The new Minister of Health, Constantino Chiwenga is yet to
meet doctors and nurses to address the challenges plaguing the country's public
health system.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association said that there had been no
attempt to address workers' demands as yet through formal engagement.
Chiwenga opted to take over the Health and Child Care
portfolio following differences with President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the
sacked Obadiah Moyo's successor, it has emerged.
Mnangagwa last week announced that he had appointed
Chiwenga the new Health minister, sparking speculation on the motives behind
the surprise move that has been described as unconstitutional by some legal
experts.
Lawyers say a VP is not allowed to double up as a minister
in terms of the constitution.
Insiders told The Standard that Chiwenga wanted Health and
Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro, who is his personal doctor, to take
over the ministry, but Mnangagwa did not agree.
After the haggling, the VP is said to have volunteered to
take over the portfolio.
Chiwenga is said be among a section in government that were
said to be unhappy with the scandals that have rocked the Health ministry
related to the procurement of medical equipment to fight Covid-19.
Moyo is on $50 000 bail over abuse of office charges after
he was accused of single-handedly awarding a tender to Delish Nguwaya, a close
friend of Mnangagwa's children.
Nguwaya was arrested over a US$60 million drugs procurement
scandal.
He was also freed on
$50 000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who said the
businessman cannot be blamedfor approvals made by government officials.
According to sources, Chiwenga pushed for Moyo's sacking
following his arrest.
Chiwenga, according to sources, feels the corruption in the
Health ministry will dent the party's performance in the 2023 general
elections.
Mnangagwa also appointed Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as
Health permanent secretary, replacing Agnes Mahomva, who was moved to the new
position of chief coordinator for the country's response to Covid-19 in May.
"Chiwenga's first task is to get doctors and nurses
back to work and I am sure he is going to do that this coming week," a
well-placed source said.
"He will try to make things work in the Health
ministry and all hospitals to function and save lives, reinventing his legacy
in the process."
It was, however, not immediately clear how Chiwenga would
get the health workers back at work, but the source said negotiations for government
to pay them United States dollar-based salaries were already in progress.
Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba refused to comment
on Chiwenga's appointment, saying: "I am too serious for those kind of
conversations."
A fortnight ago there were reports that Mnangagwa and
Chiwenga clashed over an alleged plot against the president in the ruling
Zanu-PF.
Some of Chiwenga's loyalists were accused of being involved
in the organisation of the July 31 protests and this led to the suspension of
politburo member Cleveria Chizema after posters publicising the demonstrations
were allegedly found in her house.
Chizema has denied being involved in the plot and says she
suspects the posters were planted by her enemies in the party. Standard
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