Zimbabwe Chicken Farmers Illegally Using HIV Drugs to Boost Broilers, Investigation Finds

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

Some Zimbabwean poultry farmers are illegally buying antiretroviral (ARV) medicines intended for HIV patients and mixing them into chicken feed, believing the drugs reduce disease, accelerate growth and increase profits, according to an investigation by the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project (SA AJP).

The practice, which experts warn poses serious public health risks, involves diverting life-saving HIV medication from the healthcare system into commercial poultry production.

Health specialists have cautioned that consuming meat containing ARV residues could expose consumers to unknown health risks and potentially undermine HIV treatment programmes.

Farmer Admits Using ARVs in Chicken Feed

The SA AJP investigation interviewed two people involved in broiler production around Harare. One farmer, identified only as Jane to protect her identity, admitted purchasing antiretroviral medicines on the black market through an alleged network involving a health worker and street-based intermediaries.

Jane, who operates a poultry project in Waterfalls, Harare, said she initially turned to the illegal practice after suffering heavy losses from poultry diseases.

"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.

She claimed another poultry farmer introduced her to a supplier during a poultry workshop in Harare. According to Jane, she paid US$100 in two instalments to learn how to use the drugs and was directed to collect them through a coded system at Harare's Copacabana bus terminus.

Farmers Believe Drugs Improve Growth

Jane said she crushes TLD tablets—a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir—before mixing them into chicken feed and drinking water. According to Zimbabwe's Zvandiri HIV support programme, TLD is the country's recommended first-line antiretroviral treatment for adults and adolescents living with HIV.

She claimed the results transformed her business.

"The mortality rate plummeted, and my broiler chickens grew faster. I have since expanded my operation from 200 to 10,000 birds per cycle. Instead of waiting six weeks, I could sell them at just four weeks."

However, there is no approved veterinary use for antiretroviral medicines in poultry production, and veterinary authorities prohibit administering human medicines to food-producing animals without regulatory approval.

Experts Warn of Serious Health Risks

Health experts say the practice could have dangerous consequences for consumers and HIV treatment programmes. Daniel Zulu, former head of the Toxicology and Clinical Department at Zimbabwe's Government Analyst Laboratory, warned that repeated consumption of meat containing ARV residues could expose members of the public to unnecessary pharmaceutical compounds.

He also expressed concern that inappropriate exposure to antiretroviral medicines could complicate HIV treatment for people living with the virus if drug resistance were to develop through uncontrolled exposure. Public health experts further warn that diverting ARVs from patients who rely on them for treatment threatens national HIV response efforts and places additional pressure on healthcare systems.

Authorities Urged to Strengthen Enforcement

The investigation is expected to raise fresh concerns about the illegal sale of prescription medicines and weaknesses in pharmaceutical supply chains. Medical professionals have long cautioned against the misuse of prescription medicines outside approved clinical settings, stressing that antiretroviral medicines are intended solely for patients diagnosed with HIV and should only be used under medical supervision.

Experts are calling for stronger monitoring of medicine distribution networks, tougher enforcement against illegal pharmaceutical trading and increased awareness among poultry farmers about safe and lawful animal husbandry practices. The findings also highlight the need for enhanced collaboration between health authorities, veterinary regulators and law enforcement agencies to protect both public health and Zimbabwe's food supply.

Zimbabwe chicken farmers ARVs