Malaria Stalks Zimbabwe’s Children as Deaths Jump 50% in One Week

By Michael Gwarisa

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has reported a rise in malaria deaths and new infections among children under five in areas endemic to the disease.

New cases have been recorded since the onset of the rainy season two weeks ago.

According to the MoHCC disease surveillance report for the week ending November 2, 2025, a total of 1,074 malaria cases and three deaths were reported. The deaths occurred in Makoni and Chimanimani districts in Manicaland Province, and Mount Darwin District in Mashonaland Central.

Of the reported cases, 125 (11.6%) were in children under the age of five. Mashonaland East (407 cases) and Mashonaland Central (283 cases) reported the highest numbers. Cumulative figures for 2025 now stand at 154,024 malaria cases and 423 deaths.

Although there was a slight decline in weekly cases compared to the previous report, deaths increased sharply. The MoHCC’s report for the week ending October 26, 2025, recorded 1,194 malaria cases and two deaths, a 50% rise in fatalities within just one week.

According to data released by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in July, Zimbabwe recorded 111,998 suspected malaria cases and 310 deaths by epidemiological week 23 of 2025. This represents a significant rise from 29,031 cases and 49 deaths during the same period in 2024.

The surge has pushed Zimbabwe’s malaria case fatality rate from 0.17% in 2024 to 0.27% in 2025, further straining a healthcare system already overwhelmed by rising patient numbers. Currently, 115 out of the country’s 1,705 health facilities are struggling to cope with malaria cases, highlighting the urgent need for intensified interventions.