SHUPIKAI Sithole (54), a cancer patient, exemplifies the desperation felt by many Zimbabweans.
After receiving inadequate care in her home country, her family made the difficult decision to cross into neighbouring Zambia, where they found better facilities, including a computerised cancer diagnosis machine at Mtendere Mission Hospital in Chirundu.
This stark contrast underscores the advanced health technologies available in Zambia compared to Zimbabwe’s struggling system.
“The day I was diagnosed, my world shattered. The doctor’s words echoed in my mind and all I could think about was the fight ahead of me. The health care system in my country has been crumbling for years,” said Sithole fighting back tears.
“I had hoped that I would find the support I needed at the local hospital. I went there, desperate and terrified, but what I encountered left me feeling even more hopeless.
“The hospital was overcrowded and the staff seemed overwhelmed. I was told that the necessary treatment and medication for my condition was often unavailable.
“I waited for hours, only to be sent home with vague assurances and a prescription for pain relief that I could barely afford.”
She revealed how a Good Samaritan brought the news of taking her to Mtendere Mission Hospital in neighbouring Zambia.
“As the days turned into weeks, my condition worsened. I watched my family grow increasingly worried, their faces etched with concern as they witnessed my decline.
“One evening, my cousin arrived with a glimmer of hope. ‘We can go to Zambia. They have better facilities there and I have heard they can help’,” Sithole said.
“I felt a mix of fear and relief. The thought of crossing the border was daunting, but the alternative — staying in Zimbabwe and continuing to suffer — seemed far worse. So, with a heavy heart and a flicker of hope, we set out on our journey.
“When we finally arrived at Mtendere Mission Hospital in Chirundu, I was greeted by an entirely different world. The hospital was clean and organised and I saw advanced medical technologies that I had only dreamed of. I was ushered into a consultation room, where a team of doctors listened carefully to my story.
“They were compassionate and knowledgeable, and for the first time in months, I felt like I was in capable hands. They explained the treatment options available to me, including cutting-edge therapies that were simply not accessible back home.”
Sithole added: “As I began my treatment, I felt a surge of hope. The medication was effective and the nurses were attentive, making sure I was comfortable throughout the process. I could see the difference in my body and spirit. The pain that had once consumed me started to fade, replaced by the strength to fight back against the disease.
“But amid the relief, I could not shake the thoughts of my fellow Zimbabweans who were still suffering. I knew I was one of the lucky ones. Many others, like Tom Shiriyedenga, were left behind, battling their illnesses in a system that had failed them. I often thought about how unfair it was that the quality of my care depended on a border crossing.
“Now, as I continue my treatment in Zambia, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities I have received and a deep concern for those who remain in Zimbabwe, struggling to get the help they need. I hope that one day, no one will have to embark on a journey like mine just to receive basic healthcare. Until then, I will continue to speak out, to share my story, and to advocate for better health services in my beloved Zimbabwe.”
Shiriyedenga’s tragic experience further illustrates the dire situation.
After losing his wife due to inadequate medical care in Zimbabwe, he represents countless others who have faced devastating consequences due to the failing health infrastructure.
His story reflects the emotional toll and the urgent need for reform in Zimbabwe’s health services.
“It’s been months since that fateful day in June when she took her last breath, but the pain is still fresh as if it were yesterday. Mary was my partner, my confidante, and the mother of our three beautiful children. She filled our home with laughter and love, and I can hardly understand how I am supposed to move forward without her,” said Shiriyedenga.
“Mary was involved in a tragic accident back in May 2024. I can still see the moment I rushed to the hospital, my heart racing with fear. But what greeted me there was a nightmare I never prepared for. The hospital was chaotic, understaffed and ill-equipped to handle her injuries. Days turned into weeks as I watched her struggle, fighting for her life in a system that seemed to have abandoned her.
“I remember pleading with the doctors, desperately asking for better care, for more resources. But our hospital was overwhelmed; they had no adequate medications, no specialists to attend to her needs. I felt helpless, a bystander in the fight for my wife’s life. I could see the toll it was taking on her, and it tore me apart.”
He added: “As I held her hand in those final moments, I could feel the warmth leaving her body. I told her I loved her, that I would always cherish our memories, but deep down, I felt the crushing weight of failure. I could not save her. The tears streamed down my face as I watched her slip away, a victim of a broken health system that failed to provide the support she needed.
“Now, I stand at her grave, surrounded by the laughter of our children who still don’t fully grasp that their mother is gone. They ask questions that haunt me: ‘When will mommy come back?’ All I can do is hold them close and fight back my tears, wishing I could shield them from this pain.
“I often think about the choices we had to make. If only we could have crossed the border into Zambia, where I hear the health care facilities are better equipped, where people are receiving the care they deserve. But we were left with no options, trapped in a system that left us stranded in our time of need.
“As I navigate the days without Mary, I find myself advocating for change, for better health care in Zimbabwe. I want to honour her memory by ensuring that no one else has to endure the same heartbreak we faced. No family should have to make the choice between life and death based on the inadequacies of a health care system.”
The economic and political challenges in Zimbabwe have exacerbated the health care crisis, leading to a significant number of citizens crossing into Zambia for affordable medical services.
Many Zimbabweans are unable to find quality care at home, prompting them to seek alternatives in neighbouring countries where health care costs are significantly lower.
In this case, Mtendere Mission Hospital has become the destination of many Zimbabwean patients.
The hospital is a non-profit institution belonging to the Zambian Catholic Diocese of Monze.
The hospital functions thanks to contributions of the Catholic Diocese of Milano in Italy, the Sisters of Charity of St Capitanio and Gerosa (also called Sisters of the child Mary), the Zambian government and donations from international organisations and non-governmental organisations.
Itai Rusike, the executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, said it is high time authorities prioritise the health sector.
“Zimbabwe’s health sector suffers from inadequate public health infrastructure and a shortage of essential services. Patients often must travel long distances to access basic care, facing barriers such as lack of transportation and insufficient medical supplies,” he said.
“The ongoing issues within Zimbabwe’s health care system are compounded by the exodus of health care workers seeking better opportunities elsewhere.
“This has resulted in a poorly performing health system that relies heavily on out-of-pocket expenses, which is unsustainable and inconsistent with achieving universal health coverage.”
Rusike called for the government to re-prioritise health and address the fundamental challenges facing the sector.
“The current situation denies many Zimbabweans their constitutional right to health care, as outlined in section 76 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, which guarantees access to basic health services for all citizens," he said.
An official from Mtendere Mission Hospital, who declined to be named, confirmed that the medical institution is flooded with Zimbabwean patients.
“The hospital has seen an influx of Zimbabwean patients, some who travel unexpected distances seeking medical care. It is not a secret that most patients attended here daily are from across the border,” the official said.
The trend of Zimbabweans seeking healthcare in Zambia reflects a broader issue of health care accessibility in the region.
Some Zimbabwean patients seek medical attention across the mighty Limpopo River in South Africa, where they are offered quality medical care.
As the crisis continues, it is crucial for the Zimbabwean government to take decisive action to improve the health care system, ensuring that all citizens have access to the medical services they need.
The stories of individuals such as Sithole and Shiriyedenga serve as poignant reminders of the urgent need for reform and the right to health care for every Zimbabwean.