A new parenting application aimed at improving child health and early childhood development has been launched in Bulawayo, with city and health officials describing it as a significant step towards supporting caregivers.
The app, known as Rerai Umntwana, was officially unveiled at Cowdray Park Health Centre on Friday. It is designed for parents and guardians of children aged between zero and six years, offering guidance on nutrition, growth, early learning and caregiver wellbeing.
Representing the Mayor of Bulawayo, David Coltart, Ward 23 councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo said the platform reflected the growing role of digital tools in daily life.
“The launch of this application has become an extension of our daily lives,” she said. “It encourages us to remain alert to emerging challenges, especially those relating to raising children. This application is designed for caregivers of children aged zero to six years, and we believe it will become an effective tool for modern parenting.”
Ms Khumalo, who chairs the Health, Housing and Education Committee at the Bulawayo City Council, said the app could serve as a modern version of the extended family system, providing guidance and information to parents.
She added that while digital tools were helpful, they could not replace broader community responsibility.
“The application alone cannot create a conducive environment for child growth,” she said. “As a city, we call upon communities to protect children and ensure that their rights are upheld, including the fundamental right to access quality health care.”
She also highlighted infrastructure challenges in Cowdray Park, the city’s most populous suburb, saying it still lacked adequate healthcare facilities and calling on central government to complement local efforts.
Dr William Busumani, Chief Medical Officer at United Bulawayo Hospitals, urged parents to download and use the application.
“The application is basically for parents,” he said. “It provides information about child growth and development, nutrition, early learning, and caregiver well-being.”
He said the app is available on Android and Apple devices and offers age-specific content tailored to each stage of a child’s development. Once downloaded, it can be used offline.
“It is localised to the Zimbabwean context and is available in Ndebele, Shona and English,” he said. “There is no personal data collected, which means the information remains on your device. The application is available at no cost to users.”
Speaking at the launch, Beaulah Gwaze, representing the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube, said Zimbabwe was the first African country to adapt the platform into a local version.
“Recognising its value, Zimbabwe became the first African country to adopt and adapt the platform into a local version known as Rerai Umntwana,” she said, adding that the programme had previously been piloted in parts of Europe and Asia, reaching more than a million users.
She said the initiative is built around five pillars: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving, and opportunities for early learning.
Rerai Umntwana was developed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with support from UNICEF Zimbabwe and funding from the Government of Japan.
Officials say the application was created to address gaps in access to reliable information on child health and development, particularly for parents who may not easily reach health facilities. It provides practical, culturally appropriate advice aligned with Zimbabwe’s national health policies.
Authorities hope the digital platform will complement existing community-based child health programmes and help more children survive and thrive in their early years.