Some poultry farmers in Zimbabwe are illegally feeding antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) intended for HIV patients to broiler chickens in an effort to red...
HARARE – Some poultry farmers in Zimbabwe are illegally feeding antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) intended for HIV patients to broiler chickens in an effort to reduce disease, accelerate growth and increase profits, according to an investigation by the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project (SA AJP).
The investigation found that some farmers obtain ARVs through the black market and mix the medicines into poultry feed and drinking water, believing the drugs reduce mortality and allow chickens to reach market weight faster. The practice is prohibited under Zimbabwe’s Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, which regulates the use of medicines intended for humans and prohibits their unauthorised use in food-producing animals.
One poultry farmer in Harare’s Waterfalls suburb, identified only as Jane to protect her identity, admitted using ARVs supplied through an illegal network linked to a health worker. She said she initially turned to the drugs after struggling with disease outbreaks that were causing significant losses on her farm.
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“Mortality was eating my profits. Newcastle disease would sweep through, and I was losing half my birds in some cycles. There was no money left for school fees,” she said.
Jane said another farmer introduced her to the practice during a poultry workshop. She was allegedly supplied with TLD, a fixed-dose antiretroviral combination containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir, which is Zimbabwe’s recommended first-line HIV treatment for adults and adolescents. After crushing the tablets and mixing them into feed and water, she claimed chicken deaths fell significantly and the birds reached market size in about four weeks instead of the usual five to six weeks.
The investigation also found that illegal drug transactions are conducted using coded messages and intermediaries operating in Harare. Jane said she expanded her poultry business from about 200 birds per production cycle to around 10,000 after adopting the practice, although no scientific evidence has shown that ARVs themselves promote faster poultry growth.
Health experts have warned that the practice could pose risks to consumers. Former Government Analyst Laboratory Toxicology and Clinical Department head Daniel Zulu said repeated exposure to antiretroviral residues in poultry meat could have implications for people living with HIV, although direct evidence in humans remains limited. He also warned that the diversion of ARVs onto the black market could undermine access to essential medicines for patients.
Zimbabwe has an estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV, with about 1.2 million currently receiving antiretroviral treatment, according to Ministry of Health and Child Care statistics cited in the investigation.
An agricultural business advisory officer from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said he had encountered the practice during farm visits across the country. He said several poultry farmers admitted using ARVs to increase production and profits, despite repeated warnings from agricultural officials.
The investigation also found that ARVs are often mixed with other human medicines, including antimicrobial drugs. Brian Fungai Chikodze, registrar of the Council of Veterinary Surgeons of Zimbabwe, warned that the misuse of antimicrobials in poultry contributes to antimicrobial resistance, a growing global public health threat that makes infections harder to treat in both humans and animals.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has previously identified Zimbabwe’s poultry sector as a significant user of antimicrobials and warned that antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasing challenge. The organisation says misuse of medicines through informal markets and inappropriate use in livestock production contributes to the development of resistant bacteria.
The investigation noted that questions were submitted to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Department of Veterinary Services regarding the allegations. While the Health Ministry acknowledged receipt of the inquiry, no response had been provided by the time the investigation was published. The Department of Veterinary Services also did not respond to requests for comment.
