The sacking of chief executive officers (CEOs) of five
major Government hospitals was part of the restructuring of the health system
by Government to make it more effective and efficient, a Cabinet Minister has
said.
Acting Health and Child Care Minister Professor Amon
Murwira said the restructuring would not only be at the level of the CEOs, but
will also be effected at the parent ministry. He said the current set up of the
health system was wrong in that almost everything that was used in the health
delivery system was imported, including water. Prof Murwira said this in Senate
during a question and answer session.
Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC-Alliance) had
questioned the rationale of sacking top hospital officials at a time the
country was preoccupied with fighting Covid-19, which has seen the country
recording confirmed cases exceeding 2 000.
"The CEOs were relieved of their duties by the Health
Services Board as part of the re-organisation. When you make a mistake two hours
ago, it is not bad to correct it. There is need to do a brave thing. How can we
have a ministry spending US$1 billion importing everything," said Prof
Murwira.
"The problem of the health system has been that of
configuration. There has been a lot of toxicity over so many years. We have
good medical experts in the country but we have been buying everything
including water for drip, even crutches. Procurement has become a business and
there have been leakages.
"At the end of the day we have to look at ourselves
and reconfigure ourselves for effectiveness and efficiency. We are looking at
restructuring the Ministry of Health so that all the money we use to import can
be used for developmental purpose."
Those relieved of their duties are: Mr Ernest Manyawu of
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Dr Tinashe Dhobbie of Sally Mugabe Central
Hospital, Dr Enock Mayida of Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Mrs Nonhlanhla
Ndlovu of United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mr Leonard Mabhandi of Ingutsheni
Hospital, a major psychiatric hospital near Bulawayo.
Some directors in the Ministry of Health and Child Care,
and executives at National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) have also been
moved. Responding to another question, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said political activists Hopewell Chin'ono and Jacob
Ngarivhume were not arrested for denouncing corruption but for allegations
related to instigating violence.
Manicaland Senator, Douglas Mwonzora had queried the
rationale of arresting the two at a time they were speaking against corruption.
Minister Ziyambi said it was critical that people respected the doctrine of
separation of powers by allowing the Judiciary to play its role. "I believe that every arm of the
Government must be given its space.
"I am not aware that they were arrested for speaking
against corruption. There are allegations against them and we should allow the
Judiciary to do its work," said Minister Ziyambi. Herald
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