Zimbabwe has observed an increase in HIV/AIDS-related deaths during the first six months of 2025, with health officials reporting 5,932 fatalities from January to June, marking a rise of 220 deaths compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
The data was revealed by Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora during a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Wednesday, in response to a query from Kwekwe legislator Corban Madzivanyika. The minister provided comparative statistics highlighting the surge in HIV-related mortality, raising alarm among parliamentarians.
Several MPs voiced concerns that declining international support for HIV/AIDS initiatives might be limiting treatment access and contributing to the rising death toll.
Madzivanyika specifically asked whether the withdrawal of donor funding was jeopardizing the nation’s capacity to deliver essential antiretroviral therapy.
In reply, Mombeshora rejected funding as the main reason for the uptick. “The current mortality figures don’t reflect funding shortages,” he said. “All necessary medications were procured before any budget reductions took effect.”
He further noted that Zimbabwe had obtained sufficient antiretroviral drugs to last until September, with additional shipments anticipated before the year’s end. The minister called for restraint against hasty conclusions, pointing out that thorough evaluations of HIV mortality trends are typically performed in yearly reviews.
Despite these assurances, some opposition MPs, including Emakhandeni-Luveve’s Discent Bajila and Chiredzi Central’s Ropafadzo Makumire, challenged the government’s explanation and demanded more clarity on possible underlying factors.
Temporary Speaker Joe Tshuma supported Mombeshora’s position, contending that it would be incorrect to tie the rise in deaths to recent shifts in international funding, given the reporting period.
Zimbabwe has previously encountered difficulties due to changing donor priorities, including the halt of U.S. funding during the Trump administration. Nevertheless, the country has made notable strides toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive ongoing treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.
Health officials state they are continuously monitoring the situation, and the ministry insists that medication supplies remain sufficient for all patients currently enrolled in treatment programs nationwide.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
