Zimbabwe’s Healthcare Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

By Staff Writer

RECENTLY, following a horrific accident that occurred along Harare-Beitbridge road where a cross border bus Urban Connect collided head-on with a haulage truck. The accident claimed the lives of many and left many people injured a situation that exposed the failure of the government to prioritise healthcare as a country

In this devastating situation, Zimbabwe lost many lives who were fathers, husbands, brothers and sisters. They were indeed involved in a horrific accident but some deaths could have been averted if the healthcare sector was effective. Ambulances could have been enough and available.

However, according to eyewitness reports, victims of the accidents could not receive help on time as it was said that ambulances were not readily available.

Since the Second Republic came into power under the leadership of President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, the ‘Vision 2030’ mantra boasts that Zimbabwe will achieve an upper-middle-income economy. But, is that even possible with such an ailing healthcare sector?

Currently, there are no painkillers in public health institutions. People are struggling to get treatment in major hospitals which used to be referral hospitals not only in Southern Africa but Africa at large.

When people were admitted at Beitbridge General Hospital, pictures of patients’ legs covered in card boxes went viral on social media, a state that exposed our government’s failure to prioritise the wellbeing of the people. Could this be the road or signposts towards Vision 2030?

Today, Zimbabwe has the so-called, ‘mbingas’ (affluent people in society) who give away expensive cars to celebrities in the country. On the other hand, others boast about their expensive clothes and buy personal helicopters whilst the healthcare sector is crumbling down to the ground.

For years, Zimbabweans have been yearning and hoping that our rich country with so many resources that has been attracting thousands of foreign investors will improve for the better. But, instead, the situation has been worsening before the eyes of everyone despite the Minister of Finance’s forecasts and reports that Zimbabwe’s economy is on the rise.

What could be a better indicator than the health sector?

As part of Vision 2030, the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2021–2025 identified priorities that seek to improve the healthcare sector. For instance, investing in domestic funding through improved resource allocation. However, the socio-economic justice coalition; Zimcodd Annual Report (2020) highlighted that Zimbabwe has been struggling to adequately finance the health sector.

Due to unending hyperinflations experienced in the country, Zimbabwe had to rely on external funding to support the healthcare sector. But, now that USAID has stopped its support to the World Health Organisation (WHO), what will happen to Zimbabwe which relied heavily on donor support?

Despite having introduced a myriad of taxes to generate revenue for the healthcare sector, something is yet to materialise.

In 1999, Zimbabwe introduced an AIDS levy which is a 3% income tax for individuals. This fund is being managed through the Zimbabwe National AIDS Council (NAC) to purchase antiretroviral medication among other things but nothing has to say how much was generated, used and when and where it was used in all these years.

In 2024, a sugar tax was introduced which was initially set at US$0.002 but was later reduced to US$0.001 per gram of sugar. However, Prof Mthuli recently publicly said the sugar tax has been generating enough revenue which will be used to purchase cancer equipment.

Again, Zimbabwe is yet to see the improved infrastructure.

This year, the Ministry of Health and Child Care was allocated ZiG28.3 billion which is about US$785.9 million representing 10.2% of the national budget, a decrease from the 10.6% allocated in 2024 making a dream for Zimbabwe to achieve 15% as required by the Abuja Declaration.

This shows that the government should prioritise the healthcare sector and improve the services now.

This will not only contribute to the well being of the society but also makes it a reality to attain Vision 2030.