By Michael Gwarisa Families who live with the anguish of missing loved ones are gathering in Zimbabwe this week for the 4th International Conference for Families of Missing Persons. The event, taking place from 11 to 13 November 2025, will feature participation from Zimbabwean families supported by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s Restoring Family Links programme. The conference is hosted in a hybrid format by the International Committee of the Red Cross in collaboration with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, including the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society. It provides…
Read MoreDay: November 11, 2025
Health Services Suffer as Budget Remains Unused
By Kudakwashe Pembere As Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube prepares to present the 2026 National Budget, concerns persist over Zimbabwe’s failure to fully utilise health allocations, despite the Ministry of Health and Child Care consistently receiving less than 15 percent of the national budget. According to the 2025 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, the Health Ministry had spent only 25 percent of its allocation by mid-year, compared to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, which had already spent 116 percent of its budget. Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has…
Read MoreGokwe Records New Human Anthrax Cases
By Michael Gwarisa The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has reported new anthrax cases in both Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts over the past two weeks, raising concern over possible animal-to-human transmission. According to the MoHCC Weekly Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Report for the week ending 26 October 2025, six new anthrax cases and zero deaths were recorded. Five cases were reported in Gokwe North and one in Gokwe South. Cumulatively, 153 human anthrax cases and no deaths have been recorded this year. Anthrax is a zoonotic…
Read MoreWhy Harm Reduction Matters More in Africa
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ACTA) defines Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) as a public health strategy aimed at lowering the health risks to individuals and society associated with combustible tobacco products. This approach is based on the understanding that most harm linked to tobacco use comes from the chemicals released and inhaled when tobacco is burned. By removing the burning or smoking element, the risks from tobacco consumption are significantly reduced. ACTA further notes that THR acknowledges a critical reality: many adults who smoke and wish…
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