Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa-Herald Reporter
In an achievement for Zimbabwean healthcare innovation, ZimSmart village health workers have been selected as one of only eight organisations across Africa to join the prestigious 2026 Eye Health Accelerator Cohort, led by Villgro Africa and The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The recognition, drawn from a competitive pool of more than 300 innovators, positions ZimSmart Villages as a continental leader in tackling preventable blindness and advancing equitable access to eye care.
The Zimbabwe Social Registry (Ziso) Health programme, a mobile telemedicine-enabled eye care model, has reached a milestone, already transforming lives across rural Zimbabwe.
By integrating cutting-edge technology with community health networks, ZISO Health is bridging the gap between specialist care and underserved populations.
Zimsmart Villages chief of operations, Mr Tawanda Njerere, emphasised that the recognition validates Zimbabwe’s capacity to build world-class solutions that address Africa’s most pressing health challenges.
“This recognition places ZimSmart Villages at the forefront of Africa’s eye health revolution,” he said.
“We are honored to represent Zimbabwe in this cohort and to demonstrate that Zimbabwean entrepreneurs can build world-class solutions that address the most pressing health challenges facing our continent.”
ZISO Health leverages the BatsiHealth telemedicine platform, portable fundus cameras, and Starlink satellite connectivity to deliver eye care in remote areas.
To date, the programme has screened more than 20,000 people and distributed over 7,000 spectacles across seven provinces.
Beyond vision correction, the initiative integrates eye health with chronic disease management, addressing conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive eye disease—two leading causes of preventable blindness in Zimbabwe.
The accelerator programme unlocks eligibility for up to US$250 000 in catalytic capital, enabling ZimSmart Villages to expand nationwide, enhance its technology stack, and scale the Mudhumeni WeUtano community health worker network.
This investment is expected to create a sustainable model that delivers both financial returns and transformative social impact.
Bongani Ndlovu