{"id":581,"date":"2026-02-02T11:21:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/?p=581"},"modified":"2026-02-02T11:21:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:21:29","slug":"in-zimbabwe-millions-choose-funeral-insurance-over-pricey-medical-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/?p=581","title":{"rendered":"In Zimbabwe, millions choose funeral insurance over pricey medical cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/main><\/p>\n

In Zimbabwe, millions choose funeral insurance over pricey medical cover<\/h1>\n

More Zimbabweans are preparing for death than survival as funeral policies are more popular than health insurance.<\/em><\/p>\n

A worker at a coffin-making company waits for clients in Harare, Zimbabwe [File: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi\/AP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
By <\/span>Tafadzwa Mwanengureni<\/div>\n

Published On 2 Feb 2026<\/span>2 Feb 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/p>\n

\n

Harare, Zimbabwe \u2013<\/strong> Ngoni Mutambararo\u2019s uncle, Steward Ganda, 60, spent the last months of his life at home, trying to recover from a severe ailment on his own.<\/p>\n

Ganda suffered from severe pain in his legs that left him confined to bed and unable to tend the small tuck shop he ran in Kambuzuma, a low-income suburb in Harare.<\/p>\n

Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n

list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/p>\n

Like millions of Zimbabweans without health insurance and unable to cover hospital expenses, he had hoped to soldier through and get well without medical attention. But as the weeks and months passed, his condition deteriorated.<\/p>\n

Eventually, family members convinced him to consult a physician, and he was first admitted to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Doctors initially suspected he\u2019d suffered a stroke. But on further inspection, they told the family he may have a kidney-related issue and needed to see a specialist, a nephrologist whose consultation fee was $600.<\/p>\n

With no savings, Ganda\u2019s family spent a month late last year trying to gather the money, hoping it would save his life. But it was too late.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t raise that amount,\u201d Mutambararo, 39, told Al Jazeera.\u00a0\u201cHe died barely a month after the admission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after, the funeral was held. And while Ganda had spent his last months in pain and relative poverty, the service that bid him farewell was enviable: a casket, a hearse, burial equipment and a 65-seat bus to carry mourners on the 135km (85-mile) journey from Harare to his hometown of Wedza.<\/p>\n

While Ganda could not afford health insurance, which averages about $200 per month and would have covered his diagnosis and treatment, he never missed his $11 monthly payment to a funeral services company, Nyaradzo Group, which paid his post-death costs.<\/p>\n

Advertisement <\/span><\/p>\n

Ganda is no exception. In Zimbabwe, data show more people are preparing for death than for survival as funeral insurance has eclipsed medical cover to become the most widely held financial product in the country.<\/p>\n

Ngoni Mutambararo sprinkles water on his uncle\u2019s grave in Wedza shortly after his burial [Tafadzwa Mwanengureni\/Al Jazeera]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although health insurance is accessible through employers and monthly premiums are deducted automatically from salaries, fewer than 900,000 Zimbabweans<\/a> are formally employed.<\/p>\n

About 16 million people<\/a>, or roughly 90 percent of the population, have no health insurance and must fund medical care out of their own pockets, according to 2023-2024 data from Zimbabwe\u2019s National Statistics Agency.<\/p>\n

At the same time, experts said funeral policies offer a cheaper, culturally resonant form of support, especially in a society in which dignity in death often takes precedence over safeguarding life itself.<\/p>\n

Of all insured Zimbabweans, 72 percent<\/a> hold funeral insurance policies while 30 percent have health insurance, according to a 2022 report from the financial inclusion nonprofit FinMark Trust.<\/p>\n

\u2018Life after death is important\u2019<\/h2>\n

For most Zimbabweans, medical cover is a luxury they cannot afford, so they forgo private healthcare for government services. Public health fees can start at about $5 per month, but government-run facilities suffer from poor infrastructure, limited drug supplies and staff shortages caused by the migration of healthcare professionals, which many said lead to low-quality care.<\/p>\n

Although some private insurance premiums start at about $10 per month, others run into tens and even a few hundred dollars, putting plans beyond the reach of many households in a country where 60 percent<\/a> of the population lives on less than $3.65 a day.<\/p>\n

In comparison, funeral insurance plans are widely accessible and relatively low cost. The funeral cover provider Ecosure, for instance, offers plans starting at $0.75 while Zimnat\u2019s policies begin at $1.<\/p>\n

\u201cFunerals are immediate, unavoidable events that come with significant financial and communal expectations,\u201d said Innocent Tshuma, the public relations manager at Doves Holdings Group, a funeral services provider.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn contrast, access to comprehensive medical aid remains limited due to affordability challenges, exclusions and unpredictable out-of-pocket costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

He argued that Zimbabweans place deep importance on dignity, respect and collective responsibility at times of death and funeral insurance offers certainty in cost and service delivery, \u201cwhich explains its strong appeal in an environment of constrained household incomes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Representatives for Doves Holdings, a funeral services provider, meet prospective policyholders in Harare, Zimbabwe [Tafadzwa Mwanengureni\/ Al Jazeera]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vivek Solanki, a physician and member of the Zimbabwe Medical Association, agreed.<\/p>\n

Advertisement <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Zimbabwean culture, the aspect of life after death is very much important, and it\u2019s actually not a financial one,\u201d he told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, he added, \u201cit\u2019s almost a taboo to think about how and when [someone is] going to get sick \u2026 because it\u2019s like you are attracting bad things to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solanki also attributed the low numbers of people with health insurance to a legacy of post-independence policies when citizens relied on government-funded healthcare and rarely worried about costs. But things have been deteriorating since the public system began collapsing in the 2000s after Western sanctions<\/a> were imposed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut today, even to receive proper healthcare in public hospitals, private funds are required,\u201d Solanki said. \u201cFor many people in Zimbabwe, covering the financial burden of emergencies, chronic illnesses and noncommunicable diseases has become extremely challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Low prioritisation of medical insurance remains a significant hurdle in Zimbabwe, where 25 percent<\/a> lack access to basics like food, healthcare and education. To address this, the country plans to launch a national health insurance scheme in June as it aims to expand access to quality healthcare for all.<\/p>\n

Itai Rusike \u2013 the director of the Community Working Group on Health, a network of civic organisations, and a public health activist \u2013 said the initiative \u201caffirms the government\u2019s commitment to ensure universal health coverage\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, he expressed concerns about the government\u2019s capacity to sustain the programme, given the current challenges of high public debt, currency fragility and persistent inflation facing Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo fully achieve the full potential of a National Health Insurance scheme, actions to address the social determinants of health must be implemented,\u201d he said. \u201cThese include economic stability, community and physical environment, education and social context, and the healthcare system.\u201d<\/p>\n

A coffin maker displays a coffin for sale while working on another one on the streets of Harare [File: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi\/AP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Death insurance: A \u2018commercialisation of life\u2019?<\/h2>\n

The public health system currently is in a state of collapse after years of chronic underfunding. With just 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 people and a maternal mortality rate of 462 per 100,000 live births compared with a global rate of 197 deaths per 100,000 live births, thousands are locked out of essential care.<\/p>\n

Funeral insurance, on the other hand, is accessible and booming with 66 percent of all life assurance revenue<\/a> in 2024 coming from funeral policies.<\/p>\n

According to EcoSure, funerals typically cost $800 to $3,000 in Zimbabwe depending on the city, number of attendees and type of service. For many, this makes funeral insurance a worthwhile investment.<\/p>\n

However, African spiritualist and traditionalist Pearson Takaingei Marinda calls the trend a \u201ccommercialisation of life\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cCulturally, we appreciate and celebrate life and transition [death], but in the modern day, we are forced to prepare for death more than life,\u201d Marinda told Al Jazeera. \u201cTraditionally, funerals and burials are facilitated by the society and the deceased would be buried covered in animal skin, but due to commercialisation, people are forced to pay for coffins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement <\/span><\/p>\n

In line with newer traditions, those who cannot afford formal funeral policies are turning to informal, community-based burial schemes, joining grassroots efforts to ensure their families can preserve dignity in death.<\/p>\n

Ellie Mlambo, whose father died last year after a long battle with a heart condition, spent nearly a year consulting traditional healers and prophets because their services were far cheaper than medical insurance and hospital bills.<\/p>\n

When he passed, two burial savings groups \u2013 Chirongwa Chemadzimai Chekuviga and Tashinga Burial \u2013 attended Mlambo\u2019s father\u2019s funeral in Machavangu, 100km (62 miles) southeast of Harare, supporting her bereaved mother. The former collects $1 per member per month and helps contribute to eventual funeral costs while the latter collects $2 per member monthly and contributes $120 towards a coffin.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother paid up for two burial savings, but since my father was on my funeral policy, the money was given to my mother for other uses,\u201d Mlambo told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

Doves Holdings representatives speak to potential customers in Harare [Tafadzwa Mwanengureni\/Al Jazeera]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some informal burial groups often go beyond covering funeral costs and provide mealie-meal, a traditional corn-based dish, vegetables and cooking utensils to support the bereaved.<\/p>\n

In Jegede village, a rural area in Zaka, community members established the Jegede Burial Society last year after an elderly woman died without the means to afford a coffin, a proper burial or food for those attending her funeral. Traditionally, the bereaved family would provide for the funeral, and neighbours would simply gather to offer moral support, but the community now helps ensure basic needs are met.<\/p>\n

The chairperson of the Jegede Burial Society, Chomudisa Jegede, said the incident reminded the community of the importance of having a contingency plan for funerals.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur community responded well, and we are now made up of 44 members and each is obliged to contribute $10 when a member dies,\u201d he told Al Jazeera. \u201cIt is working very well because so far we have managed to assist some five members during funerals of their immediate families.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Jegede noted that the community needs to go beyond death and also focus on the need for health insurance.<\/p>\n

His sentiments were echoed by Solanki from the Zimbabwe Medical Association.<\/p>\n

\u201cEducation and public awareness on the importance of medical insurance and providing funds towards healthcare is the way to go in an era where health is no longer free,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora to contribute to the initiative, noting that their experience with health insurance in the countries where they work gives them a clearer understanding of its benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps the diasporians could fund or pay towards health insurance of their families in Zimbabwe,\u201d he said, \u201cI think that\u2019ll be one of the ways to encourage people, educate them and create awareness of the essential need for health funding in case of any emergency or health ailments.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article is published in collaboration with Egab<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Zimbabwe, millions choose funeral insurance over pricey medical cover More Zimbabweans are preparing for death than survival as funeral policies are more popular than health insurance. A worker at a coffin-making company waits for clients in Harare, Zimbabwe [File: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi\/AP] By Tafadzwa Mwanengureni Published On 2 Feb 20262 Feb 2026 Save Harare, Zimbabwe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailypremiumbulletin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}