Zimbabweans Shocked As Country Needs US$10 Million to Buy Condoms

Zimbabweans Shocked As US$10 Million Needed to Buy Condoms

Zimbabweans have reacted with shock and disbelief to the news that the country requires a staggering $10 million to purchase condoms for the years 2025 and 2026. This financial requirement is due to the withdrawal of funding for the condom program by international donors.

Zimbabwe has three main condom distribution channels: the public sector, where condoms are provided for free; the social sector, where condoms are sold at a nominal price; and the commercial sector. The majority of Zimbabweans who use condoms obtain them from the public sector.

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, public-sector distribution of male condoms increased by over 6 million in 2023 compared to 2022. The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund have been the two primary sources of funding for Zimbabwe’s public-sector condom program since 2007. However, both donors have recently announced that they will not be channelling resources towards the program in 2026.

The Ministry of Health’s national coordinator for STI prevention and condom distribution, Ms Anna Machiya, revealed that Zimbabwe needs to raise $1.8 million to cover the funding gap for female condoms in 2025 and an additional $9.4 million for both male and female condoms in 2026.

“For 2025, we have US$1,96 million committed from Global Fund and about US$2,15 million committed from PEPFAR so we have a funding gap of US$1,8 million for female condoms. In 2026, there is no committed funding for both male and female condoms so we require US$9,4 million,” she said.

After the headline was shared by The Herald, Zimbabweans expressed shock that such an eye-popping amount is needed to buy condoms. Here are some of the reactions:

@DandadziTafara:

We need to invest in AMR r&D. We need serious leaders… this is another way to swindle taxpayers money

@NoelMwendas:

Bantu can we stop this mjolo and we save 10million us dollars to make Zim a prosporous nation, but why Zim things are akways so overdramatised in their costs saka ma condomu akuita 10 million US dollars

@21twentyone5:

…and the condom tender goes to Wicknell Chivhayo a health and diseases expert who has a record of suppliying tough durable condoms to 1st world countries. 😂

@GeorgeMati31906:

We are in trouble. Another tender?

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