By Michael Gwarisa
In a bid to rescue Zimbabwe’s public healthcare system from imminent collapse and prevent unnecessary deaths caused by a failing infrastructure, opposition leader Linda Masarira has launched a global petition urging President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare the healthcare crisis a National Disaster. The petition calls for urgent allocation of resources to equip healthcare facilities and improve the working and living conditions of healthcare workers.
To Sign The Petition, Click Here
The petition, titled “Fix Zimbabwe’s Healthcare Crisis — Save Lives Now!”, has already been signed by more than 100 people and is gaining traction both locally and among Zimbabweans in the diaspora. Masarira’s campaign is a response to decades of systemic neglect, underfunding, and poor policy implementation that have left hospitals in ruins and healthcare personnel demoralised.
Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes, Masarira warned that the longer Zimbabwe delays addressing the crisis, the more people will die from treatable and preventable diseases.
The time is now. I believe it is crucial for the President of Zimbabwe to issue a presidential decree declaring health a state of emergency. This would allow for the rehabilitation of all public hospitals and ensure we have sufficient and properly supported public health personnel,” said Masarira.
She added that a demotivated workforce is compounding the crisis, citing cases in some public facilities where patients are being turned away for failing to pay upfront for services.
“We have all witnessed that healthcare service delivery in this country has deteriorated completely — it’s in a comatose state. There has been deafening silence, particularly regarding the conditions of our public hospitals. We cannot wait until a loved one falls critically ill before we act. This is a national crisis,” she said.
Zimbabwe’s healthcare system has suffered years of neglect, worsened by a lack of sustainable investment, corruption, and a brain drain as skilled professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities. The sector has also been crippled by chronic shortages of medication, medical equipment, and essential supplies.
Masarira explained that her motivation for launching the petition stems from the painful reality that over 60% of Zimbabweans are dying prematurely due to lack of access to basic healthcare services.
“Our current system is unaffordable, understaffed, and severely under-resourced. Millions — especially the elderly, people with chronic conditions, women, children, and persons with disabilities — are suffering in silence or resorting to unsafe alternatives. This petition is a call to action. We demand that the Government of Zimbabwe make basic healthcare free and accessible to all, and urgently provide universal free treatment for chronic illnesses, cancer, and emergency care for accident and GBV survivors. Healthcare is a human right — not a privilege for the wealthy or well-connected,” she said.
In addition to mobilising public support, Masarira said her team is engaging regional and international health advocacy organisations to help amplify the campaign and pressure government stakeholders to act.
