Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe requires US$11.8 million to double the number of healthcare workers over the next four years through creating and maintaining 32 000 new positions, as well as increasing training capacity to produce at least 7 000 graduates each year.
Speaking at a Health Workforce (HWF) annual investment dialogue in Harare on Thursday, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said achieving the ambitious targets also requires progressively increasing per-capita health workforce investment.
Guided by the Health Labour Market Analysis of 2022, the government developed the HWF Strategy (2023–2030) and subsequently the Zimbabwe Health Workforce Investment Compact (2024–2026).
“These frameworks provide us with a clear national roadmap and measurable commitments. Through the Compact, Zimbabwe has committed to doubling the health workforce by 2030, creating and sustaining 32 000 new posts, reducing attrition by 50 percent, expanding annual training output to at least 7 000 graduates.
“This intervention recognises that retention is not only about remuneration, but also about working conditions, accommodation, career development, welfare and professional recognition,” Dr Mombeshora said.
He said at the recent 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, health workforce issues featured prominently across multiple agenda items and high-level engagements.
“The global consensus emerging from those discussions was clear. Countries must invest sustainably in their own health workforce systems, strengthen domestic financing, improve retention, and avoid practices that weaken already fragile health systems through unchecked international recruitment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mombeshora said the government has already approved 8 785 new health worker posts for 2026 as authorities try to ease staffing shortages that have affected hospitals and clinics across the country for years, alongside problems linked to funding delays, staff retention, and migration of skilled workers.
New Ziana
