Michael Gwarisa in Mahusekwa
At Mahusekwa Hospital, what once passed for a pharmacy was a cramped room that struggled to serve an entire district. Medicines were often in short supply, storage conditions were far from ideal, and patients frequently travelled long distances only to leave empty-handed or be referred to Marondera for treatment.
For Sekuru Ishmael Tandi, a resident of the resettlement areas in Mahusekwa, accessing medication used to be a frustrating and costly experience.
“Back in the day, sometimes you would get a prescription but the hospital would not have that medication in stock,” he said. “There was no option but to travel to Marondera Hospital or buy from private pharmacies that charge very high prices.”
Today, that reality has changed. A modern, well-stocked pharmacy store now stands at Mahusekwa Hospital, serving not only the local community but acting as a central hub for surrounding health facilities. The transformation is part of Zimbabwe’s broader effort to convert emergency COVID-19 funding into long-term health system reforms.
At the centre of this transformation is the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which is coordinating the entire process, with financial support from the Global Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), serving as the implementing partner. This partnership has ensured that investments are not fragmented, but aligned to national priorities and executed at scale.
The pharmacy at Mahusekwa is one of hundreds constructed or upgraded under the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism. What began as an emergency intervention has evolved into one of the most significant health systems strengthening programmes Zimbabwe has undertaken in recent years.
Tinashe Bako, a pharmacy technician at the facility, says the difference is clear.
“We now have all the essential medicines in stock. This is the main pharmacy where orders for the hospital and the district are made, and we also store medicines on behalf of other health facilities in the district,” said Bako.
The improved storage capacity has had ripple effects across the district. Mahusekwa Hospital now supports a network of 28 health facilities, ensuring that medicines are properly stored and distributed, including those nearing expiry that require careful management.
Marondera District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Ronald Makanda, says the impact has been substantial.
“As Marondera rural district, we have 28 healthcare facilities. Out of those, six benefited from pharmacy infrastructure under the COVID-19 response programme,” he said. “This has helped boost our stock levels of medicines and sundries. Before, we had a very small pharmacy inside the hospital with limited space. Now we have adequate storage capacity to meet the district’s needs.”
He added that stock availability has improved significantly, with the district maintaining about 70 percent of required stock levels, a notable improvement from previous years.
Beyond medicines, the programme has addressed critical infrastructure gaps that have long affected service delivery. One of the most visible changes has been the introduction of solar power in health facilities.
Lydia Phiri, a resident of Mahusekwa, says the solarisation of the hospital has transformed healthcare delivery in the community.
“This solar for health project is very befitting for us as a community,” she said. “The facility is now running on uninterrupted power, which ensures the safety of medicines. Even deliveries in the maternity ward are now done properly because there is always power.”
Her testimony reflects a broader shift. Reliable electricity is no longer a luxury in many rural health facilities but a necessity that is now being met. Solar systems are powering laboratories, maternity wards, and vaccine cold chains, ensuring consistent service delivery.
According to UNDP Resident Representative in Zimbabwe, Ayodole Odusola, the strength of the programme lies in its integrated approach.
“The partnership we have put in place goes beyond responding to COVID-19 as an emergency. It has moved into long-term health development,” he said. “We are addressing multiple bottlenecks in the health system, including water, electricity, diagnostics, and waste management, all under the leadership of the Ministry of Health.”
The scale of the intervention is significant. Across the country, 327 pharmacy stores have been constructed or renovated. Of these, 114 were built under the COVID-19 Response Mechanism, while 214 were constructed under the main HIV grant. Additional facilities are nearing completion.
Solar energy systems have been installed in over 200 health facilities, providing round-the-clock power. Solarised boreholes are also being rolled out to improve water access, with hundreds already completed and more nearing handover.
Diagnostic capacity has been strengthened through the construction of new X-ray facilities, while healthcare waste management has been upgraded through the installation of modern incinerators at major hospitals.
“These investments show that government can lead in strengthening health systems,” Odusola said. “What is particularly encouraging is that this model is attracting interest from other countries.”
What makes Zimbabwe’s approach noteworthy is how emergency funding has been deliberately channelled into long-term development. Since 2020, the country has received over 180 million United States dollars under the COVID-19 Response Mechanism. Approximately 51 million dollars of this was managed by UNDP, mainly for infrastructure projects, while the remainder has been implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
This funding has supported a wide range of interventions, including laboratory strengthening, procurement of medical equipment, expansion of pharmaceutical storage, installation of solar systems, water access improvements, and healthcare waste management infrastructure.
Crucially, these investments are aligned with Zimbabwe’s National Health Strategy and National Development Strategy 1, reinforcing the country’s commitment to universal health coverage.
What began as a response to a global pandemic is now reshaping the foundation of Zimbabwe’s health system. Facilities that once struggled with basic services are becoming more resilient, better equipped, and more responsive to community needs.
Back in Mahusekwa, the changes are not measured in statistics alone but in lived experiences. Patients no longer have to travel long distances for basic medication. Health workers can operate in better conditions. Mothers can deliver safely, even at night.
For Sekuru Tandi, the difference is simple but profound. Access to medicine is no longer uncertain. For Lydia Phiri, the presence of reliable electricity has brought dignity and safety to healthcare.
And for the Ministry of Health and Child Care, working with the Global Fund and UNDP, the programme represents a clear shift from crisis response to lasting reform.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have triggered the funding, but its legacy in Zimbabwe is being defined by something far more enduring. A stronger, more resilient health system that is better prepared not only for emergencies, but for the everyday needs of its people.