By Michael Gwarisa
Malaria deaths in Zimbabwe have surged by an alarming 150%, rising from 34 deaths in 2024 to 85 deaths in 2025 by week 15, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC).
The country has also recorded a sharp 107% increase in malaria cases, jumping from 17,539 to 36,423 cases over the same period, raising concern over a potential reversal of hard-won gains in malaria control and elimination.
The spike in malaria-related illness and fatalities comes as Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Malaria Day 2025, observed annually on April 25. This year’s global theme, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” calls for renewed political will, increased investment, and community engagement to eliminate malaria, particularly in the face of new challenges such as climate change, medicine and chemical resistance, and socioeconomic pressures like artisanal mining, which often results in mosquito-breeding conditions.
While Zimbabwe has made notable progress in reducing malaria incidence from 32 per 1,000 population in 2020 to just 4 per 1,000 in 2024, and slashing deaths from 400 in 2020 to 109 in 2024, the recent spike has raised red flags. The MoHCC warned that these hard-earned gains remain fragile, largely due to changing climate patterns and growing economic activities that encourage mosquito breeding.
The increase in rainfall and temperature has contributed to the increase in malaria transmission during the current malaria season,” said the Ministry in its World Malaria Day 2025 statement.
“By week 15, malaria cases had increased by 107%… Malaria deaths increased from 34 in 2024 to 85 deaths in 2025 during the same period.”
The Ministry attributes the increase in fatalities to late presentation of patients at health facilities and encouraged community members to seek early treatment.
“Late presentation has contributed to the increase in malaria deaths. We encourage all patients with signs of malaria to visit their Village Health Worker or nearest health facility for treatment,” the Ministry added.
Zimbabwe currently has 31 malaria elimination districts. Encouragingly, seven districts recorded no local transmission in 2024, with six districts maintaining this status in 2025. The Ministry applauded communities for their continued participation in prevention efforts, such as sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, using repellents, and residing in sprayed homes.
“The MoHCC is determined to protect our achievements by ensuring availability of all malaria prevention and control commodities at all levels of the health delivery system until we attain malaria elimination status,” read the Ministry’s statement.
However, the road to elimination faces financial constraints, especially following the withdrawal of United States Government funding. The Zimbabwean government has since pledged to increase domestic financing to bridge the gap.
“The Government is committed to increase domestic financing to cover the gap created by the withdrawal of the United States Government funding.”
The Malaria Control Program continues to receive technical and financial support from various partners including the Global Fund, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), PLAN International, other government ministries, and communities themselves. This collaborative effort has enabled the country to maintain momentum in the face of adversity.
