Online Reporter
Johnsias Mutonhori, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE must invest more in locally driven scientific research if it is to effectively tackle growing public health challenges such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), road traffic injuries and mental health, Midlands State University (MSU) academic and award-winning public health academic, Professor Davison Munodawafa, has said.
In an interview after receiving a National Health Sciences Award from President Mnangagwa at the Harare International Conference Centre recently, Prof Munodawafa said evidence generated within Zimbabwe was essential for developing policies and interventions tailored to the country’s unique health needs.
The award recognises his pioneering research on strengthening primary health care systems for the prevention, surveillance and management of non-communicable diseases in rural Zimbabwe. His work is helping shape evidence-based approaches to improving healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
A Professor of Community Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at MSU, Prof Munodawafa has built an extensive research portfolio covering health systems strengthening, health promotion, social determinants of health, non-communicable disease prevention and control, public health emergency preparedness, social and behavioural change, research evaluation and institutional partnerships.
Despite these achievements, he said inadequate funding remains one of the biggest obstacles to producing the local evidence needed to guide national health policy.
“Funding for medium to large-scale research is scarce. International research grants are available, but they are highly competitive,” he said.
“There is an urgent need for Zimbabwe to establish sustainable local funding mechanisms to support research on national priorities such as road traffic injuries and non-communicable diseases.”
Prof Munodawafa said countries that invest in home-grown research are better positioned to formulate policies based on local realities rather than relying solely on evidence generated elsewhere.
“Solutions to national problems must be informed by local research that is aligned with Zimbabwe’s national development priorities,” he said.
Prof Munodawafa said his research supports the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030 by strengthening primary healthcare systems, developing human capital, promoting research and innovation, encouraging community participation and advancing evidence-based policymaking.
“By improving the health workforce’s response to non-communicable diseases and strengthening prevention at community and primary healthcare levels, the project contributes to healthier and more productive communities,” he said.
“It supports Zimbabwe’s vision of becoming an empowered upper-middle-income economy by 2030 while advancing progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.”
Prof Munodawafa said he intends to expand his research beyond non-communicable diseases to focus on road traffic injuries, gender-based violence and mental health.
“My objective is to understand how these conditions intersect with established NCD risk factors such as alcohol use,” he said.
Prof Munodawafa noted that Zimbabwe continues to record one of the highest road traffic fatality rates in the region, underscoring the need for research that examines not only immediate causes but also the deeper structural and behavioural factors driving the problem.
“The causes operate at multiple levels, from immediate behavioural factors to broader structural determinants. I plan to apply systems thinking, social determinants of health frameworks and cultural models to better understand these drivers and identify practical, evidence-based solutions,” he said.
“The research will generate both qualitative and quantitative evidence through a multidisciplinary approach capable of informing policy, strengthening prevention strategies and improving programme implementation.”
Prof Munodawafa also urged young researchers to pursue studies that extend beyond academic achievement and contribute directly to solving society’s most pressing challenges.
“Young researchers must develop a genuine passion for research in areas that interest them. They should work closely with senior researchers, embrace ethical and professional research practices, build strong professional networks and produce knowledge that makes a meaningful contribution to society,” he said.
His remarks come as Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa continue to experience a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, reinforcing calls for greater investment in locally generated research to support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen health systems and accelerate sustainable national development.
