Author: Michael Gwarisa

Editor for HealthTimes, Zimbabwe's leading online health news publication

Zimbabwe Hosts 4th International Conference for Families of Missing Persons

Michael Gwarisa

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…

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Gokwe Records New Human Anthrax Cases

Michael Gwarisa

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…

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“Consult Us Before Introducing New Health Taxes,” Business Pleads With Mthuli

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s business community has warned that introducing more health levies without consulting the private sector could negatively affect business operations and undermine collaborative health financing efforts. Over the years, the government has introduced several taxes to boost domestic health financing. These include the airtime levy, the fast-food levy, and the sugar tax. While acknowledging that these levies have helped close some of the funding gaps left by departing development partners, the private sector believes the measures need better coordination and transparency. Zimbabwe Business Council Executive Director, Mr.…

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Zimbabwe makes landmark financing commitment for family planning and reproductive health

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  BOGOTÁ, Colombia, 5 November 2025 – As traditional global aid for reproductive health declines, Zimbabwe announced its own bold investment to safeguard access to family planning for women and girls nationwide. The commitment was announced at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá, Colombia, during a high-level session co-hosted by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and FP2030. Zimbabwe pledged an additional US $2.25 million yearly for the procurement of contraceptives in 2026 and 2027. “The Government of Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its commitment to the…

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Funding Cuts Push Zimbabwe to Consider Reusable Circumcision Kits

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is exploring the use of reusable circumcision kits to sustain voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services amid declining international funding and the gradual withdrawal of donor support. VMMC has been a key HIV prevention tool in Zimbabwe, credited with significantly reducing new HIV infections since the program’s launch in 2009. At its peak in 2012, the program recorded over 1.1 million circumcisions, contributing to the national goal of achieving 80% coverage among adult males and newborns. In the long term, Zimbabwe aimed to maintain around 150,000…

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Zimbabwe to Prioritise Local Funding in New HIV Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is set to begin developing its fifth Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP V), which will guide the country’s HIV response from 2026 to 2030. The forthcoming strategy follows the successful implementation of ZNASP IV, which runs until 2025 and has seen major progress in the fight against HIV. Under ZNASP IV, Zimbabwe achieved remarkable milestones, including meeting the global 95-95-95 targets — where 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95% of those…

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US Unveils $65 Million Bridge Plan to Sustain Zimbabwe’s HIV Respons

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The United States Department of State, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has unveiled a new HIV and AIDS support fund worth US$65.1 million for Zimbabwe. The initiative, known as The Bridge Plan, will run for the next six months, with renewal contingent on the Government of Zimbabwe meeting new U.S. Government (USG) funding requirements. Under the Bridge Plan, the U.S. government will continue to support critical HIV interventions such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV commodities procurement. However, the new funding excludes certain…

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Africa and Europe strengthen the AU-EU health partnership

Michael Gwarisa

Around 20 delegates from the European Union and the African Union, including 15 countries and 11 continental institutions, meet today in Pretoria to affirm action-oriented collaboration in the lead-up to the AU-EU Summit. Wednesday, November 5 – Pretoria, South Africa. Today, guided by the principles of equity, security, and resilience, African and European delegates reaffirm their wide-ranging partnership on health as part of their annual high-level steering meeting, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation ahead of the AU-EU Summit in Luanda, Angola (November 24-25, 2025) and marking the next phase in…

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Deputy Minister Kwidini Commissions Kombis for Zimbabwe Nurses Association

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has handed over five commuter minibuses to its members to enhance the coordination of its activities across various provinces. The vehicles were commissioned by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Sleiman Kwidini. Speaking to HealthTimes after the event, Hon. Kwidini said, “They were five kombis, but all in all, there must be 10 given to the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZNA) for easier coordination of the Association.” Enoch Dongo, the ZINA Secretary General, stated, “Through initiatives like this, ZINA continues to…

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Womandla Launches Vernacular SRHR Glossary

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa To break down language barriers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Zimbabwe’s Womandla Foundation has launched the country’s first-ever vernacular glossary of SRH terms. The initiative aims to make SRHR information more accessible to rural communities, helping people better understand programs and services that affect their health and well-being. Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes, Womandla Foundation Executive Director, Tadiwanashe Burukai-Matutu, said barriers relating to language were significant. At Womandla Foundation, we have always known that language is power. Being based in a rural community,…

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