The Public Service Commission has introduced a policy allowing breastfeeding public servants with children up to two years to travel with their babies and a minder on approved official trips within Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has commended the move as a step toward gender equality.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has commended the Public Service Commission (PSC) for introducing a policy allowing breastfeeding public servants to travel with their babies and a minder on approved official trips within Zimbabwe.
The policy, issued on 23 October 2026, is aimed at addressing challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers who have to balance their professional responsibilities with childcare while carrying out official duties.
Under the new arrangements, eligible public servants with children aged up to two years will be allowed to travel with their babies and a minder when undertaking approved official trips. The policy also provides for the relevant Ministry to cover the minder’s transport, meals and accommodation costs, subject to established approval procedures and available budget provisions.
The introduction of the policy has been welcomed by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, which said the measure recognises the needs of breastfeeding mothers in the public service and supports the creation of family-friendly workplaces.
The Commission said the policy gives practical effect to constitutional provisions on gender equality and the protection of women’s rights.
Among the provisions highlighted is Section 17 of the Constitution, which requires the State to promote gender balance and ensure women’s full participation in all spheres of life.
The Commission also referred to Section 56, which guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination, including discrimination based on sex and gender.
Section 80, which provides for the rights of women, was also cited as an important constitutional provision. It guarantees women equal dignity and opportunities with men in political, economic and social activities.
Under the policy, public servants seeking to benefit from the arrangement must submit a written request accompanied by supporting documentation. The request will be subject to the relevant approval procedures before the official trip takes place.
The policy also sets requirements for the person accompanying the baby. A minder must be at least 18 years old, while the relevant Ministry will be responsible for meeting the approved travel-related expenses.
However, the payment of these expenses remains subject to established administrative procedures and budgetary provisions. This means that requests must follow the required approval process before the arrangements can be made.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has encouraged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that the policy is properly communicated and implemented so that eligible employees are aware of the provisions and can access them.
The Commission also called for continued reviews of workplace policies to strengthen support for breastfeeding mothers and improve work-life balance within the public service.
In its statement, the ZGC specifically commended the Public Service Commission for responding promptly to its advisory on the matter. It said the PSC had prioritised the issue as an urgent gender equality concern, particularly in addressing the challenges experienced by breastfeeding mothers working in the public sector.
The development places attention on the practical difficulties faced by women who are required to undertake work-related travel while caring for young children. The new arrangements provide an option for eligible mothers to continue breastfeeding while meeting their official work responsibilities.
The Commission said it remained committed to promoting and protecting gender equality in line with its constitutional mandate under Section 246 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The policy is expected to provide an administrative framework for supporting breastfeeding public servants during approved domestic work trips, while requiring Ministries and government departments to follow the relevant procedures when considering applications.
Its effective implementation will depend on how well government institutions communicate the requirements, process requests and make provision for the associated costs within their budgets.
