Zimbabwe Donates and Loans ARVs to Botswana to Stabilise Supply

1 November 2025

By Nokusa Masuku

Zimbabwe has delivered a consignment of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to Botswana, with part of the shipment donated and the rest provided as a loan to help the neighbouring country manage a temporary shortage.

Botswana’s Ministry of Health confirmed the arrangement, stating that 20% of the consignment was donated outright by Zimbabwe, while the remainder was extended as a loan.

Speaking during the handover in Harare, Botswana’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sarah Sithabile Molosiwa said the gesture from Zimbabwe was greatly appreciated by her government and the people of Botswana.

“We are here today to witness the departure of these legacies that have been taken to Botswana following a request from the Embassy of Botswana, which is the Executive Office of the Government of Botswana here in Zimbabwe,” she said.

“I want to appreciate, on behalf of my country and our President, President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, we really appreciate the gesture that has been made by Zimbabwe especially of the donation…,” she added.

She confirmed that she had been shown the stock by company officials and verified the ARVs matched the request made by Botswana.

“Right now we have just been taken around the warehouse by the MD and the branch manager and we have seen the stock that is inside.

“We have also been taken around to see the drugs that are truly, these are the drugs that were requested from Botswana. They have just been loaded and the drugs are ready to be carried from Botswana,” she confirmed.

The move reflects long-standing cooperation between the two countries and is intended to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines during procurement delays.