Advancing multisectoral public health Leadership and governance in Zimbabwe: The role of the public health advisor to the president and cabinet in the highest office of the land
1
Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
2
East, Central and Southern Africa college of public health physicians (ECSA-COPHP), Harare, Zimbabwe
3
Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians (ZCPHP), Harare, Zimbabwe
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3603
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Zimbabwe’s health system has evolved through successive reform. From a colonial apparatus designed to serve a minority, to a post-independence system oriented toward equity, the evolution of Zimbabwe’s health system reflects the country’s broader governance trajectory and its commitment to high-level coordination that supports multisectoral approaches.
OBJECTIVE:
To highlight how the newly created position of the Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet plays a critical role in institutionalizing best practices and in leading and providing high level coordination of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on science driven public health policies and strategies that cut across sectors.
METHODS:
Narrative of how lessons learnt from the multisectoral Zimbabwe COVID-19 pandemic response resulted in the institutionalization of best practices including the high level intersectoral coordination and development of key public health policies and strategies led from the Office of the President and Cabinet.
RESULTS:
The Office of the Public Health Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet has led and provided high level coordination of Government MDAs and other stakeholders in the development of the Zimbabwe Multisectoral National Drug and Substance Abuse (DSA) Strategic Plan (2024-2030) covering DSA as a new health and security threat. It has also helped draft a Bill for establishment of a DSA Control Agency and led in formulating a National One Health Strategic Plan (2026-2030). The strategies were launched by His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa demonstrating the highest-level commitment to science driven multisectoral public health strategies and approaches.
CONCLUSIONS:
Prioritizing public health leadership and governance from the highest office is essential for the coordination of national public health priority areas that cut across sectors. This approach ensures that Zimbabwe’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage and the nation’s vision of an upper middle-income society by 2030 is realized.
Zimbabwe’s health system has evolved through successive reform. From a colonial apparatus designed to serve a minority, to a post-independence system oriented toward equity, the evolution of Zimbabwe’s health system reflects the country’s broader governance trajectory and its commitment to high-level coordination that supports multisectoral approaches.
OBJECTIVE:
To highlight how the newly created position of the Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet plays a critical role in institutionalizing best practices and in leading and providing high level coordination of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on science driven public health policies and strategies that cut across sectors.
METHODS:
Narrative of how lessons learnt from the multisectoral Zimbabwe COVID-19 pandemic response resulted in the institutionalization of best practices including the high level intersectoral coordination and development of key public health policies and strategies led from the Office of the President and Cabinet.
RESULTS:
The Office of the Public Health Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet has led and provided high level coordination of Government MDAs and other stakeholders in the development of the Zimbabwe Multisectoral National Drug and Substance Abuse (DSA) Strategic Plan (2024-2030) covering DSA as a new health and security threat. It has also helped draft a Bill for establishment of a DSA Control Agency and led in formulating a National One Health Strategic Plan (2026-2030). The strategies were launched by His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa demonstrating the highest-level commitment to science driven multisectoral public health strategies and approaches.
CONCLUSIONS:
Prioritizing public health leadership and governance from the highest office is essential for the coordination of national public health priority areas that cut across sectors. This approach ensures that Zimbabwe’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage and the nation’s vision of an upper middle-income society by 2030 is realized.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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