By Children’s Voices Reporter
Zimbabwe malaria cases have surged to 65,399, with 174 deaths recorded since the beginning of 2026, raising concern for children who remain among the most vulnerable to the disease.
In a statement released on April 24, 2026, Save the Children said malaria cases recorded by mid-April had nearly doubled from the 36,421 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.
“Last year’s aid cuts have hugely set us back,” Save the Children country director for Zimbabwe and Malawi, Bhekimpilo Khanye, said.
The organisation said Zimbabwe had recorded 17,539 malaria cases and 34 deaths during the same period in 2024.
The rise follows the premature closure of the second phase of the Zimbabwe Assistance Program in Malaria, which supported the National Malaria Control Programme under the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The programme helped Zimbabwe reduce malaria cases through mosquito net distribution, vector control, disease surveillance and community-level prevention work.
experts say its closure caused shortages of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, delayed vector control operations and weakened disease surveillance.
Heavy rainfall and changing weather patterns also helped malaria spread in some communities, according to the organisation.
Khanye said communities, health workers, aid agencies and government had worked together for years to reduce malaria in Zimbabwe.
He said the country had made progress toward eliminating malaria in some regions before the programme stopped.
“We have seen a complete reversal,” Khanye said.
Zimbabwe made the greatest global gains in malaria reduction in 2024, both in incidence and mortality.
The country reduced malaria cases by 76.6% from 2023 to 2024 and was on track for further progress in 2025.
Sustained investment by international partners helped Zimbabwe record those gains.
Malaria remains one of the leading global causes of death among young children, especially in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
The warning came on the eve of World Malaria Day, which was marked on April 25.
Malaria can cause fever, weakness, school absenteeism and death when families fail to access treatment early.
Children face a high risk because severe malaria can quickly affect their health, learning and survival.
Save the Children urged global donors and leaders to renew investment in malaria prevention and treatment.
Khanye said renewed action could help Zimbabwe bring malaria numbers down and “save lives in Zimbabwe.”
The organisation said Zimbabwe can still eliminate malaria if the country receives predictable and long-term support for prevention, treatment and surveillance.
It said it is scaling up emergency support for vulnerable children through food security, health, nutrition, education and child protection programmes.
