Zimbabwean health experts have criticised the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) for its decision to move its 2026 annual all-stakeholders conference to Johannesburg, marking the first time the flagship event will be held outside the country.
The conference, scheduled for September 2-5 2026, was originally slated for Victoria Falls but was relocated due to ongoing renovations at the intended venue. As one of the most significant events on the national health calendar, it typically draws policymakers, medical aid societies, and government officials, including the Health and Child Care minister.
Medical experts have raised concerns that the relocation will have negative economic and symbolic consequences. Johannes Marisa, president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association, argued that the conference traditionally generates vital revenue for local hotels, transport operators, and small-scale suppliers.
"At a time when affordability of health insurance remains a major challenge for Zimbabweans, keeping such events within the country helps ensure that value generated by the sector circulates back into the same communities that fund it," Marisa said. He warned that "exporting value" could weaken public trust while patients and providers face significant funding constraints.
Public policy specialist Marlon Ralph Nyakabau added that consistently moving major events abroad hinders the development of local conference infrastructure in cities such as Harare, Bulawayo, and Mutare. He noted that because medical aid societies rely on contributions from Zimbabwean citizens and employers, hosting the event in South Africa causes significant foreign currency to leave the local ecosystem.
However, AHFoZ chief executive Shylet Sanyanga defended the move, stating the board resolved to use a South African venue after their usual site advised it would be undergoing renovations.
"There are no other suitable venues with capacity for both accommodation and conferencing," Sanyanga said, suggesting the decision reflected a collective position of association stakeholders.
Sanyanga also addressed the specific objections raised by Nyakabau, claiming that while he had registered a protest, he had failed to provide alternative venue proposals as promised and instead initiated a petition. She noted that delegates from medical aid societies account for only 20% of attendees, with the majority of participants coming from other local, regional, and international sectors.
Experts said they intend to engage AHFoZ and its members to reconsider the decision in a bid to support local businesses and national development.