Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Check Point Desk
SOME pharmacies in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces are operating without approval from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), posing a serious health threat to unsuspecting members of the public.
It is a requirement by law for pharmacies to be registered with MCAZ, allowing their operations to be monitored to ensure that they do not sell drugs that are not recommended.
In Bulawayo, there are only 43 registered pharmacies, according to MCAZ. However, a survey by this publication has shown that some operators are not registered or their licences have since expired.
A supervisor at a pharmacy located in the Barbourfields suburb, Ms Sithulisiwe Dube, claimed that they were in the process of renewing their licence, but were still operating.
“I am engaging MCAZ as we speak so that we renew our licence,” said Ms Dube.
In Tsholotsho, Bubi, Nkayi, Inyathi, Esigodini and Dete, there are no officially registered pharmacies; however, operators are engaged in the pharmaceutical business, with some sources indicating that some are even run by public health officers, including doctors.
In Gwanda, there are four registered pharmacies, namely, Healthcare located at the Nssa complex, Healthkings situated along Kings Street, Med-Chem (Corner Soudan/Bigben Road) and Phakama Pharmacy.
At the coal mining town of Hwange, only two pharmacies, Priceline and Number One, are on the MCAZ register, yet on the ground, four pharmacies are operating, with a fifth one set to open its doors soon.
Carelink Pharmacy is the only registered pharmacy in Lupane, while the border town of Plumtree has three pharmacies registered: Meds24, Plumtree and Urban Breeze.
Victoria Falls City has six legally operating pharmacies: Booties Victoria Falls, Medical Centre Chemist, Med Mint, Parksmed, Vine and Your Pharmacy.
Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe past president, Mr Sikhumbuzo Mpofu, has since called for the immediate prosecution of persons running unregistered pharmacies to protect the public.
“Medicine becomes poison once it is in the wrong hands, and operating a pharmacy outside the regulatory requirements must never be allowed,” he said.
“As practitioners, we go through a very rigorous registration process because people’s lives are in our hands.” Mr Mpofu urged members of the public to be vigilant and always purchase medicine from registered pharmacies and avoid going for cheap medicine.
“These unregistered pharmacies are also fuelling drug and substance abuse, which our country is fighting. Law authorities must descend on these people heavily; they are committing treason because they want to wipe out our people,” he added.
According to MCAZ, if an individual wants to operate a pharmacy, they pay an application fee of US$1 000 if located outside the Central Business District (CBD), US$1 900 when the premises are in the CBD, and US$600 if located in any Rural District Council.
Last year, MCAZ successfully conducted raids in the Gazebo area of Caledonia, Harare, with support from the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) Drugs and Narcotics Division, leading to the discovery of unregistered medicines, expired drugs, and even registered medicines being sold unlawfully. All the shops concerned were said to be manned by unlicensed individuals.
In April this year, MCAZ cancelled the licences of several pharmacies and individuals across the country for serious drug offences, including the sale of unregistered medicines, operating without supervision, and purchasing from unauthorised suppliers. In Circular 9 of 2025, signed by the Authority.
MCAZ director-general, Mr Richard Rukwata, has said the concerned parties are barred from operating until a date that falls between July 2025 and June 2026, depending on the severity of the violations.
