by Zimbabwes efforts to control malaria have raised a big blow because the disease has returned “with revenge” after cuts in the US aids. Compared to just one last year, 115 outbreaks were recorded in 2025.
The strong increase in cases comes six months after Donald Trump has stopped critical financing for US research and national reaction programs.
The cuts in January, which included the financing of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and MALARIA programs, paralyzed the Zimbabwe Entomological support program in Malaria (Zento) at Africa University in Mutare, which provides the country’s National Malaria control program with scientific research to combat the illness.
According to the Ministry of Health, the cumulative malaria cases rose by 180% in the first four months of 2025, while the number of Malaria deaths rose by 218% from 45 in the same period in 2024 to 143 to 143 in 2025 in June 26. From June 26th, the number of malaria cases after 334 deaths, after 334 deaths.
The distribution of essential control methods such as mosquito networks was also interrupted, so that hundreds of thousands of people across the country were exposed to mosquito bite. The Ministry of Health said in May that 1,615,000 NETS treated with insecticides were distributed, but there was a deficiency of 600,000 due to the withdrawal of US financing.
Itai Rusike, director of the community working group of Zimbabwe in relation to health, said that the lack of financing is at risk of the country’s significant profits against malaria in the past 20 years.
“Sustainable domestic financing are crucial to keep the prevention and treatment efforts up to date,” he said.
“If mosquito networks and preventive medication are not available for pregnant women, life will be lost. If the supply of test kits and first-line treatments is disturbed, malaria cases and deaths become weaker.”
Children under the age of five make up 14% of total malaria cases.
Simbabwe has imagined to eliminate malaria by 2030, according to the ambitious goal of the African Union, with various strategies such as the sensitization of the community, the prevention of mosquito bites with insecticide treated networks and sprays as well as the improvement of the surveillance systems.
Dr. Henry Madzorera, former Minister of Health, said Zimbabwe should mobilize his own resources to close the financing gap.
“We have a lot of taxes that are intended for the health sector. Let them use carefully for health promotion and prevention of diseases,” he said. “People have to be treated early for malaria.
“The country should not rely on the donor to carry out malaria elimination activities,” added Madzorera.
In 2024, USAID paid $ 270 million for health and agricultural programs in Zimbabwe.
The Deputy Minister of Health at Zimbabwe, Sleiman Kwidini, admitted that the funding gap left by the US cuts had disrupted the provision of mosquito networks.
“We are now taking over the procurement of these networks after the United States has withdrawn the financing. We have just been disturbed, but our vision is to eliminate malaria by 2030,” he said.
Prof. Sungano Mharakurwa, Director of the Malaria Institute of Africa University, said it would take some time to regain the Lost Ground: “If we receive funds, we can lead the soil and immediately return to goals until we are defeated by this deadly Geißel, which is malaria.”
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He said that since the Zento Mosquito surveillance program in the province of Manical and in the province of Manical, a significant reduction in malaria cases was reduced, and it was shortly before the outcome when the US cuts came.
“In cooperation with the National Malaria Control program, it had just been expanded,” said Mharakurwa. “It was ready to run with national reporting for five years when it was abruptly terminated.”
Data from Africa University show that Manicaland recorded 145,775 Malaria cases in 2020, but only 28,387 after Zento was introduced in 2021. Malaria cases in the province were reduced to 8,035 by 2024 before the US financing means cut to 27,212.
Mharakurwa said: “The malaria was back with revenge and right afterwards [numbers of] Cases that were amazed recovered in 2025 and exceeded the level that has ever been seen since the start of the project. “
Above-average rainfall this year, which supported the malaria broadcast, worsened the situation, he added.
