Author: Kuda Pembere

Eight Die as Diarrhoea Outbreak Hits Children Under Five

Kuda Pembere

By Staff Reporter Children under five are bearing the brunt of Zimbabwe’s diarrhoea outbreak, with more than half of the cases reported in the past week affecting this age group. According to the Health and Child Care Ministry’s Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the week ending September 14, 2025, the country recorded 9 705 cases of common diarrhoea and eight deaths. Of the reported cases, 5 608 (58%) were from children under five years of age,” the Ministry said. The highest number of cases came from Mashonaland West (1,751) and…

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Legal Barriers Undermine Adolescent Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere There is a misalignment in Zimbabwe’s laws that continues to negatively affect access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services by adolescents, which may help reduce the scourge of teenage and child pregnancies. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as individuals aged 10–19 years, and youth as those aged 15–24. However, legal pronouncements governing the provision of SRHS remain restrictive, often influenced by cultural and religious beliefs. This concern was raised during a media sensitization workshop on the Step Up 4 Adolescents SRH campaign. YA executive director Tatenda…

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Over 500 Graduate at Harare Institute of Public Health, Majority Women

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere More than 500 students graduated from the Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) in disciplines spanning Pharmacy, Health Technology, Public Health, Nursing, and Business, with women making up the majority of the class of 2024-2025. Last year, HIPH had 300 graduands marking a 40 percent increase to 505. Officiating at the ceremony, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira commended the graduates for their tenacity, diligence, and critical thinking. “Today, we celebrate 505 students from the School of Pharmacy,…

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Kwidini vows to fire bribe-taking nurses and tutors preying on students

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Sleiman Kwidini has issued a stern warning to nurses accused of soliciting bribes from patients, saying they risk dismissal without the benefit of a disciplinary hearing. Speaking at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Hon. Kwidini said corruption within the health sector would not be tolerated. We would like to thank you, but we have a problem with you. Shun corruption,” he said. “This issue of you nurses charging patients, soliciting bribes from patients, fraying into areas you did…

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Over 100 Nurses Graduate as Chitungwiza Central Hospital Marks 40 Years

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Over 100 nurses graduated from Chitungwiza Central Hospital (CCH) on Wednesday at a ceremony that coincided with the institution’s 40 years anniversary. The hospital, which has served the Chitungwiza community for four decades, saw 117 nurses graduate. Of these, 93 were registered general nurses (RGNs) and 24 were midwives. Officiating at the ceremony, Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Hon. Sleiman Kwidini commended the graduates’ resilience and hard work, which had shaped them into competent health professionals. Today, we celebrate graduates who have completed a rigorous programme…

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Zimbabwe Excels in Global Health Security Assessment on Immunization, Surveillance, Labs, and Emergency Response

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe received a fifty-four percent score in the second Joint External Evaluation (JEE), performing strongly in laboratory systems, surveillance, emergency response, and immunization indicators. This was revealed by Dr. Mohammed Ali Mohammed, the lead of the visiting JEE team, which spent five days in the country. So in summary you can see that thirty out of fifty-six indicators, which is fifty-four percent, attained level three and above, which indicates developed capacity,” he said. “So for this one we can commend Zimbabwe that at least we have attained…

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Zimbabwe Moves to Finalize National Health Insurance Bill Ahead of Parliament

Kuda Pembere
Minister of Health Dr. Douglas Mombeshora shares a light moment with Dr. Ron Mhizha of the Eye Institute and Chrispen Dzingirai of Old Mutual Zimbabwe during the launch of free cataract eye clinics.

By Kudakwashe Pembere Anticipating the enactment of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme by year-end, efforts to finalize the NHI Bill are on course, with Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirming it will be sent to Parliament this month. After decades of consultation and research, Zimbabwe’s proposed NHI scheme is now closer to fruition. Dr. Mombeshora told a Health Partners Coordination meeting on Friday that the much-awaited scheme will help pool resources for the health sector. We meet at a time when we are driving ambitious reforms…

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Zim’s Fast Food Tax generates nearly US$1 million

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has collected close to US$1 million in fast food tax revenue, a levy introduced by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in the 2025 National Budget presentation. Set at 0.5 percent of sales for fast foods such as pizza, burgers, French fries, and doughnuts, the tax is aimed at promoting healthy eating and curbing the rise of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mnangagwa disclosed the figures during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday. “Mr. Speaker Sir,…

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Zimbabwe Gender Commission launches Inquiry Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) on Thursday launched a national inquiry into sexual harassment in institutions of higher and tertiary education, marking the start of a long-delayed process at Harare Polytechnic College. The Ministry of Women Affairs tasked ZGC with the inquiry in 2020, but the official launch comes five years later. The exercise seeks to establish the extent of the problem in Zimbabwe’s colleges and universities, how institutions are responding to cases, and whether existing policies adequately protect students and staff. Speaking at the launch, ZGC…

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Dr Mombeshora Appoints Coordinator as EU Injects €4.3 Million into National Public Health Institute

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere As Zimbabwe moves to operationalize the National Public Health Institute (NPHI), Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora has appointed Dr. Raiva Simbi as the Ministry’s Coordinator. Dr Mombeshora made the announcement came after a courtesy call by a joint delegation from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO). “We have just had a meeting, a very important meeting, which was a courtesy call, but bringing good news to us as a country and also as Minister of Health and Child Care. Issues…

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