Masimba Makwembere
EXPERTS have called on companies to prioritise employee wellness and invest in mental health support systems, warning that neglecting workers’ wellbeing is negatively affecting productivity.
This comes as employees at integrated media group, Jester Media Services (JMS), yesterday received free medical check-ups provided by Suburban Medical Centre and Reign Mental Wellness & Life Coaching as part of the company’s initiative to promote better health and working conditions.
JMS publishes Zimbabwe’s most influential newspaper, the Daily News, as well as the Daily News On Sunday and the country’s number one business publication, The Financial Gazette.
It also owns and operates leading independent national television station, 3Ktv, Radio 3000 as well as popular e-newsletter Business Live and a plethora of magazines and digital assets.
Speaking on the sidelines of the JMS onsite employee wellness clinic in Harare, Reign Mental Wellness managing consultant Rumbidzai Mutendera said employers should introduce mental health programmes.
“For the longest time, we have just concentrated on the physical part of a person. When I come to work, I’m coming physically and mentally.
“When I’m not mentally okay, it affects the overall output of a company. It’s important that companies pay attention to mental health because that state determines productivity.
“If we don’t take care of that, we are essentially affecting the overall output,” said Mutendera.
She said companies should create platforms for open conversations and provide professional support.
“I hope companies start to incorporate mental health workshops because sometimes employees are not even aware of what they are going through.
“Let’s start the conversations, educate, and if possible, have a resident psychologist on campus. That would help employees seek help when things arise,” she said.
Suburban Medical Centre chief casualty officer Challenge Marange said economic pressures and workplace stress were contributing to growing mental health challenges.
“Mental health has always been there, but with economic challenges and work stress, it is difficult for people to cope. It is mainly day-to-day pressures. As Africans, especially men, we are told to be strong and not cry,” said Marange.
JMS human resources manager Vimbiso Matarise said the organisation considered employee wellness a priority.
“The reason we organised this is to ensure our employees are in good health. We recognise that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. We believe that employee wellness is not a luxury but a necessity,” said Matarise.
Modern Zimbabwean human resource trends are increasingly shifting toward “total worker health,” moving beyond basic medical aid to include psychological support.
As the 2026 economic landscape remains complex, corporate wellness programmes like the one at JMS are becoming standard benchmarks for retaining top-tier professional talent in Harare.