As has become tradition at HealthTimes, every year we honour leaders in the healthcare sector who are making a difference and contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s health system.
This year, we are doing things differently. We have categorised the champions according to their sectors or areas of influence, focusing on innovation and the strategies that healthcare leaders in Zimbabwe have employed to overcome the hurdles facing the sector.
The year 2025 brought new disruptions to the country’s healthcare system, following the withdrawal of donor funding for a number of programmes. However, some leaders rose above these challenges and found creative ways to sustain progress despite the funding gaps. These individuals introduced innovations and products that continue to strengthen healthcare delivery in meaningful ways.
Please note that this list is not arranged in any particular order. It simply seeks to recognise and celebrate the work of local healthcare leaders who are helping to solve domestic health challenges. The list was compiled by the HealthTimes Monitoring Team throughout 2025.
Digital Healthcare and AI Innovation
Dr. Efison Dhodho – AI in Digital Health
Dr. Efison Dhodho, the Knowledge Manager for the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians, is also the Director for Strategic Information, Evaluation, Learning, and Information Technology Systems at the Organisation for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID).
Under his leadership, OPHID developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered digital health system known as the Modular Data Intelligence Platform (MDIP). MDIP automates health data diagnostics, analytics, and reporting, enabling smarter, faster, and more reliable decision-making.
The platform’s versatility supports multiple use cases, from managed care assessment automation to NGO and public-sector reporting. It is currently under consideration for publication in the Oxford Digital Health Journal and has been registered for use by several NGOs and other organisations. The system also allows ministries of health, private providers, and insurers to access and adapt the technology for their operations.
Dr. Felicity Fitzgerald and Dr. Simbarashe Chimhuya – The Neotree Project
As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with high neonatal mortality rates, two leading researchers, Dr. Felicity Fitzgerald and Dr. Simbarashe Chimhuya, are pioneering the use of AI to improve newborn care.
At the Artificial Intelligence and Health Conference held in June 2025, the duo presented Neotree: A Learning Health System, a digital platform designed to enhance newborn care and bring AI to the bedside for vulnerable infants in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Dr. Chimhuya, the Zimbabwe Principal Investigator of Neotree and a PhD student at University College London (UCL), and Dr. Fitzgerald, also of UCL, work under the leadership of Professor Michelle Heys.
Dr. Lindelwe Ncube-(Colpopen)
A Zimbabwean medical doctor and biomedical engineer, Dr. Lindelwa Ncube this year launched ColpoPen, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool set to revolutionize the healthcare sector in the country. The AI tool is also expected to bridge the skills gap and serve as an assistant to healthcare workers without Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC) training. The country faces a shortage of trained personnel due to low training numbers and the mass exodus of skilled professionals.
Medical Breakthroughs for 2025
Dr. Valentine Etem – Endoscopic Spine Surgery
In June 2025, Dr. Valentine Etem led a team of doctors at Milton Park Medical Centre in Harare to perform Zimbabwe’s first-ever endoscopic spine surgery. This groundbreaking procedure took place shortly after Dr. Etem attended his first spine endoscopy training course in Germany. The surgery marked a milestone for Zimbabwean medicine, opening doors for minimally invasive spinal procedures within the country.
Dr. Andrew Hodges – Toe-to-Finger Transplant Surgery
In another historic feat, CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe in Mutawatawa, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District, successfully performed a toe-to-finger transplant under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Hodges, the hospital’s Lead Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.
The complex surgery lasted 23 hours in total, with the first phase running for 13 hours and 14 minutes, followed by an additional eight hours to restore blood flow. This pioneering operation restored hand function and hope to a young patient and showcased the country’s growing surgical expertise.
Health Business and Enterprise Innovation
Dr. Noah Taruberekera – Social Enterprise at PSH
Dr. Noah Taruberekera, Managing Director of Population Solutions for Health (PSH), has spearheaded an innovative approach to sustainability through a Social Enterprise Model.
With donor funding shrinking across Zimbabwe, many NGOs were forced to scale down operations in 2025. However, under Dr. Taruberekera’s leadership, PSH transitioned into a hybrid model that combines social impact with financial sustainability. The organisation introduced new income-generating initiatives, including the popular TRUST and LOVERS+ condom brands, designed to promote safer sex while supporting PSH’s operations.
While PSH remains a non-profit entity, its social enterprise approach aims to generate surplus revenue that sustains its programmes and enhances self-reliance within the organisation.
SRHR Innovation
Pester Siraha – The Back-Up Pill (PSZ)
As Country Director for Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ), Pester Siraha oversaw the introduction of the Back-Up Pill in 2025, a groundbreaking emergency contraceptive that offers protection for up to 120 hours after unprotected sex.
The pill is poised to transform Zimbabwe’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) landscape by expanding access to effective family planning options. Studies show that if taken within 72 hours, the pill can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent, and it remains effective up to 120 hours. The introduction of the Back-Up Pill represents a major stride in women’s reproductive health empowerment.
Dr. Tadiwanashe Burukai-Matutu – Womandhla Foundation
The Womandhla Foundation, led by Executive Director Dr. Tadiwanashe Burukai-Matutu, is a women-led and women-serving organisation dedicated to advancing gender equity and strengthening SRHR coalitions.
In 2025, through support from partners, Womandhla developed Zimbabwe’s first-ever vernacular Glossary of SRHR Terms to enhance understanding and communication in sexual and reproductive health. The organisation also launched Geliza, a multilingual WhatsApp chatbot that provides SRHR information in English, Shona, and isiNdebele.
Healthcare Philanthropy
Dr. Kudakwashe Tagwirei – Arundel Hospital
Arundel Medical Centre, operated by businessman Dr. Kudakwashe Tagwirei, continues to make an impact through its healthcare philanthropy. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital has offered free healthcare services to hundreds of people daily.
It is estimated that Arundel serves around 200 patients per day, with annual recovery rates of approximately 73,000 people. This initiative represents a major contribution to community health, particularly for those who cannot afford private care.
– The Eye Institute (Free Cataract Repairs)
Dr. Ron Mhizha, founder of The Eye Institute, has been instrumental in restoring sight to hundreds of Zimbabweans. In 2025 alone, his organisation conducted an estimated 300 free cataract surgeries across the country. This follows a successful 2024 pilot in Manicaland, where the initiative helped elderly citizens and vulnerable individuals regain their vision. The Eye Institute’s work continues to demonstrate the power of accessible and compassionate healthcare.
Conclusion
Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector continues to face immense challenges, yet the stories of these champions show that innovation, compassion, and resilience are alive and thriving. These ten health leaders represent the courage and ingenuity that define the country’s ongoing journey toward universal health coverage and a stronger, self-sustaining healthcare system.
Compiled by the HealthTimes Monitoring Team, 2025
