Zimbabwe health officials counted more people dying from HIV during the first six months this year. Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told parliament that 5,932 people died from AIDS between January and June 2025. The same period last year saw 5,712 deaths from the disease. That means 220 extra people lost their lives to HIV complications during those six months.
Some lawmakers worried that less money from other countries caused the problem. They asked if patients could not afford medicine because donor groups stopped giving support. Minister Mombeshora said funding cuts did not cause these deaths. He explained that Zimbabwe bought enough drugs before any budget problems started.
The country has medicine supplies that will last through September. More shipments are coming to cover the rest of 2025. Opposition politicians questioned the minister's explanation and wanted other reasons for the increase. They pressed him to find different causes behind the rising death numbers.
Zimbabwe has done well meeting global HIV treatment goals despite money challenges. The health department keeps watching the situation closely. Officials say they have enough medicine for everyone who needs HIV treatment across the country right now.
Some lawmakers worried that less money from other countries caused the problem. They asked if patients could not afford medicine because donor groups stopped giving support. Minister Mombeshora said funding cuts did not cause these deaths. He explained that Zimbabwe bought enough drugs before any budget problems started.
The country has medicine supplies that will last through September. More shipments are coming to cover the rest of 2025. Opposition politicians questioned the minister's explanation and wanted other reasons for the increase. They pressed him to find different causes behind the rising death numbers.
Zimbabwe has done well meeting global HIV treatment goals despite money challenges. The health department keeps watching the situation closely. Officials say they have enough medicine for everyone who needs HIV treatment across the country right now.
