By Patience Gondo
ZIMBABWE recorded another decline in tuberculosis (TB) cases, with the 2025 Global TB Report showing that national incidence fell to 203 cases per 100,000 people, marking a 3.8 percent reduction from 2023 and reinforcing the country’s steady progress in controlling one of its deadliest infectious diseases.
The latest figures place Zimbabwe among African states that continue to post year-on-year improvements, following expanded diagnostic coverage, strengthened community case finding and wider availability of shorter treatment regimens.
According to the Global TB report, treatment success for all forms of TB rose to 91 percent, up from 89 percent in 2023 an improvement attributed to better patient follow up, decentralised treatment services and increased use of all-oral regimens.
Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), historically one of the country’s most difficult areas, also showed measurable progress. Treatment success for DR-TB increased from 64 percent to 68 percent between the 2021 and 2022 cohorts, signalling improved clinical management amid global shortages of specialised medicines.
The report further shows a decline in TB/HIV co-infection rates, dropping from 51 percent in 2023 to 49 percent.
The Global TB report said the reduction demonstrates the impact of integrated testing, faster linkage to antiretroviral therapy and expanded access to TB preventive therapy critical in a region where HIV remains a major driver of new TB infections.
The release of the 2025 report comes amid warnings from global health agencies that shifting international funding priorities may affect TB programmes in low income countries. Zimbabwe has relied on external support for key components of TB control, including GeneXpert diagnostics, laboratory upgrades, DR-TB medicines and community surveillance.
Global TB report said maintaining gains will require stable donor financing, stronger domestic health investment and uninterrupted implementation of the National TB Strategic Plan. Any disruption, the report notes, could undermine progress in high risk populations such as miners, prisoners, people living with HIV and residents of overcrowded informal settlements.
Although TB remains one of Zimbabwe’s leading infectious diseases, the country has undergone significant programme reforms in recent years.
These include the expansion of molecular testing platforms, establishment of decentralised treatment sites, introduction of shorter and safer DR-TB regimens, and intensified community-level detection in rural and peri-urban areas.
The 2025 Global TB Report further said Zimbabwe’s performance aligns with global targets focused on reducing incidence and improving treatment outcomes.
However, sustained progress will depend on reinforced supply chains, community based case finding and consistent financing to withstand global funding shifts.