Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe

01/05/2026

📍Day 5

The WHO GBT ML4 Benchmarking Mission at the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has officially come to an end.

Over the course of five days, the mission involved technical assessments, stakeholder engagements, document reviews, field visits, and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s medicines regulatory system.

The benchmarking mission marks another important milestone in MCAZ’s journey towards WHO Maturity Level 4 and continued regulatory excellence.

MCAZ extends its appreciation to the World Health Organization African Region World Health Organization (WHO) and the benchmarking team, WHO Country Office, Ministry of Health and Child Care, partners, stakeholders, and staff members who contributed to the success of the mission.

01/05/2026

Happy Workers’ Day from the MCAZ

Today, MCAZ joins the nation and the global community in celebrating the dedication, resilience, and invaluable contributions of workers across all sectors. The Authority pays tribute to its committed employees and stakeholders whose professionalism and hard work continue to strengthen Zimbabwe’s health systems and safeguard public health.

This year’s Workers’ Day comes at a significant moment for the Authority, as it marks the final day of the rigorous World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level 4 assessment mission currently underway at MCAZ. The assessment process has demonstrated the dedication, teamwork, technical expertise, and commitment of MCAZ staff and stakeholders toward advancing regulatory excellence in Zimbabwe.

MCAZ recognises that the achievements made in strengthening medicines and vaccines regulation are a direct result of the unwavering efforts of its workforce and partners who continue to uphold the Authority’s mandate with integrity, accountability, innovation, and professionalism.

As the Authority commemorates this important day, it also reaffirms its commitment to promoting a safe, supportive, and productive working environment for all employees.

Please note: In observance of Workers’ Day, MCAZ offices will be closed on Friday, 1 May 2026, and normal operations will resume on Monday, 4 May 2026.

For general enquiries and services, stakeholders may contact:
📧 [email protected]
WhatsApp 071 885 5934

30/04/2026

Day Four

A thrilling, demanding, intense and highly engaging experience as the WHO GBT ML4 Benchmarking Mission at MCAZ continues.

What has been a demanding yet rewarding and highly engaging process continued today with intensive technical reviews, consolidation of findings, and strategic engagements between the WHO benchmarking team and MCAZ senior management.

This important process continues to provide valuable learning experiences and opportunities for continuous improvement as MCAZ continues to aspire for WHO GBT Maturity Level 4.

As the benchmarking mission nears completion, MCAZ remains committed to strengthening regulatory systems in line with international best practices to safeguard public and animal health.

29/04/2026

29/04/2026

Day Three ✔️

The WHO GBT ML4 Benchmarking Mission at MCAZ continues with detailed technical assessments across key regulatory functions.

The ongoing benchmarking process continues to involve detailed document reviews, structured interviews, and verification of regulatory processes in alignment with international best practices.

These engagements are critical in providing an objective assessment of Zimbabwe’s regulatory system, as MCAZ aspires to attain WHO Maturity Level 4.

28/04/2026

Day Two of the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Mission for Maturity Level 4 (ML4).

The day was marked by in-depth technical assessments across key regulatory functions, including a vigilance field visit to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacovigilance systems in monitoring medicine safety in real-world settings.

These engagements are critical in strengthening Zimbabwe’s regulatory systems in line with national priorities and international best practices

27/04/2026

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has successfully commenced the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Mission for Maturity Level 4 (ML4), to be conducted from 27 April to 1 May 2026 in Harare.

The first day of the mission was marked by an official opening session attended by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Attorney-General’s Office, senior officials from the MCAZ Board and management, the WHO Country Representative, the WHO benchmarking team, and key stakeholders within Zimbabwe’s health regulatory system. The session featured opening remarks and a comprehensive overview of the mission’s objectives, expected outcomes, and methodology as guided by the WHO GBT framework.

During the proceedings, MCAZ delivered presentations outlining its regulatory functions across critical areas, including marketing authorization (MA), pharmacovigilance (VL), market control (MC), licensing of establishments (LI), regulatory inspections (RI), laboratory testing (LT), and clinical trials oversight (CT).

Following the opening session, the benchmarking process formally commenced, with WHO experts engaging in detailed technical assessments, document reviews, and interviews with MCAZ personnel. These engagements are aimed at evaluating the performance of Zimbabwe’s national regulatory system against international standards and identifying areas for further strengthening.

This mission represents a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s regulatory strengthening journey, following the attainment of WHO Maturity Level 3 (ML3) in 2024. The ongoing benchmarking will provide an updated assessment of the regulatory system and inform the development of an enhanced Institutional Development Plan (IDP) and roadmap towards achieving ML4.

MCAZ remains committed to upholding the highest standards of regulatory excellence, in line with its mandate to protect public and animal health by ensuring that all medicines and allied substances in Zimbabwe are safe, effective, and of good quality.

27/04/2026

Second session Bench Marking

27/04/2026

Bench marking 2

27/04/2026

Bench marking