Duduzile Nyathi
Zimbabwe’s 2023-24 Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) reveals a profound intimacy crisis, with 26% of married women reporting no sexual activity during the 30 days before their interview—a stark contrast to the 57% of all women aged 15–49 who engaged in recent sexual activity.
This “bedroom drought” highlights severe emotional and physical disconnection within marriages, particularly in urban areas where economic pressures force men into exhausting work routines.
According to marriage counselors, men return home “too drained to engage,” retreating into phones or television instead of connecting with partners.”Many men are physically present but emotionally absent,” said Mkhululi Dube from Dete.
The crisis intersects with structural challenges in marital formalization. Only 9% of marriages are legally registered nationwide, dropping to 4% in rural areas, leaving women in informal unions with limited agency to address intimacy issues.
A significant age gap—women marry at a median age of 19.4 versus men at 24.9—further strains relationships over time, creating divergent needs. These dynamics disproportionately affect women: 12% are divorced or separated, double the male rate, with intimacy gaps as a key factor .
Health experts warn of escalating consequences, including mental health struggles and potential rises in infidelity. As one Bulawayo pastor cautioned: “A marriage without intimacy is like a body without a soul”.
The ZDHS data, collected by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) with support from the Government of Zimbabwe, USAID, and UNFPA, underscores an urgent need for policy interventions addressing both economic stressors and relational health .
