HARARE, Zimbabwe — At sunrise, 65-year-old Nelly Mutandwa traded her pajamas for leggings, a t-shirt, and sneakers. She filled her water bottle and set off for an unconventional workout venue: a cemetery in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare.
Nestled among the graves, she participated with fellow members of the Commandos Fitness Club in an hour-long session filled with squats, lunges, and stretches, all set to upbeat music. For Mutandwa, this daily endeavor serves a crucial purpose beyond fitness—it’s essential for managing her diabetes. “They are resting,” she said, gesturing to the graves. “I just don’t want to join them yet, which means I have to do the hard work here.”
Due to insufficient fitness facilities such as gyms within their communities, older individuals in Zimbabwe have resorted to exercising wherever possible to address the continent’s escalating challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Other exercise groups can be seen working out along highways and abandoned railway lines.
According to the World Health Organization, NCDs, which cannot be transmitted from one person to another, are responsible for 41 million deaths—or 74% of total annual fatalities—worldwide. In Zimbabwe, these diseases constitute around 40% of yearly deaths, as reported by the country’s ministry of health and child care. Projections suggest that by 2030, NCDs will surpass communicable diseases, such as HIV and malaria, as the principal cause of mortality and illness in Zimbabwe and across sub-Saharan Africa.
Once primarily affecting older demographics, NCDs are now increasingly diagnosed in children and young adults, a trend linked to unhealthy habits like tobacco use, excessive drinking, poor diets, and insufficient physical activity. This shift has raised alarms among health professionals and government officials on a continent experiencing the world’s fastest population growth, which also boasts the youngest population.
Dr. Johannes Marisa, a public health expert in Harare and president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association, noted that healthcare providers have observed a “rapid change” in patient demographics, with more youth being diagnosed with NCDs. He cautioned that a lifestyle centered around screens, combined with substance abuse and poor dietary choices, is partially responsible.
In Zimbabwe, the effects of climate change, particularly droughts, have pushed many rural residents to search for food, while urban vendors aim to capitalize on the fast food industry, often linked to obesity challenges. In Harare and similar urban areas, well-known franchises like KFC face competition from a rapidly increasing number of local eateries, street vendors, public markets, and home kitchens, where inexpensive options, such as fried chicken or burgers, are readily available.
In an effort to encourage healthier food choices amidst rising NCD rates, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube proposed a “modest” 0.5% tax on the sales of unhealthy fast foods within the 2025 national budget. This includes items like doughnuts, tacos, and hot dogs.
Despite these challenges, more older adults in Zimbabwe are embracing physical activities. For Mutandwa and her fellow Commandos Fitness Club members, the cemetery has become an unlikely haven for their workouts. Led by Joseph Nekati, inspired to help others due to his mother’s stroke in 2023, this free club offers a supportive community for older fitness enthusiasts. Among the approximately 20 members, around eight are seniors, according to Nekati.
“I weighed 86 kilograms (189 pounds) and struggled to stand. I would be out of breath even walking at home. Now, I’m down to 76 kilograms (167 pounds) and can walk long distances,” shared Susan Gomo, a 64-year-old grandmother managing high blood pressure and arthritis.
Group exercises aim to inspire other older individuals to embrace fitness. “Some of my peers are hesitant,” Gomo remarked. “They tend to just eat and stay home. They might change their minds when they see me in great shape.” Mutandwa noted she began power walking after visiting her daughter in the UK in 2022. She wanted to maintain the habit when returning to Zimbabwe but struggled with the poor road conditions in her neighborhood. She initially walked on an isolated hill but felt unsafe.
Last year, she discovered the Commandos Fitness Club at the cemetery, where a spacious and well-kept path provided the ideal workout environment. Together with a few neighbors, she approached the coach, who welcomed them with open arms. Now, the cemetery stands as a symbol of Mutandwa and others’ commitment to healthier living, as they strive to outlast health challenges one step at a time.
“It’s serene, it’s safe, and we have a lot of space with minimal disturbances. Hopefully, the local council can build proper facilities for us,” she reflected as she prepared to walk back home.
