Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent show that
directors who were sent on forced leave to pave way for corruption
investigations over three months ago are still receiving their full salaries,
while at the same time those who were elevated to act in their positions are
enjoying similar perks.
Chiwenga has been superintending over the extensive
restructuring process since last month when he was appointed Health minister
after Obadiah Moyo was sacked from the position on July 7, at a time Zimbabwe
is battling to contain the novel coronavirus.
Moyo’s sacking from cabinet arose from allegations that he
unprocedurally awarded a shadowy company called Drax International a US$60
million contract for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in
the fight against Covid-19. Mnangagwa’s sons, Emmerson Jr and Collins were
linked to the multi-million-dollar scandal through Drax International local
representative Delish Nguwaya.
In the wake of the scandal, now commonly referred to as
Draxgate, seven senior officials at national drug supplier, NatPharm, were
fired.
The ongoing costly restructuring initiative, which is meant
to “achieve greater efficiency as envisaged in the National Health Strategy”,
has so far seen 27 directors and deputy directors placed on indefinite paid
leave, as Chiwenga reshuffles the scandal-ridden portfolio. Most of the
staffers put on paid leave served during Moyo’s tenure.
A recent Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) dossier
seen by this newspaper, reveals that during the course of the restructuring
exercise, Health Deputy minister John Mangwiro potentially violated public
procurement procedures by directing the NatPharm acting general manager and the
adjudicating committee to award an undeserving entity Young Health Care a US$6
million contract to procure Covid-19 consumables.
Members of the adjudicating team that arbitrated in favour
of Young Health Care comprise of the newly elevated staff. The contract,
through which the country could have been prejudiced US$2 million, has since
been re-tendered.
In an interview with this newspaper, Mangwiro denied any
wrongdoing and advised the Zimbabwe Independent to get answers from Zacc.
He said: “Handiti Zacc ndiyo irikutitonga? Handina kana
chandinombotaura neveZacc ivava. Ngavarambe vachikupayi news muchinzwa kuti
ndakaita seyi.” (Is it not Zacc which is judging us? Zacc must continue giving
you news so that you know what I’m supposed to have done in this matter).
The ongoing reorganisation exercise and the US$6 million
controversial contract awarded to Young Health Care reportedly at the behest of
Mangwiro has cast light on the pillaging of Covid-19 funds by top government
officials and the apparent raging battle pitting Mnangagwa and Chiwenga for
control of the levers of state power.
The investigation reveals that shortly before Chiwenga
assumed the reins at the influential portfolio, Mangwiro, through the Health
Services Board (HSB) rolled out far reaching changes which saw 27 directors and
deputies, among other personnel sent on indefinite paid leave. Mangwiro is
Chiwenga’s personal doctor.
Subsequently, new personnel were elevated to act in the
positions of those sent on paid leave. The paid leave, according to documents
seen by the Independent is indefinite.
Staffers on paid leave include director and deputy director
laboratory services, director and deputy director pharmacy services, director
procurement and procurement officer, director finance and administration
services, deputy director administration and logistics and chief scientist
Microbiology Laboratory. The human resources director, deputy human resources
director, chief engineer and Hospital management services directors are also on
paid leave.
Operations directors and procurement officers at the
country’s Central hospitals were also sent on paid leave when the indefinite
restructuring process commenced.
A salary schedule within the ministry seen by this
newspaper shows that the monthly net salary of a medical director currently
stands at ZW$25 000 while that of a non-medical director varies between ZW$16
000 and ZW$18 000. Both receive a weekly 40 litres fuel allocation.
Monthly salaries for a medical deputy director ranges
between ZW$12 000 and ZW$13 000 while a non-medical deputy director earns ZW$7
000.Both medical and non-medical deputy directors receive 20 litres of fuel
every week.
“Please be advised that the Ministry of Health and Child
Care is undertaking a restructuring exercise aimed at refocussing its
operations in order to achieve greater efficiency as envisaged in the National
Health Strategy. Your function has been identified as one that needs
realignment,” a letter to one of the affected directors sent on paid leave seen
by this newspaper reads.
“This letter serves to inform you that effective July 10,
you are hereby put on indefinite leave to facilitate the restructuring
exercise. You will not be required to report for duty unless called back to
office.”
The letter, undersigned by HSB executive chairman Paulinas
Sikosana was dated July 10. Staffers assigned to assume the positions of the 27
directors and deputy directors among other public health workers sent on paid
leave in an acting capacity have since been accommodated at a three-star hotel
(name supplied) in the capital since July.
A suite at the luxurious hotel costs US$200 per night or
the equivalent using the official weekly auction exchange rate. Staffers are
staying at the hotel on full board, meaning that government is footing the cost
of their meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
A source close to the extensive restructuring exercise told
the Independent that government’s bill at the hotel, where the fresh personnel
roped in by Mangwiro to preside over influential positions within the ministry
has since shot to ZW$5 million, with the amount set to balloon as they continue
to lodge there.
The source said: “When Moyo was fired, Mangwiro immediately
instituted a restructuring exercise which resulted in 27 directors and their
deputies ordered to go on paid leave. In their place, staffers were appointed
to take their positions in an acting capacity. Those on paid leave have been
receiving their full salaries, the US$75 Covid allowance awarded to civil
servants and fuel allocations, among other benefits. Similarly, the staffers in
an acting capacity have been staying at a hotel in the city on full board while
they now enjoy improved salaries and benefits in line with their new
appointments.”
Health and Child Care secretary Jasper Chimedza told the
Independent to get comprehensive answers on the nature of the restructuring
exercise from the ministry’s public relations manager Donald Mujiri.
In an interview, Mujiri committed to respond to questions
posed by this newspaper after consultation with Chiwenga, who is overseeing the
far-reaching restructuring exercise. However, at he had not responded.
Among the questions posed, the Independent sought to
understand the cost of the restructuring exercise, the duration of the
restructuring exercise, the number of staffers sent on paid leave and the
quantum of the bill picked by government at the hotel.
HSB communications manager Tryfine Dzukutu requested for
questions in writing but did not respond.
Sources said in separate briefings that the restructuring
process, apart from draining limited resources from the fiscus, could trigger a
fresh headache for government as it potentially violated labour laws by placing
individuals on paid leave indefinitely.
In the case of the affected, as documents seen by the
Independent indicate, staffers sent on paid leave have not been accused of any
wrong doing.
A source within the Health ministry said Attorney-General
Prince Machaya advised that the manner in which the restructuring process was
being handled, particularly relating to indefinitely keeping staffers on paid
leave, presented grave legal ramifications, if the matter spilled into court.
“The Attorney-General clearly warned that keeping workers
on paid leave indefinitely was both costly to government and could backfire if
the matter went to court,” a source close to the restructuring exercise said.
In 2019, Chiwenga arbitrarily fired nurses and doctors at
public health institutions who had downed tools in protest over poor
remuneration. Zimbabwe Independent
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