’s framework, particularly on issues to do with mental health.”
Musoro announced that the ministry has formally initiated the process to review the Mental Health Act.
He added that permission has been granted by the Minister of Health and Child Care, and the ministry is now mobilizing internal funding to support the process.
He explained that the next stage will involve developing guiding principles for the new framework.
Once crafted, these principles will be submitted to Cabinet for approval before further legislative steps are taken.
“We have already done significant groundwork in preparation for this review,” he said. “This is an opportunity for everyone to come on board and ensure that the issues affecting OPDs are embedded within the strategic agenda of the ministry.”
Musoro disclosed that the ministry plans to host two major stakeholder meetings—one in the southern region and another in the northern region —to gather input on the review of the Act.
More than 400 organisations and stakeholders are expected to be invited to contribute to what he described as a critical consultation process.
“This will be the time to air your views and ensure that the issues you want addressed are discussed,” he said. “There will not be another opportunity like this. This is our moment to come together and decide the course we desire for mental health services in our country. No one should be left behind.”
He assured participants that OPDs would not be excluded from the engagement process.
“There will be no moment where I can say I forgot about OPDs,” Musoro emphasised. “Your work is important, and your voice must be part of shaping the future of mental health services in Zimbabwe.”
In response, Ignacious Murambidzi, National Coordinator of ZIMNAMH, welcomed the government’s move and commended the Department of Mental Health for embracing a participatory process.
“My word of gratitude goes to the Government of Zimbabwe and the Department of Mental Health for taking this initiative. This is something we have been looking forward to over the years, and we are very glad that our call and the government’s efforts are now aligning,” he said.
Murambidzi said what stood out most was the commitment to hearing directly from persons with lived experience.
“In the past, laws and policies, especially those affecting persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, were crafted without opening the platform to people with lived experience. There was an assumption that they may not fully understand the issues,” he noted.
“But today we have heard clearly that government wants to listen to us — to hear our aspirations, our views, and what we want in terms of both policy and services.”
He described the review
as a landmark opportunity to shape a rights-based mental health framework and pledged the organisation’s full participation.
“We are very grateful for opening that space for us to input into this landmark policy for mental health in the country. We are available and ready to participate meaningfully in the process,” Murambidzi said.
The learning and sharing event, a two day program , provides a platform for disability organisations to exchange experiences, highlight challenges and propose solutions aimed at strengthening inclusion and service delivery.
The review of the Mental Health Act is expected to align Zimbabwe’s mental health framework with contemporary human rights standards and ensure that persons with psychosocial disabilities are meaningfully included in policy and service reforms.
New Ziana