Zim Calls for PPPs to Strengthen Healthcare System...

Zim Calls for PPPs to Strengthen Healthcare Systems

Rutendo Mazhindu - ZimNow Reporter

Zimbabwe has urged African governments to strengthen public private partnerships (PPPs) in order to build resilient, equitable, and accessible primary healthcare systems across the continent.

Speaking during the first panel session at the 4th Africa Health ExCon in Egypt, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, said governments cannot achieve healthcare goals without the involvement of key partners.

“The journey toward resilient, equitable and accessible primary healthcare in Africa cannot be walked by the public sector alone,” said Kwidini.

“The private sector, civil society, the diaspora, international partners, and we as custodians of African health systems all have vital roles to play, each bringing unique capabilities, resources and innovations to the table.”

Kwidini was a panellist in the opening session themed "Strengthening Public Private Partnerships for Effective Primary Healthcare: Ecosystems, Challenges and Enablers.” He is leading Zimbabwe’s delegation at the ExCon, which is running from June 24 to 27, 2025, at the Egyptian International Convention Centre (EICC) in Cairo.

Now in its fourth edition, the 2025 Africa Health ExCon is focusing on two transformative themes “The Localisation of Manufacturing and the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare” and “Innovation and Independence: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Local Manufacturing to Strengthen African Health.”

The event brings together African ministers of health, senior policy makers, private sector executives, and international organisations working to localise pharmaceutical manufacturing, scale up innovations, and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported healthcare solutions.

Zimbabwe’s delegation is expected to engage in high-level bilateral meetings, explore investment opportunities in health innovation, and participate in sessions addressing challenges in workforce development, digital health infrastructure, and regional cooperation.

“This platform gives us a rare opportunity to align our national goals with continental priorities,” Kwidini said.

“We are here to forge partnerships that not only serve Zimbabwe but advance Africa’s collective health resilience.”