The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced that a new board has been appointed.
In a statement, MCAZ said the board was appointed in line with Medicines and Allied Substances Control and Public Entities Corporate Governance Acts.
“The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is pleased to inform all stakeholders and members of the public that its new Board was formally inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The inauguration was officiated by the Honourable Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora.
“The new Board was constituted in terms of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act [Cap 15:03] and Section 11 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Cap 10:31], following the endorsement of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa,”read the statement .
The Board comprises Dr. Clifford Chiura as Chairperson and Dr. Emily Wonesai Waniwa as Vice Chairperson, together with six Board members, namely Dr. Tatenda Nyagura, Dr. Brian Paketh, Mr. Gerald Nyamutamba, Dr. Godfrey Matsika, Mr. Portifa Mwendera, and Dr. Raiva Simbi. The entire Board serves from 08 May 2026 to 08 May 2030. However, the Minister also highlighted that the ministry would appoint 4 more members to complete the board’s full composition.
Officiating at the inauguration, Honourable Minister Dr Mombeshora underscored the gravity of the Board’s statutory responsibilities, reminding the newly inaugurated members that they are not a ceremonial body but rather the statutory governance structure responsible for oversight, policy direction, and accountability of this critical regulatory agency.
The Minister noted that Zimbabwe has attained WHO Maturity Level 3, signifying a stable and functional regulatory system, and challenged the Board to drive the Authority to WHO Maturity Level 4, positioning MCAZ as an excellent, trusted, reference regulator for the region. Taking into consideration the recent assessment by the World Health Organization African Region World Health Organization (WHO).
The Honourable Minister further set out immediate priorities for the Board, which include stopping the circulation of unregistered medicines through intensified surveillance, addressing the uncontrolled proliferation of pharmacies and the diversion of public medicines into the private sector, enforcing prescription regulations to combat antimicrobial resistance, countering falsified medicines with robust post-market surveillance, and creating a practical pathway for the regulation of traditional medicines.
Minister Mombeshora also informed stakeholders that Government is reviewing the Act to cover medical devices, increase penalties for falsified medicines, clarify traditional medicine regulation, and strengthen pharmacovigilance.
In his acceptance speech, Chairperson Dr. Clifford Chiura expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency the President and to the Honourable Minister for the confidence placed in him and his fellow Board members. He acknowledged the importance of the Authority’s mandate, stating that the MCAZ plays a critical role in safeguarding public health by ensuring that medicines and medical devices available on the market are safe, effective, and of good quality.
“As the newly appointed Board, we are committed to providing strategic oversight, promoting good corporate governance, strengthening regulatory excellence, and supporting management in advancing the Authority’s mandate. We fully appreciate the significance of maintaining public confidence in the national medicines regulatory system.”
Dr. Chiura further paid tribute to the MCAZ’s staff, commending management and staff for their continued dedication and professionalism, which have positioned the Authority as one of the leading regulatory institutions on the African continent.
“On behalf of the Board, I pledge our commitment to serve with integrity, diligence, and patriotism in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe.”