Zimbabwe is a country located in southern Africa. It shares its borders with South Africa to the south, Zambia to the north, Mozambique to the east and Botswana to the west. Harare, the largest city and at the same time the capital, lies in the northeastern part of the land.

Zimbabwe’s population is about 17 million, with the average age of a citizen being 18. The political system is a constitutional democracy and most of its population practices Christianity. Despite its vast size, natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, HIV in Zimbabwe remains a significant public health challenge.

The Prevalence of HIV

HIV in Zimbabwe is becoming an increasingly serious problem. In 2024, about 1.3 million people were living with the virus, most of whom were adults. Notably, women made up a significantly larger share of those affected, with 740,000 cases compared to 490,000 among men.

Despite the progress made in prevention and treatment, economic instability and limited public health funding continue to threaten the country’s response to HIV. The national currency’s devaluation and rising inflation have reduced health care budgets and led to shortages of medicines in some regions.

In early 2025, cuts and freezes in international funding, including a temporary suspension of economic support, took effect. As a result, several HIV clinics closed and the ARV supply was interrupted, leaving thousands without help. Experts and health organizations have warned that such disruptions could reverse years of progress in HIV control and treatment adherence.

Key Populations

In Zimbabwe, key populations, especially female sex workers, bear a substantially higher burden of HIV than the general population. About half of female sex workers have HIV in Zimbabwe. The prevention is difficult because many in the key population don’t even know their HIV status, spreading the illness further.

Women and girls, despite progress in some areas of education, remain underrepresented in formal employment and are more exposed to poverty. Many women rely on the informal sector for income, such as street vending and odd jobs, which often yield irregular earnings, making it difficult to afford health care, clinic transport or consistent treatment. In some cases, the urgency to provide for dependents leads to “survival sex” or informal transactional relationships.

Fighting HIV

Zimbabwe has made significant progress in combating HIV, with strong backing from the Global Fund, PEPFAR, UNDP and local civil society groups. According to recent reports, about 93% of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe know their status, 98% of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 95% of those on ART have achieved viral suppression. However, sustaining these gains remains a challenge.

Despite substantial external support, Zimbabwe faces a funding gap of about $133 million in 2024 to fully meet the resource needs outlined in its strategic HIV plan. Recent freezes and reductions in donor funding, including from USAID, have raised serious concerns about maintaining services, clinics, ART supply and outreach, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

With continued, focused commitment from international partners and increased domestic investment, Zimbabwe aims to maintain and strengthen HIV prevention and treatment services. Key elements include expanding local funding sources, ensuring that services for key populations remain prioritized, sustaining supply chains for ART and scaling up testing, prevention and care innovations.

– Julia Skowrońska

Julia is based in Wrocław, Poland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr