Zimbabwe has officially rolled out its latest HIV prevention tool, with Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora launching the first phase of the national programme for Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis that provides six months of protection per dose.

Launching the programme, Dr. Mombeshora said that the introduction of the new drug does not replace existing HIV prevention options but rather serves to complement them.

He encouraged the public to seek accurate information from trained health professionals regarding the new method.

The rollout positions Zimbabwe among the first countries globally to introduce the next-generation prevention method, with the initial phase targeting more than 46 000 individuals at high risk.

Priority groups include adolescent girls, young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and pregnant or breastfeeding women in areas with elevated infection rates.

Health officials have established 24 sites across priority urban centres including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare and Chitungwiza, with plans to expand to additional districts.

Nearly 400 health workers have already received specialised training to administer the injection and manage recipients.

Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor that blocks the protein shell the HIV virus needs to replicate, offering long-lasting protection without the need for daily pills. Clinical trials demonstrated significant efficacy, with zero infections recorded among women who received the drug in the PURPOSE 1 trial, and a 96 percent reduction compared to background incidence among men and transgender people in the PURPOSE 2 trial.

The first consignment of the drug arrived in the country two weeks ago and was cleared by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of ten countries for a global early access programme, reflecting international confidence in the country’s HIV response systems.

The initiation regimen requires two injections and oral tablets on day one, with follow-up injections administered every six months.

Health authorities have stressed that PrEP is strictly for individuals who test HIV negative and is neither a vaccine nor a cure.

Dr. Mombeshora reiterated that the new option does not replace individual responsibility in making informed decisions to protect oneself and others.

THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has moved urgently to dismiss what it describes as “false, malicious, and fraudulent” reports circulating that headmen and village heads are being forced to pay money to the Ministry’s Headquarters.

In a strongly worded statement issued today, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon.Daniel Garwe (MP), moved to kill the scam, making it clear that no traditional leader is required to pay a single cent to the government.

“The Ministry wishes to state that no Chief, Headman, or Village Head is required or instructed to make any form of payment to the Ministry.

“The Ministry operates strictly within the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Traditional Leaders Act, and all applicable public finance management laws.

“Any legitimate levies, allowances, or administrative processes involving traditional leaders are processed through lawful and established Government systems, and not through informal or personal channels,” said Hon. Garwe.

The Ministry’s intervention comes amid fears that fraudsters are preying on traditional leaders, who are constitutionally recognised as vital partners in governance and community development.

Members of the public and traditional leaders who encounter such demands have been urged to take immediate action.

“The Ministry advises members of the public and traditional leaders to report any such alleged cases to the Zimbabwe Republic Police or directly to the Ministry.

“The Ministry will not hesitate to act against any individuals or entities who are engaging in such misdemeanours,” he said.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the status, welfare, and constitutional mandate of traditional leaders, who play a key role in peace-building and grassroots development.

The rehabilitation of the strategic Birchenough–Murambinda Road has entered a critical phase, with priming works now underway to pave the way for surfacing, Transport and Infrastructural Development Director of Roads Engineer Jarawani Kangara has said.

The milestone marks a major step forward in the upgrading of the key rural corridor, a project being spearheaded under the Ministry’s aggressive nationwide road rehabilitation programme.

The Ministry stated that the project is a direct output of the Second Republic’s #KilometreByKilometre mantra, aligned with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the broader Vision 2030 agenda of attaining an upper-middle-income economy.

Once completed, the route will slash travel times and vehicle operating costs for thousands of commuters, farmers, and haulage trucks.

By unlocking access to markets, schools and health facilities, the road is expected to catalyse agricultural production in Buhera District and streamline the movement of goods into surrounding growth points.

“This is more than just an asphalt layer; it is a lifeline for trade and rural modernisation.

“The completion of the surfacing will be a game-changer for regional trade integration and local economic development,” said Eng. Kangara.

The project is part of a wider infrastructure push by the Government to ensure transport resilience and boost connectivity between key economic hubs and administrative centres across the country.