MATABELELAND South province has been rated as having the highest number of households headed by widows and the elderly, in what can be attributed to working age groups having migrated to neighbouring South Africa and Botswana for employment opportunities.
This is revealed in the latest Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment report.
Of the sampled households, the majority of household members were females (54,4%) compared to males (45,6%).
“The average age of household heads was 46 years, which is within the economically-productive age group,” the report read.
“Matabeleland South had (34,7%) and Masvingo (27,6%), the highest proportion of households which were headed by the elderly.”
Matabeleland North is ranked third with 26,4% followed by Midlands with 20,9%, Manicaland with 18,7%, Mashonaland East (18,3%), Mashonaland Central (12,8%) and Mashonaland West (11,7%).
ZimLAC indicated that Matabeleland South had the highest number of households headed by
widows.
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“Matabeleland South (28,4%) and Matabeleland North (24,0%) had the highest proportion of household heads who were widowed,” the report further stated.
Matabeleland South is followed by Matabeleland North with 24,0%, Masvingo (22,8%), Midlands (19,5%), Manicaland (19,2%), Mashonaland East (19,0%), Mashonaland West (14,0%) and Mashonaland Central (12,1%).
It was further revealed that most household heads belonged to apostolic sects at (37,3%) while 15,4% had no religion.
The ZimLAC report also stated that Masvingo topped the list of households that have orphaned children.
“Masvingo (18,9%) and Mashonaland West (17,5%) had the highest proportion of households with orphaned children. The presence of orphans increases the burden of responsibility on the households,” the report read.
The report also noted that the proportion of households with at least one member with a chronic condition was 8,6% and the most reported chronic conditions were hypertension/high blood pressure (2,6%), and HIV and Aids (2,9%).
“The proportion of households with at least one person with any form of disability was 4,4%. Masvingo (7,2%) had the highest proportion of households with at least one person with any form of disability,” the report read.
