Report on Malaria Resurgence in Zimbabwe and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A significant public health crisis has emerged in Zimbabwe following a major resurgence of malaria in 2025. This development represents a severe setback to the nation’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), particularly Target 3.3, which aims to end the epidemic of malaria by 2030. The crisis is primarily attributed to the cessation of international funding, which has crippled national control programs and undermined SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The resurgence threatens to reverse two decades of progress, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and impacting broader development goals such as SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Escalation of the Public Health Crisis: Statistical Overview

Data from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health reveals a dramatic escalation in malaria incidence and mortality in 2025 compared to the previous year.

• Outbreak Surge: 115 malaria outbreaks were recorded in 2025, a drastic increase from only one outbreak in 2024.
• Case Increase: Cumulative malaria cases rose by 180% in the first four months of 2025.
• Mortality Rate: Malaria-related deaths increased by 218%, from 45 in the same period in 2024 to 143 in 2025.
• Cumulative Figures: As of June 26, 2025, total cases had reached 119,648, with 334 associated deaths.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The malaria rebound directly jeopardizes Zimbabwe’s ability to meet key health targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Threat to Target 3.3: The sharp rise in cases and deaths moves Zimbabwe further away from the global and national goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.
2. Impact on Vulnerable Populations: Children under the age of five, a key demographic for Target 3.2 (ending preventable deaths of children under 5), account for 14% of all malaria cases.
3. Disruption of Preventive Care: The unavailability of preventive medicines for pregnant women and a shortfall of 600,000 insecticide-treated nets leave critical populations exposed, undermining universal health coverage principles.

Collapse of Control Programs and Failure of SDG 17 (Partnerships)

The termination of US aid funding had a direct and immediate impact on the operational capacity of Zimbabwe’s malaria control infrastructure, highlighting the fragility of reliance on international partnerships.

• Crippling of Zento Programme: The Zimbabwe Entomological Support Programme in Malaria (Zento), which provided essential scientific research and surveillance, was crippled by the funding cuts just as it was expanding to national coverage.
• Reversal of Gains: The effectiveness of the Zento programme and the subsequent impact of its termination are evident in data from Manicaland province.
  • Cases fell from 145,775 in 2020 to just 8,035 in 2024 under the programme.
  • Following the funding cut, cases rebounded to 27,212 in 2025.

Recommendations and Path to Recovery

Addressing the crisis and realigning with the 2030 Agenda requires urgent and strategic action focused on sustainable financing and programmatic resilience.

1. Strengthen Domestic Financing: Experts and officials recommend that Zimbabwe mobilize domestic resources and effectively utilize earmarked health taxes to create a sustainable funding model for disease prevention, reducing dependency on external aid.
2. Ensure Continuity of Essential Services: Immediate action is needed to procure and distribute essential supplies, including test kits, treatments, and the 600,000 insecticide-treated nets required to fill the current gap.
3. Re-establish Scientific Surveillance: Securing new funding to restart critical surveillance and research initiatives like the Zento programme is paramount to regaining control over the disease.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s primary focus is on the resurgence of malaria in Zimbabwe, a major public health crisis. It details the sharp increase in malaria cases and deaths, directly relating to the goal of ensuring healthy lives. The text also mentions the impact of funding cuts on HIV/Aids and tuberculosis programmes, further cementing its connection to SDG 3.

2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article extensively discusses the role of international partnerships and foreign aid in Zimbabwe’s health sector. The central issue is the withdrawal of US funding (Official Development Assistance) and its devastating consequences. It also highlights the need for strengthening domestic resource mobilization and partnerships between the government and local institutions like Africa University, which are key components of SDG 17.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

   • The article explicitly states that “Zimbabwe has set out to eliminate malaria by 2030”. The entire narrative revolves around the country’s efforts to combat malaria, the setbacks faced, and the direct impact on disease prevalence. The mention of funding cuts also affecting “tuberculosis, HIV/Aids” links directly to this target’s goal of ending these specific epidemics.

2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

   • The disruption in the distribution of “essential control methods, such as mosquito nets” and the resulting “shortfall of 600,000” demonstrates a failure to provide access to essential health services. Furthermore, the article notes that “When the supply of test kits and first-line treatments is disrupted, malaria cases and deaths will spiral,” highlighting the critical importance of access to essential medicines and diagnostics as part of universal health coverage.

3. Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries…

   • The article details how funding cuts “crippled the Zimbabwe Entomological Support Programme in Malaria (Zento) at Africa University, which provides the country’s National Malaria Control Programme with scientific research to combat the disease.” This directly relates to the target of supporting research for diseases affecting developing nations. The success of the Zento programme in reducing cases before its termination underscores the importance of such research.

4. Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries…

   • The core issue discussed is a “huge blow” to malaria control due to “US aid cuts.” The article emphasizes that “funding shortfalls were jeopardising the country’s significant gains” and quotes experts calling for “Sustained domestic funding” and for Zimbabwe to “mobilise its own resources to bridge the funding gap.” This directly addresses the critical need for increased and stable health financing.

5. Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments…

   • The article is centered on the consequences of a developed country (the US) halting its “critical funding for US research and national response programmes.” This action represents a reversal of an official development assistance (ODA) commitment, the impact of which is the primary subject of the article. The mention that “USAID disbursed $270m for health and agriculture programmes in Zimbabwe” in 2024 further specifies the nature of this ODA.

6. Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources.

   • In response to the withdrawal of foreign aid, the article includes calls for Zimbabwe to find alternative funding. A former health minister is quoted saying, “Zimbabwe should mobilise its own resources to bridge the funding gap” and “We have a lot of taxes earmarked for the health sector – let us use them wisely.” This reflects the principle of mobilizing domestic financial resources, a key aspect of this target.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Malaria incidence and mortality rate (related to Indicator 3.3.3)

   • The article provides specific data points that measure malaria incidence and mortality. These include: “115 outbreaks recorded in 2025,” “cumulative malaria cases increased by 180%,” “number of malaria-related deaths increased by 218%,” and absolute numbers such as “119,648” cases and “334 deaths” by June 2025. These figures are direct indicators of progress (or regression) towards ending the malaria epidemic.

2. Proportion of population with access to essential prevention services (related to Target 3.8)

   • The article implies this indicator by discussing the distribution of insecticide-treated nets. It states that “1,615,000 insecticide-treated nets were being distributed but that there was a shortfall of 600,000.” The number of nets distributed and the identified shortfall can be used to calculate the proportion of the at-risk population covered by this essential preventive service.

3. Availability of essential medicines and diagnostics (related to Target 3.8)

   • The article implies this indicator by stating that the “supply of test kits and first-line treatments is disrupted.” The availability or stock-out rate of these items in health facilities would be a direct way to measure access to essential healthcare.

4. Total official development assistance (ODA) for health (related to Targets 3.c and 17.2)

   • The article provides a concrete figure for ODA, stating that in 2024, “USAID disbursed $270m for health and agriculture programmes in Zimbabwe.” The subsequent “US aid cuts” represent a change in this indicator, directly measuring the level of international financial support for the health sector.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: theguardian.com