Staff reporter
Zimbabwe's commitment to combating HIV and AIDS has received global recognition, particularly for the innovative AIDS levy that has played a pivotal role in the country's efforts against the epidemic.
In an interview with, the CEO of Zimbabwe's National AIDS Council, Dr Bernard Madzima, highlighted that the aids levy, a mandatory tax imposed on individuals and businesses, has provided a steady stream of funding for prevention, treatment, care and support services.
“In Zimbabwe, the AIDS levy has been a lifeline, ensuring consistent funding for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services over the past two decades. This year, the International AIDS conference was held in Munich, Germany and the key issues which came out in terms of HIV and AIDS going forward were the issues of leadership. We need to have a strong political leadership if we are going to end AIDS by 2030. In that regard, Zimbabwe was praised as a model for sustainable HIV programming,” said Dr Madzima.
Dr Madzima underscored the vital role of strong political leadership in the quest to end AIDS by 2030, highlighting Zimbabwe’s AIDS levy as a prime example of how effective government policy can drive a sustainable response to the pandemic.
“Zimbabwe’s commitment through the AIDS levy demonstrates that, with the right leadership, we can mobilize resources and create lasting change. The conference also stressed the importance of science-led approaches, particularly the need to make long-acting antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) widely accessible to prevent HIV transmission.
“Additionally, the conference underscored the role of community leadership in managing HIV at the grassroots level, ensuring that everyone plays a part in the ongoing battle against the virus,” he explained.
The success of Zimbabwe’s AIDS levy is further evidenced by the country’s achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those treated to achieve viral suppression.
This accomplishment demonstrates the effectiveness of the levy in facilitating widespread HIV testing, treatment, and viral load suppression.
