Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
Government is putting in place an emergency plan to transition donor-funded health posts into public service as the country continues to strengthen domestic mobilisation of resources, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Aspect Maunganidze has said.
Speaking at the first Health Sector Technical Working Group meeting of 2026 on Friday in Harare, Dr Maunganidze said the move is part of broader reforms to strengthen the sustainability of the health workforce under the newly launched National Health Strategy 2026-2030.
“We, working closely with HSC, are developing an emergency transition plan to absorb partner-supported technical positions. We call upon our development partners to work with us closely to ensure a smooth and successful transition,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze said Treasury had approved additional posts and the Ministry’s new organisational structure had been finalised to support improved governance and service delivery.
“The Ministry’s new organisational structure has been finalised and approved. Treasury has granted significant additional posts, and we are now working on a phased plan to accelerate recruitment to fill these critical positions,” he said.
The National Health Strategy 2026-2030 sets a target to double the health workforce by 2030 and prioritises primary health care and system resilience.
“Perhaps most critically, we must build a sustainable health financing model that reduces our reliance on volatile external donor support, a transition that is a non-negotiable priority for our health sovereignty,” Dr Maunganidze said.
World Health Organisation Country Representative Dr Desta Tiruneh said: “Let me reaffirm the continued commitment of development partners to supporting the Government of Zimbabwe in advancing the goals of the National Health Strategy (NHS) and ensuring better health outcomes for all Zimbabweans.
“We commend your Ministry for its leadership and commitment in coordinating the sector and for fostering an open and constructive dialogue through platforms like this one.
“As partners, we recognise the important progress that has been made in several areas, including the finalisation of key policy frameworks such as the National Health Strategy.”
