• Zimbabwe's fast-food and street-vending sector has boomed amid high unemployment and informality, but this growth has fuelled a sharp rise in diet-related NCDs
• Hypertension >30%, adult overweight/obesity at 35% in urban areas (2025 ZimLAC), and obesity prevalence ~14.2% overall (higher in women at 27.9%)
• The government has implemented fiscal tools under NDS2and in 2025,  a sugar levy on SSBs  plus a 0.5% fast-food tax with early signs of industry adaptation
• Smuggling, cheap high-sugar imports, and low public awareness limit behavioural impact

Sources: WHO African Region Analysis, Equity Axis

Harare- Zimbabwe remains a highly informalised economy, severely affected by high unemployment rates that have driven millions to pursue livelihoods through self-employment and small-scale enterprises. One of the most visible and rapidly expanding sectors has been the food industry, especially fast foods and street vending.

In any corner of Harare, from the central business district to high-density suburbs, small shops, roadside stalls, and mobile vendors sell chips, burgers, hotdogs, sadza with stew, and fried chicken.

The formal segment is dominated by Simbisa Brands, which operates well-known chains such as Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn, Baker’s Inn, and franchises like Nando’s, alongside international brands including KFC and Chicken Slice, all of which have expanded aggressively in urban areas.

Meanwhile, informal entrepreneurs are present at virtually every street corner, traffic light, and market, frying chips and preparing quick meals, a low-barrier, reliable way to earn a living in an environment where formal job opportunities are scarce.

However, the explosive growth of this fast-food culture carries a heavy price: the alarming surge in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are claiming more lives and placing enormous strain on families and the health system.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases account for approximately 74% of all global deaths, with unhealthy diets among the top risk factors. In Zimbabwe, this global pattern is intensified by local conditions.

Ministry of Health statistics indicate adult hypertension prevalence exceeding 30%, with diabetes cases rising steadily. The 2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) urban report found that 35% of adults aged 18–59 are overweight or obese, a marked increase that highlights a deepening public health crisis overburdening an already stretched health system and pushing many households into catastrophic expenditure.

Age-standardised adult obesity prevalence is estimated at around 14.2% overall (27.9% among women and 5.6% among men), while diabetes affects roughly 7–8.5% of adults, often remaining undiagnosed until advanced stages.

The government has acknowledged this escalating threat and is responding through a mix of fiscal measures and planned regulatory reforms under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). Over the next five years, amendments to the Public Health Act and Food and Food Standards Act are expected to curb the aggressive promotion and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

Two important fiscal instruments are already in operation. In early 2024, Zimbabwe introduced a sugar levy on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), initially set at US$0.002 per gram of sugar and later reduced to US$0.001. The tax has demonstrated strong revenue performance.

By September 2024 it had generated US$24 million (US$18 million in the first quarter alone), and collections surpassed US$30 million in the first half of 2025, with total “sin tax” receipts reaching approximately US$38 million by the end of 2025. These funds are being directed to priority health interventions, including the procurement of cancer treatment equipment and the production of essential medicines.

Early signs of behavioural change are emerging. In its FY2025 and HY2026 financial results, Delta Corporation reported a decline in sweetened sugar drinks and an increase in artificially sweetened alternatives.

The country’s largest sugar producer, Hippo Valley Estates, noted a reduction in raw sugar uptake among major clients such as Delta and Dairibord, a trend partly attributed to the high sugar taxes.

On 19 January 2026, the Ministry of Health and Child Care announced the installation of new cancer treatment equipment at Parirenyatwa Hospital, with a second tranche manufactured and en route, alongside plans to decommission outdated equipment at Mpilo Hospital and relocate it to Gweru to create space for the new machines.

While raw sugar consumption has declined leading Hippo Valley and Star Africa to increase exports dumping of both legal and illegal sugar and high sugar content drinks persists. Foreign sugar brands, many not fortified with Vitamin A, remain widely available, and high-sugar, high-acidity fizzy drinks often imported or locally manufactured are sold cheaply, sometimes at promotional prices of US$1 for four 300 ml bottles.

In an economically challenged country like Zimbabwe, where price often takes precedence for the majority, these affordable options pose a significant long-term health risk: the cost of treating cancer, hypertension, or diabetes can run into thousands of dollars, or even cost a life.

Complementing the sugar levy, a 0.5% fast-food tax came into effect on 1 January 2025, levied on the sales value of branded fast-food items such as pizzas, burgers, and fried chicken at restaurants and outlets.

The tax has been successful in revenue terms, collecting approximately US$954,912 by mid-2025, though it has imposed costs nearing US$1 million on major brands like Simbisa.

However, a significant portion of both rural and urban consumers remain unaware of the health objectives behind the tax, largely due to inadequate public awareness campaigns. While it provides a solid start for revenue, its long-term success in achieving health goals and influencing informal trade remains under scrutiny as the year progresses.

These measures draw inspiration from proven international examples. Mexico’s 2014 sugary drinks tax reduced purchases by around 7.6% in the first two years, with greater reductions among lower-income households and sustained effects over time. Chile’s front-of-pack warning labels (black octagons highlighting high sugar, salt, or fat) and advertising restrictions decreased sugary drink consumption, encouraged product reformulation, and raised consumer awareness.

South Africa’s Health Promotion Levy (introduced in 2018 on sugary beverages) achieved price increases, sales declines, and some reformulation, despite ongoing challenges with informal markets. Other African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, have advanced NCD prevention through multi-sectoral plans, tobacco and alcohol controls, and community screening programmes, while Ghana and Rwanda have strengthened primary healthcare for NCDs using mobile clinics and insurance schemes.

Globally, the United Kingdom’s 2018 sugar tax on soft drinks drove reformulation and reduced sugar intake, and WHO “best buy” interventions such as taxes, labelling, and education have proven cost-effective in reducing premature NCD deaths across various regions.

Despite encouraging revenue results and early signs of industry adaptation, measurable reductions in NCD prevalence or consumption patterns are not yet strongly evident in Zimbabwe. This is partly because tax rates remain relatively modest and enforcement faces significant structural challenges. The country’s food economy is dominated by the informal sector: street vendors, unregistered producers, and small retailers account for the majority of fast-food distribution.

Enforcing advertising standards, mandatory labelling, or product reformulation in this setting is extremely difficult. Formal chains like Simbisa and KFC may comply more readily, but unhealthy products continue to flow through informal channels.

To achieve lasting impact, the government must pair taxes with complementary measures. Targeted incentives and technical assistance for small producers and vendors to develop healthier alternatives are essential, alongside sustained public education campaigns that clearly explain the long-term health and financial costs of poor diets.

Clear, simple front-of-pack labelling, hard and fast rules on imports, integration of nutrition education into schools and community programmes, and workplace wellness initiatives healthier canteen options, reduced sugary drinks, nutrition talks, and activity promotion can also drive meaningful change.

Globally, companies such as Johnson & Johnson have saved hundreds of millions of dollars through lower medical costs and improved productivity, and similar strategies are beginning to emerge in some Zimbabwean banks, mining companies, and agribusinesses to enhance employee health in a skills-scarce economy.

The way forward demands policy coherence, stronger enforcement capacity, and authentic multi-sector partnerships that include government, formal and informal industry players, civil society, schools, and employers. Zimbabwe has established important foundations through the SSB levy, fast-food tax, and forthcoming reforms.

These initiatives reflect a genuine commitment to safeguarding public health in a context where fast-food vending has become a vital lifeline for many unemployed citizens. Translating these tools into lower NCD rates, healthier eating habits, and reduced pressure on the health system will require bolder, more inclusive implementation and enduring collaboration. The lives and livelihoods of millions depend on striking the right balance.

Equity Axis News