Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE’S health sector entered a new phase of transformation in 2025 as the government accelerated major reforms under the National Development Strategy, a blueprint aimed at propelling the country towards upper-middle-income status by 2030.
Central to the reforms are the Presidential Hospital Renovation Scheme and the expansion of rural health facilities, initiatives designed to strengthen access to quality healthcare nationwide.
The government has begun refurbishing key public health institutions, marking a significant step in a broader programme to modernise health infrastructure and improve conditions in public hospitals.
In an interview recently, Health and Child Care ministry secretary Aspect Maunganidze said the renovations were intended to equip central and provincial hospitals with infrastructure suited to current and future healthcare needs.
“2025 saw a rollout of the Presidential Hospital Renovation Scheme, starting with Parirenyatwa School of Nursing and now we have moved to Mpilo. The intention is to make sure all central hospitals and provincial hospitals… have infrastructure that is fit for purpose as we move from NDS1 [National Development Strategy 1] to NDS2. This is our last lap to achieve Vision 2030,” he said.
Maunganidze added that preparatory work was underway for the construction of new health centres in Manhize, Paradza, Rudhanda and Bulilima, with building expected to begin in 2026.
In recent years, the government has scaled up investment in primary healthcare facilities in rural and previously underserved communities. Several pilot health centres have been completed and commissioned, including Mataga in Mberengwa, Runyararo, Cowdray Park and Stoneridge.
“We commissioned Mataga in Mberengwa in 2025. It was the fourth of the four pilot centres opened in the last two to three years. We are at the groundbreaking for the next four… Manhize, Paradza, Rudhanda and Bulilima, set for rollout in 2026. This will help to reduce walking distance for rural communities from 10 kilometres to 5 kilometres,” he said.
Beyond infrastructural development, the government is strengthening the health workforce through a decentralised recruitment system for nursing trainees. Provinces now play a greater role in selecting candidates, an approach aimed at improving long-term staff retention by encouraging health workers to serve in their home districts.
“We have devolved recruitment for nurses coming into training. Each province can now determine who is being trained. People are more likely to serve the communities they grew up in and this will help the spirit of development,” Maunganidze said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently underscored the importance of a functional health sector in driving sustainable development, stressing that access to affordable, quality healthcare is essential, especially for vulnerable populations.
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