Government has intensified national preparedness measures against Ebola following the declaration of the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread into Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking during the Post Cabinet Brief in Harare this Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Soda Zhemu said the regional Ebola situation remains a cause for concern due to increased cross-border transmission and population mobility within the region.
“The World Health Organisation has since 17 May 2026 declared the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with extension into Uganda, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” he said.
He noted that as of 22 May 2026, the outbreak had recorded 750 cases in the DRC and initially two confirmed imported cases in Uganda, which have since risen to five.
“Zimbabwe’s risk is primarily driven by population mobility across regional borders, necessitating strengthened early detection, rapid containment capacity and revamped border health security measures,” said Minister Zhemu.
He assured the nation that Zimbabwe already has systems in place to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.
“The nation is assured that Zimbabwe has an Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system in place, supported by weekly epidemiological reporting and trained surveillance personnel,” he said.
Minister Zhemu said the Government was, however, taking further steps to strengthen the country’s preparedness in light of the evolving regional situation.
“While Zimbabwe has established preparedness systems under the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework.
The evolving regional Ebola Virus Disease situation presents an opportunity to further strengthen surveillance, real-time alert systems and coordination mechanisms to support rapid detection and containment of outbreaks,” he said.
Cabinet has since approved the establishment of a provisional Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness Contingency Fund aimed at enhancing the country’s emergency response capacity.
“The fund will be based on a rapid costed needs assessment covering critical areas such as surveillance systems, point-of-entry preparedness, laboratory strengthening, mobilisation of infection prevention and control commodities, as well as rapid response deployment,” he added.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials or infected animals.
Zimbabwe has previously activated emergency preparedness measures during regional Ebola outbreaks, particularly due to its close trade and travel links with neighbouring countries.
