Parliament says Zimbabwe should allocate funds for research into traditional medicines in 2022 budget

4.3   The extent to which the traditional and complementary medicines are being used in the management of COVID-19 virus and other diseases and ailments in Zimbabwe;

4.3.1 According to Dr. Ndoro, there is no scientific study in terms of the statistics on usage but it is generally believed that home remedies and traditional medicines are highly used by citizens.

4.3.2 Ms. Guhwa, the Registrar of the Traditional Medical Practice Council (TMPC) concurred with what Dr. Ndoro had submitted as she stated that traditional medical practice is based on individual knowledge which is not trained through formal institutions. Consequently, it becomes difficult to capture how the practitioners are treating patients and statistics on what the extent of usage is. However, she added that there has been strong indication via social media platforms that traditional medicines were used in Zimbabwe to combat COVID-19 symptoms.

4.3.3 Mr. Kandiero, the President of ZINATHA informed the Committee that Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) developed herbs that boost immune system and solve other respiratory complications related to COVID-19 virus. He added that zumbani and kunatira were common traditional methods widely used in Zimbabwe to combat COVID-19 virus symptoms.

4.3.4 Mr. Kandiero stated that as a matter of policy, TMPs refer COVID-19 suspected cases to the nearest health facility testing centre, thereafter if the cases tested positive, the TMPs could then assist using herbs.

4.3.5  He also informed the Committee that before the outbreak of COVID-19 virus, traditional and complementary medicines were being widely used in rural areas to treat various ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers among others where conventional medical services are sometimes inaccessible or not affordable.  He stated that the traditional medicines are preferred because they are cheap, believed to have less side effects and are easily accessible.

4.3.6   Ms. Guhwa added that limited accessibility to modern medicines contributed to the high demand of traditional medicines during the COVID-19 lockdown period due to restrictions on movement.

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