The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFOZ) Annual Stakeholders Conference is one of the most important events on Zimbabwe’s health calendar. It brings together insurers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to shape the future of healthcare financing in our country.

However, the decision to host the 2026 conference in Sandton, South Africa raises serious economic, ethical, and strategic concerns.

Why this matters
1. Strengthening the Local Economy
This conference is more than a meeting — it is a significant economic driver. Hosting it in Zimbabwe supports local hotels, transport operators, event service providers, and small businesses. Moving it outside the country exports valuable foreign currency and denies Zimbabwean businesses a critical opportunity at a time when economic activity is needed most.

2. Reciprocal Support for Local Stakeholders
Health insurance providers depend on Zimbabwean citizens, employers, and healthcare providers for subscriptions and revenue. It is only fair that major industry events reinvest in the same local economy that sustains them. Supporting local businesses is not just goodwill — it is strategic alignment.

3. Keeping Zimbabwean Conversations in Zimbabwe
A conference focused on Zimbabwe’s healthcare system should be held where its impact is most relevant. Hosting it locally ensures broader participation, especially for stakeholders who may not have the means to travel abroad, and strengthens inclusivity in national health discussions.

4. Choosing Purpose Over Convenience
While cost and logistics may have influenced the decision, long-term national value must take precedence over short-term convenience. Investing in local venues helps grow Zimbabwe’s conference and hospitality standards rather than perpetuating dependence on external destinations.

5. Recognising Current Sector Challenges
Zimbabwe’s healthcare ecosystem is under strain — with low insurance coverage, affordability concerns, provider payment challenges, and patient shortfalls. At such a time, decisions should visibly reinforce commitment to strengthening the local system, not divert value away from it.

Our Appeal
We respectfully call upon the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe and its member organisations to reconsider the decision to host the 2026 Annual Stakeholders Conference outside the country.

There is still time to make a choice that:

• Supports Zimbabwean businesses
• Strengthens trust in the healthcare system
• Promotes inclusivity and participation
• Reinforces commitment to national development

Call to Action
If you are a member of a medical aid society, a healthcare provider, or a concerned citizen, we encourage you to:

1. Sign this petition
2. Share it widely
3. Engage your health insurance provider and ask them to support hosting the conference in Zimbabwe

 Zimbabwe’s healthcare future should be shaped on Zimbabwean soil, supported by Zimbabwean institutions, for the benefit of Zimbabwean people.

AHFOZ, kindly reconsider.