Control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) heavily relies on universal access to testing to identify who is infected; tracking them to make sure they do not spread the disease further; and tracing those with whom they have been in contact. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe is an urgent national public health concern and requires coordinated efforts to scale up testing using capacity already in existence in country. There is need for substantial decentralization of testing, investment in better working conditions for frontline health workers and implementation of measures to curb corruption within government structures

Conclusion

Zimbabwe’s limited testing capacity has been mainly due to inadequate investment by its government, over the years, to the health system. The government must increase its own financial investment in the response to COVID-19 and not be solely dependent on international donors. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases is an urgent public health concern and requires coordinated efforts to ramp up testing to meet capacity already in existence incountry. There is need for substantial decentralization of testing from the current provincial level to district level. Zimbabwe needs to invest in better salaries and working conditions for its frontline health workers and decisively deal with graft within its structures.