By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector is buckling under the weight of multiple systemic challenges, ranging from excessive regulation and porous borders enabling black market medicine sales, to the underutilisation of qualified professionals in public health facilities.
Speaking at the third annual Community Pharmacists Association and Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association Conference, Mr. Stephen Banda, representing the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the government was deeply concerned about the diversion of medicines from public facilities to the black market, which is undermining both health outcomes and trust in the system.
You all might have heard of the Mt Darwin issue where some public servants were diverting medicines from hospital pharmacies. We have taken action against them, and this is a warning to anyone who wishes to engage in such acts,” said Mr. Banda.
He acknowledged the growing concerns raised by stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.
“As government, we have heard your concerns, ranging from the black market, overregulation, to workforce underuse, and we are going to address them soon.”
Also weighing in was Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, who emphasized government’s commitment to strengthening local pharmaceutical capacity through policy reforms and industrial support.
“The Cabinet approved the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Policy Paper in June 2025, developed in collaboration with key players in the industry. This aligns with the Whole Society Approach we are now implementing,” he said.
Ndlovu noted that Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector is valued at approximately US$254 million, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.3 percent, but only 12 percent of medicines are locally produced.
“Government is aware that the growth of the industry has been impeded by several challenges, including high compliance costs, power shortages, and limited access to affordable financing.”
He revealed ongoing initiatives under the National Development Strategy 1 (2021–2025) to mitigate these bottlenecks, including supporting local procurement, reducing regulatory burdens, and establishing a revolving fund to provide affordable industry financing.
Despite these efforts, the pharmaceutical industry says more immediate intervention is required.
Mr. Gabriel Karani, Chairperson of the Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe (PCZ), highlighted the underuse of skilled pharmaceutical personnel.
“I have a lot of professionals on our register who are being underutilised. We have 2,193 pharmacists and 114 optometrists, but none are deployed in public health or at district level. Why must patients travel to Parirenyatwa Hospital for optometry when we have such capacity under our register?”
He added that community and wholesale pharmacists could play a more significant role in supporting the public sector, including sourcing medicines for NatPharm through crowd-funding mechanisms and strategic partnerships. The illegal influx of medicines from neighboring countries remains one of the biggest threats to the formal industry.
Mr. Norman Kugara, Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association of Zimbabwe (PWZ), bemoaned the rampant smuggling of medicines into local black markets.
“There’s a surge in parallel imports and black-market trading. We’re seeing medicines being sold at Mbare Musika, this is a result of porous borders. We call on the relevant authorities to act decisively and curb this behaviour.”
He also pointed to high medicine registration fees and overlapping regulatory frameworks as major deterrents to accessibility and affordability.
“If medicine registration is too high, fewer players can afford to enter the market. This leads to scarcity and higher prices for patients. Multiple regulators are competing to milk the sector, and it’s unsustainable.”
Kugara acknowledged the 2021–2025 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to increase local production to 60 percent, as a step in the right direction.
“The sector is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 43 percent, largely due to new manufacturers entering the market. This is a positive sign, and we applaud government for that initiative.”
Currently, US$100 to US$150 million of the market consists of private stock, mostly imported, and only a small portion is manufactured locally. Of the overall pharmaceutical market, valued between US$404 million to US$450 million, over US$250 million worth of medicines come from donor agencies, an imbalance that industry leaders say is unsustainable.
Supply chain expert Mr. Wilson Chandomba warned that the black-market trade not only threatens the formal sector but also endangers public health.
“Substandard and falsified medical products are not just an economic issue, they’re a public health crisis. If you consume substandard medicine, it won’t treat the disease effectively and could lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Even genuine medicines may then become ineffective.”
As the conference drew to a close, there was consensus among delegates that the time for dialogue must now translate into action. Sector players stressed the importance of strong partnerships between government and the private sector to foster a sustainable, efficient, and resilient pharmaceutical industry.
“This is a sector that has the potential to transform health outcomes if adequately supported,” said Karani. “We just need policies that recognise and leverage the talent and infrastructure that already exist.”
