Village health workers to be absorbed into government payroll
Zimbabwe is transitioning 21,000 village health workers onto the government payroll to formalize rural healthcare. Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora announced that 3,500 workers are already integrated. The move replaces NGO allowances with salaries nearly three times higher, providing workers with bicycles and medical kits to ensure long-term stability.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
Government has begun the process of formally absorbing thousands of village health workers onto the national payroll in a move aimed at improving their welfare and strengthening community health services, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, has said.
Responding to a question from Elizabeth Masuku, Member of Parliament for Bubi–Umguza Constituency, in the National Assembly, Dr. Mombeshora acknowledged the critical role played by village health workers, particularly in rural communities where they assist patients and distribute medication.
Hon. Masuku had raised concern over the plight of community-based health workers who continue to provide essential services despite not receiving salaries.
In response, Dr. Mombeshora said Government had reached an agreement with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to gradually absorb village health workers into the public service so that they can begin receiving regular monthly salaries like other health professionals.
He explained that Zimbabwe has about 21 000 village health workers nationwide, with roughly 15 000 currently receiving allowances from non-governmental organisations and other partners.
However, Government has started taking responsibility for the workforce by transferring them onto the national payroll in phases.
Dr. Mombeshora revealed that Treasury authorised 5 284 new posts toward the end of last year, which were shared among various health workers. Of these, about 3 500 village health workers were successfully absorbed.
The Health Ministry has since applied for additional posts to enable the continued transition of the remaining workers into Government employment.
Dr. Mombeshora said authorities were hopeful that by the end of next year all village health workers would be fully incorporated into the Government payroll system.
He also noted that Government intends to significantly increase the remuneration of village health workers once they are fully integrated into the system.
According to the minister, the allowances previously paid to the workers would be converted into a salary structure, with the proposed earnings expected to be about three times higher than the allowances they previously received.
Dr. Mombeshora said the move was designed to ensure that village health workers receive a meaningful income that reflects the vital services they provide to communities.
Beyond financial support, the Government is also equipping village health workers with essential tools such as uniforms, bicycles and medical bags to help them carry out their duties effectively in remote areas.
The minister emphasised that while some workers are still being paid by development partners, Government’s long-term plan is to place all village health workers under a unified salary structure to eliminate disparities and ensure fairness across the system.
Village health workers play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s primary healthcare system, often serving as the first point of contact for patients in remote communities where access to clinics and hospitals is limited.
