Period poverty is a widespread issue in Zimbabwe that is worsened by an economic crisis. Young girls and women from underprivileged backgrounds cannot afford sanitary products, restoring to use rags as the cost of period products continues to rise.

Period poverty refers to the inability to afford pads and tampons, 72% of Zimbabweans girls do not use sanitary products as they cannot afford to purchase them and 62% of girls miss out on school every month due to lack of sanitary wear, according to the study by SNV Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is also facing a water crisis. The country's period poverty is also exacerbated by factors like lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Dzidzo Safepad, is a community-based organisation tackling period poverty in the country by bridging the gap in accessing menstrual products. The organisation has trained 500 girls to make their own reusable sanitary pads and has donated hygiene kits to girls in unprivileged communities in the country.

Dzidzo is a Shona language term which loosely translates to “education.”