Zimbabwe reports notable increase in HIV-related deaths during first half of 2025

Zimbabwe has recorded a rise in HIV/AIDS-related deaths during the first half of 2025, with health authorities reporting 5,932 fatalities between January and June, an increase of 220 deaths compared to the same period in 2024.

The figures were disclosed by Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora during a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Wednesday, following an inquiry by Kwekwe legislator Corban Madzivanyika. The minister presented comparative data showing the uptick in HIV-related mortality, prompting concern among lawmakers.

Some members of Parliament expressed fears that dwindling international support for HIV/AIDS programs could be affecting treatment access and driving up fatalities. Madzivanyika specifically questioned whether donor funding withdrawals were undermining the country’s ability to provide life-saving antiretroviral therapy.

In response, Mombeshora dismissed funding as the primary cause of the increase. “The current mortality figures don’t reflect funding shortages,” he said. “All necessary medications were procured before any budget reductions took effect.”

He added that Zimbabwe had secured enough antiretroviral drugs to last through September, with additional supplies expected before the end of the year. The minister urged caution against premature conclusions, noting that comprehensive assessments of HIV mortality trends are typically conducted in annual reviews.

Despite the assurances, some opposition lawmakers, including Emakhandeni-Luveve MP Discent Bajila and Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire, continued to question the government’s explanation and pressed for further clarification on potential underlying causes.

Temporary Speaker Joe Tshuma backed Mombeshora’s stance, arguing that it would be inaccurate to link the increase in deaths to recent changes in international funding, given the reporting period.

Zimbabwe has previously faced challenges due to shifting donor priorities, including the suspension of U.S. funding during the Trump administration. Nonetheless, the country has made significant progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.

Health authorities say they are continuing to monitor the situation, and the ministry maintains that medication stocks remain adequate for all patients currently enrolled in treatment programs across the country.