Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
ZIMBABWE values the multilateral support it has received from various partners to develop its one health approach to address challenges related to human, animal and environmental interactions.
Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said this at the opening of the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (Cohesa) conference to design a regional One Health Network in Eastern and Southern Africa.
“Zimbabwe values and appreciates the collaboration and support it has received so far from many partners since the time the nation adopted the One Health Approach,” she said.
Dr Mahomva said Zimbabwe’s participation and hosting of the conference were in line with the country’s 2026 – 2030 One Health Strategic Plan that focuses on a multilateral approach to the One Health initiative.
Zimbabwe, she said, values collaboration and institutionalisation of science-driven best practices from within the country and across the region.
The National One Health Strategic Plan (2026 -2030) was approved by Cabinet in September 2025 and was officially launched by President Mnangagwa last December.
The plan is a transformative initiative that establishes a coordinated, multilateral approach to tackling health threats that come as a result of human, animal and environmental interactions.
The University of Zimbabwe- COHESA team provided lead technical support for the development of the plan, while the UN FAO and the WHO provided technical support and guidance on how to align the plan with the global plan.
The Cohesa project, with an initial Euros 9,3 million (US$10 million) support from the European Union, started in 2001and ends this year.
It has helped various countries to develop plans to effectively protect health for people, animals, plants and the shared environment.
The project was implemented through a consortium led by the International Livestock Research Institute, CIRAD — a French agricultural research and cooperation organisation and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Members of Cohesa included Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Somalia and Namibia.
This week-long conference has drawn more than 70 participants from 12 countries and multilateral organisations.
Stakeholders are meeting to map out strategies to chart the way forward for one health implementation in Africa beyond 2026, when the COHESA project ends.
Mr Benjamin Durrenberger, a French embassy official, reiterated his country’s support for the one health approach in Africa.
He said recent health crises, such as the Covid 19 pandemic, had highlighted the need for coordinated responses grounded in science, prevention, knowledge sharing and International cooperation.
France will host the ninth edition of the One Health Summit next month.
