Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
MANICALAND continues to bear one of the country’s heaviest disease burdens, with the latest Weekly Disease Surveillance Report from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicating that the province is once again leading in suspected influenza cases, and ranking second in common diarrhoea infections.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, 5 933 common diarrhoea cases and six deaths were recorded nationwide in the last week of November 2025, with Manicaland contributing 912 of these cases.
Only Mashonaland West reported more, with 947 cases.
In an interview, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director (PMD), Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga said although the provincial statistics appear high compared to other provinces, they are notably lower than what they recorded in previous years.
He explained that the rise in cases reflects a familiar seasonal trend.
“This spike is expected during the drier months. In districts like Mutasa, many boreholes run dry, forcing communities to rely on unsafe water sources, and that naturally leads to an increase in diarrhoea,” he said, adding that the situation has already begun to stabilise due to intensified public health measures.
“The numbers have now started to decline because the Ministry has been actively responding through community engagement and awareness campaigns, as well as borehole rehabilitation with support from development partners and the Civil Protection Committee,” he said.
He said water purifying tablets had been dispatched to all affected communities.
According to the nationwide statistics, children under five continue to be the most affected demographic, with 2 471 cases, representing 42 percent of the national burden, recorded in this age group.
“Six diarrhoea-related deaths were reported. Three happened in Harare Metropolitan Province, one in Matabeleland South, one in Mashonaland West, and one in Midlands. The cumulative national figures for 2025 now stand at 306 489 cases and 166 deaths,” reads the surveillance report.
The figures follow a pattern seen in previous weeks, where diarrhoeal infections remained high across several provinces, including Manicaland.
“In the week ending November 9, the ministry recorded 7 285 common diarrhoea cases and three deaths, with two fatalities reported at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and one at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Children under five accounted for 2 974 cases, representing 41 percent of that week’s total.
“Midlands and Mashonaland West had the highest burdens during that period, recording 1 277 and 1 244 cases respectively,” it reads.
A week earlier, the surveillance report shows 8 236 cases with no recorded deaths.
Nearly half of them, 3 833 cases were in children under five, underscoring a persistent vulnerability among younger age groups.
“Mashonaland West led the national tally with 1 442 cases, followed closely by Manicaland with 1 213. By that date, cumulative diarrhoea cases stood at 293,271, with 157 deaths recorded,” further reads the report.
The province also recorded the highest number of suspected influenza cases in the country, with 1 549 reported during the same week. Mashonaland West followed with 1 287 cases.
The latest influenza numbers also reflect a continued upward trend in Manicaland, with the province recording 1 388 cases the previous week ending November 9, and 1 547 cases in the week ending November 2.
Comparatively, Mashonaland West reported 1 297 and 1 449 cases over those two weeks respectively, mirroring Manicaland’s fluctuations and showing a consistent pattern in which the two provinces dominate the national tally.
Dr Mukuzunga said despite the week-to-week fluctuations, this year’s influenza numbers remain lower than those recorded in the past two years.
While suspected influenza cases fell from 5 118 in the week ending November 2 to 4 449 the following week, before rising again to 4 730, Manicaland’s weekly caseload remained above 1 300 throughout the three-week period.
Also according to the statistics released, malaria also remains a significant concern for Manicaland with the province recording 180 cases for the week ending November 16, second only to Mashonaland East, which reported 187 cases.
While southern provinces such as Matabeleland South and Bulawayo consistently report lower numbers, eastern and northern regions, including Mashonaland East, Manicaland, and parts of Mashonaland Central, continue to drive national trends.
