Lincoln Towindo-Deputy National Editor

GOVERNMENT has earmarked ZiG3,9 billion (about US$140 million) this year for the rehabilitation, upgrade and construction of health facilities countrywide, marking one of the largest single-year investments in public health infrastructure.

The massive outlay, outlined in the 2026 Zimbabwe Infrastructure Development Programme unveiled by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, will be channelled towards refurbishing major referral hospitals, constructing new district and rural hospitals as well as procuring modern medical equipment.

Funding will also be directed towards the development of new staff accommodation and strengthening of ambulance and digital health systems.

According to Treasury, the programme is anchored on an “aggressive upgrading and rehabilitation” drive aimed at closing long-standing infrastructure gaps in the public health sector.

“A total of ZiG3,9 billion has been allocated towards interventions aimed at enhancing our healthcare system by investing in the construction of health institutions, upgrading and modernisation of medical facilities,” reads the plan.

“In this regard, during 2026, our health infrastructure interventions will be centred on aggressive upgrading and rehabilitation of health facilities, procurement of medical equipment, accommodation facilities for medical personnel, other tools of trade including utility vehicles and ambulances, as well as new facilities in underserved areas.”

About a third of the total allocation will go towards the consolidation of ongoing rehabilitation works at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare (ZiG626 389 000) and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo (ZiG405 million), the country’s two largest referral institutions and the backbone of Zimbabwe’s tertiary healthcare system.

The works at Parirenyatwa represent the most extensive rehabilitation of the country’s largest referral hospital since it opened nearly 70 years ago as Andrew Fleming Hospital.

Both Parirenyatwa and Mpilo handle complex referrals from all provinces and serve as training centres for medical specialists.

Treasury said the rehabilitation of the two institutions will follow a phased implementation plan aligned to available financial resources, with priority given to critical clinical services and their supporting infrastructure.

One of the biggest single allocations in the programme is ZiG540 million for Lupane Provincial Hospital in Matabeleland North, which will go towards completion of Phase One construction works for 21 hospital buildings and procurement of medical equipment to make the hospital fully operational.

The Lupane project carries strong historical significance.

For more than two decades, Matabeleland North has remained the only province without a fully functional provincial hospital, forcing patients to travel long distances to Mpilo Central Hospital or United Bulawayo Hospitals for specialised care.

The idea of a provincial hospital in Lupane dates back to the early 2000s when Government designated the town as the provincial capital and earmarked it for major administrative and infrastructure development.

However, funding constraints stalled progress for years.

Once completed, Lupane Provincial Hospital is expected to become the main referral centre for districts such as Lupane, Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Binga and Hwange, dramatically reducing travel times for patients and easing pressure on Bulawayo’s central hospitals.

At Masvingo Provincial Hospital, Treasury has allocated ZiG135 million to upgrade the institution into a diagnostic, teaching and research hospital.

The investment will go towards constructing new purpose-built facilities and modernising existing infrastructure to align the hospital with its expanded teaching, referral and specialist care mandate.

Through ongoing collaboration with UK-based contractor — NMS Infrastructure — under the “Built to Care” programme, Government will also complete four ongoing district hospital projects at Manhize in Chikomba District, Rudhanda in Zaka District, Paradza in Chivi South and Lady Stanley in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South, at a total cost of ZiG540 million.

In addition, one new district hospital and five rural centres will be constructed this year, including a rural facility in Battlefields, Mashonaland West.

About ZiG798 million has been set aside for the construction, upgrading and renovation of provincial, district and rural hospitals, while an additional ZiG210 million will be directed towards the procurement of medical equipment for central and provincial hospitals, as well as ambulances.

A further ZiG27 million has been allocated for the development of the new Bindura Provincial Hospital in Mashonaland Central.

“The movement towards a digital economy necessitates that the digitalisation programmes be cascaded to include provision of health services, critical for ensuring efficiencies in service provisions and increased coverage and access to health services,” Treasury said.

The funding will also support the procurement of modern medical equipment, strengthening of ambulance services at all levels of care, construction of staff housing, installation of incinerators and upgrading of mortuary and cold room facilities across the country.

To ensure accountability and effective implementation, Government will establish a Project Steering Committee comprising the Office of the President and Cabinet, Treasury, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

The committee will define the scope of works, validate designs and bills of quantities, approve interim payment certificates and monitor and evaluate project performance.