BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Zimbabwe is experiencing a sharp rise in malaria cases in 2026, with health experts warning that funding gaps, climate pressures and persistent transmission in high-risk areas are reversing years of progress.

Latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that by mid-April, the country had recorded over 65 000 malaria cases and 174 deaths, nearly double the numbers reported during the same period in 2025. The increase follows the premature closure of the Zimbabwe Assistance Programme in Malaria (ZAPIM), which had supported key prevention and control efforts.

Save the Children said the end of the programme has contributed to shortages of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, delays in vector control operations and weakened disease surveillance, particularly in vulnerable rural communities.

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) also warned that Zimbabwe recorded 154 000 malaria cases and 423 deaths in 2025, linking the continued spread of the disease to erratic rainfall, flooding and rising temperatures that have expanded mosquito breeding sites.  

In malaria-prone districts such as Binga, frontline health workers say the disease remains difficult to contain despite ongoing interventions.

Village health worker Margaret Bernard from Tindi said communities continue to receive support, including mosquito nets, medication and other supplies, but challenges persist.

“We do get assistance to fight malaria because Binga is prone to the disease. We receive mosquito nets, medication and other support,” she said. “But even with these interventions, it is still difficult to fully contain malaria here. The cases keep coming, especially during the rainy season.”

Zimbabwe had previously made significant progress in reducing malaria cases, with infections dropping sharply between 2023 and 2024 due to sustained investment and coordinated efforts. However, experts warn that without renewed funding and stronger community-level responses, those gains could be lost.

“Malaria remains preventable and treatable, but deaths are rising again,” CWGH said, calling for urgent action to strengthen prevention, improve treatment access and secure long-term funding.

BY STAFF REPORTER 

A 65-year-old Japanese tourist has been seriously injured after being attacked by an elephant near Victoria Falls, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).

In a statement on Thursday, ZimParks spokesperson Luckmore Safuli said Hidetoshi Matsumoto was attacked on Wednesday morning while walking alone along Big Tree Road, a route frequently used by visitors near the Victoria Falls Big Tree.

“A 65-year-old Japanese man by the name Hidetoshi Matsumoto, who was staying at the Rainbow Hotel in Victoria Falls, was attacked and injured by an elephant while walking along the Big Tree Road,” Safuli said.

He said the incident occurred at around 8 am.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are that on 22 April 2026 at around 0800 hours, Hidetoshi Matsumoto was alone walking along the Big Tree Road when an elephant emerged from nowhere and attacked him. Hidetoshi sustained severe injuries all over his body and was immediately rushed to Health Bridge Private Hospital for medical treatment,” he added.

Matsumoto was taken to Health Bridge Private Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

ZimParks said rangers had been deployed to track down what it described as the “problem elephant”.

“Meanwhile, ZimParks rangers are on the ground searching for the problem elephant,” Safuli said.

He added that further details would be released as investigations continue and efforts to locate the animal progress.

Wildlife authorities have previously warned visitors to exercise caution when walking in areas bordering national parks, where wild animals can roam freely.
SOURCE: CITE

BY STAFF REPORTER 

Leading fintech platform EcoCash has launched an all-in-one “super app” integrating payments, chat and lifestyle services into a single platform, in a push to deepen digital financial inclusion.

Developed by Sasai Fintech, a unit of Cassava Technologies, the app signals EcoCash’s shift towards a fully integrated digital and social ecosystem that goes beyond traditional payments.

In a statement, EcoCash said the platform responds to growing demand for seamless, mobile-first solutions that combine communication and transactions.

“With mobile devices now central to how people live, work and transact, we have reimagined the EcoCash app to deliver a secure, convenient and integrated digital experience,” the company said.

A key feature is social payments, allowing users to send and receive money within chat conversations without switching apps. The platform also includes automated bill-splitting, enabling users to divide shared costs in real time.

The app integrates merchant payments, bill settlements, and airtime and data purchases into a single interface, aiming to reduce transaction time and data costs.

EcoCash said the platform also supports content monetisation, allowing users to create and earn income directly, targeting Zimbabwe’s growing community of digital creators and small businesses.

The company said the super app forms part of a broader innovation pipeline that will include stablecoin-based remittances and other digital financial services, supported by investments in artificial intelligence.

Sasai Fintech recently partnered with Circle, an internet financial platform company, to advance stablecoin adoption in Africa.