Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Zimpapers Correspondent
THE Government has launched nationwide research to establish factors driving the recent sharp increase in malaria cases in some parts of the country, as health authorities grapple with a near four-fold increase in infections and a five-fold rise in deaths compared to the same period last year.
The investigations come as the country has recorded more than 65 000 malaria cases and 174 deaths by mid-April 2026, raising concerns that gains made towards malaria elimination could be reversed if the underlying causes are not urgently identified and addressed.
In an interview on Friday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the upsurge was not unique to Zimbabwe but was being experienced across the region, including in districts that had previously been on course to eliminate the disease.
“The outbreaks of malaria are not peculiar to Zimbabwe alone; even in the region, there is an upsurge of malaria,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“Even in districts where we thought we were eliminating malaria, we are seeing cases increasing.”
Government, he said, was conducting further research to determine whether the resurgence was linked to premature relaxation of elimination strategies, insecticide resistance or other emerging factors.
Tinaye Agere