DIALOGUE between the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) and the Health ministry has not yielded positive results, with the employer still to make an offer to the striking medical, practitioners.

BY RUVIMBO MUCHENJE

Speaking to NewsDay, ZHDA treasurer general Tapiwa Mungofa said the talks so far have not brought anything tangible.

“Talks are ongoing and there is no agreement as yet,” Mungofa said.

Doctors have not been reporting for work for the past 77 days, but their employer has not heeded their call, but instead sacked 346 for absenteeism.

Mungofa said they met once last week and are waiting for a response from the ministry, hopefully this week.

“We only had one meeting last week with the minister and there was no offer, the agreement was that he is going to take our demands to relevant authorities and get back to us and the next meeting is this week,” he said.

In an update given by the association yesterday, doctors say they were ready to go back to work if, among other demands, the mass laying off of practitioners stops forthwith. “We expressed our willingness to return to work immediately upon fulfilment of the following five points: Cessation of all hostility (hearings, dismissals, salary cuts and evictions),” the doctors said.

ZHDA is appealing to doctors who have received their November salaries to share with those who were removed from the payroll. “It’s two months now without salaries for troops in the trenches.

We call upon those who received their bonuses and November salaries to contribute to the crowdfunding for (junior residential medical officers) JRMOS and (senior residential medical officers) SRMOS who did not receive their November salaries,”Mungofa said.

Contacted for comment, Health Services Board chairperson, Paulinus Sikosana said, they were not part of the dialogue and were not in a position to comment.

Health minister Obadiah Moyo and his deputy John Mangwiro could not be reached for comment.

IN his yet to be released autobiagraphy, former War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube , has reiterated claims that the late Retired General Solomon Mujuru could have been murdered after a political or business deal went sour.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Mujuru died in 2011 in a fire at his Beatrice farmhouse just outside the capital Harare under mysterious circumstances.

“There were some people who were malicious; they even went to claim she (Joice) was responsible for her late husband’s death. For some unknown reason, perhaps out of fear and respect, Mujuru did not defend herself. There has been no explanation to date about her husband’s death in an inferno in their Beatrice house,” wrote Dube in his autobiography Quiet Flows The Zambezi to be launched on Friday.

Dube’s autobiography was edited and published by Pathisa Nyathi’s Amagugu Publishers.
“What led to his death may have been political or some business enterprise that went wrong. There are people who think it was to do with a diamond mine in which he had some shares,” Dube wrote.
“At the time of his death, some shares were set to be disposed of as part of the community share ownership scheme. Mossad, the Israel intelligence outfit, is alleged to have been involved.

Anyway, such inexplicable political events are part of Zimbabwe.”

An inquest into Mujuru’s death concluded that there was no foul play despite speculation to the contrary.

Dube adds that Mujuru was destined to be the country’s leader had it not been for then First Lady Grace Mugabe’s surprise entry into politics and her ambitions for the lofty post.

“…The turning point came when the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe entered the political fray when she had never been a politician. Amai Mugabe burst into something unknown seeking to oust VP Joyce Mujuru.

“All indications had been that President Robert Mugabe was ready and willing to pass on the baton to his VP Joice Mujuru. In her typical crude style, Amai Grcae Mugabe made accusations against VP Mujuru, some of which bordered on witchcraft and prostitution.”

Mujuru was fired from government in 2014 alongside eight other ministers for allegedly plotting to overthrow Mugabe.

Ministers who were fired include Didymus Mutasa, Webster Shamu, Francis Nhema, Olivia Muchena, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Nicholas Goche, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa and Munacho Mutezo.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa spent the better part of last week in Sweden were he had an opportunity to meet the country’s Prime Minister and leader of the Swedish Democratic Party, Stefan Lofven including other leaders from a number of countries attending a Progressive Alliance leaders conference.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

The alliance is a network of over 140 social democratic parties, some in the opposition and others governing across the globe who share convictions of a just, free and equitable society.
Chamisa said he used the opportunity to get global solidarity as the people of Zimbabwe continue to fight for a just and rich democratic space.

“The global solidarity and goodwill is so great and overwhelming. All the doors are open for us. Zimbabwe has real and true friends worldwide. The world is with us,” Chamisa said.
His spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said Chamisa also called on world leaders and business to look into investing in Zimbabwe once the rule of law, democracy and respect of human rights is restored under his leadership.

“He has highlighted that despite desperate leadership deficiencies and the legitimacy crisis that bedevil the Zimbabwean economy, our people have hope. They can have hope because they, can deal with the political problems and thereby unlock the potential of Zimbabwe’s economy. The temerity of Zimbabweans, as an important world class resource for economic development and advancement and freedom fighters is well known and bankable. One cannot oppress the people of Zimbabwe endlessly,” Sibanda said in a statement.

Chamisa, who is preparing to deliver his Hope of The Nation (Hona) according to Sibanda, used the opportunity to strengthen and deepen his foreign policy and democratic values.

“These meetings come ahead of the much expected and much hyped Hope of a Nation Address that the president will deliver on the 20th of November at Africa Unity Square, in Harare. He will talk to the people of Zimbabwe, Africa and the world,” Sibanda said.

Chamisa met with Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, and various other opposition leaders from countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.

PAYNET Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Mauritius registered firm, Payserv Africa Limited, has lost a US$100 million lawsuit against the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) following a dispute over the use of the company’s software to process payments.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

BAZ, represented by Thabani Mpofu, won the case with costs against Paynet at the High Court after Justice Edith Mushore upheld an exception by BAZ.

Paynet Zimbabwe, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cambria Africa — a foreign entity and technology owner of a bulk payment platform commonly known as Paynet, wanted BAZ to pay US$100 million for allegedly influencing and urging local banks not to pay for transaction fees.
Paynet, a transaction switch that was used by virtually all banks, was suspended because of a US$470 000 debt in June.

Paynet Zimbabwe said it entered into separate contracts with BAZ members in which the contracted financial institutions would access the platform on an agreed per transaction fee and pay in hard currency.

Paynet Zimbabwe said in April this year it wrote to all the financial institutions informing them that as of their May 30, 2019 invoice, Payserv Africa would invoice and collect the agreed prevailing licence fees and that invoices would be paid in United States Dollars.

The firm said in acknowledging receipt of the correspondence, a number of the contracted financial institutions indicated in writing that they accepted the invoices and were indebted to pay.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, defendant (BAZ) engaged in anti-competitive practices, actively preventing its members from free and constructive engagement with the plaintiffs (Paynet Zimbabwe and Payserv Africa). The defendant was effectively instructing its members to breach their respective contracts and existing arrangements with the plaintiff,” Paynet Zimbabwe and Payserv Africa said.

The firms further said BAZ’s actions resulted in all the financial institutions not proceeding to make payment arrangements to fulfil the requirements communicated by Payserv Africa, despite the undertaking of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya.

The firms further said BAZ’s actions were clearly calculated to eliminate the Paynet platform as a service provider to all its members, regardless of the particular financial institution’s intentions, preference, or competitive interest.

“Plaintiffs deem the defendant’s conduct to be deliberately anticompetitive and destructive to the conduct and profitability of its business and its ability to freely and individually contract and negotiate directly with the members of the defendant…plaintiffs calculate that the adverse impact of the defendant’s actions stands at US$100 000 000,” the firms said.
The court ruled in favour of BAZ.

THE Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) have announced a joint call for action to address the impact of climate change and deepening humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe and other southern African countries.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Estimates from government and other food monitoring agencies say seven million face hunger in Zimbabwe owing to the El Nino-induced drought.

FAO and Unicef said more than 11 million people in Zimbabwe and other southern African countries were now experiencing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity due to the recurrent droughts and climate crisis.

“If urgent humanitarian action is not taken, the number will likely rise in the coming months, according to the Regional Interagency Standing Committee Africa. In Zimbabwe, 3,58 million people are in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or Phase 4 (Emergency,” the UN organs said in a report released on Thursday.

“Climate change is a central force driving a continued rise in global hunger, with both droughts and flooding negatively impacting food production. Evidence shows that children suffer disproportionately from the impact of climate change. In fragile States and low-income communities, including in southern Africa, the poor and marginalised will be most affected. Persons in low-income quintiles of society – and particularly children, women and the elderly who are less capable of coping with the negative effects of climate change – will be the most severely affected.”

The UN organs said in Zimbabwe, national global acute malnutrition (GAM) has risen to 3,6%, up from 2,5% in 2018 “and eight districts have GAM rates of above 5%, which is rarely seen in Zimbabwe and signifies a deteriorating situation”.

BY PHYLLIS MBANJE

A TWO-MONTH standoff between doctors and the government has brought the health delivery system in the country virtually to its knees, exposing the government’s non-commitment to guaranteeing universal healthcare.

Government’s “command” response of firing over 300 of the doctors further perpetuated the crisis which has reached unimaginable proportions, and this has opened the door for other countries — with Britain reportedly at the forefront — to snatch the doctors.

This is likely to pave way for another massive brain drain typical of the one witnessed at the turn of the millennium when thousands of highly experienced and qualified professionals left Zimbabwe for other countries.

The corridors of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, one of Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospitals, are now virtually empty and devoid of the mad rush of human feet and the squeaky sound of stretchers loaded with patients.

There are no white-coated doctors with stethoscopes dangling from their necks, as they dash from one ward to the next exchanging easy banter with the youthful nurses tending to their patients.

The hive of activity has been replaced by an eerie silence.

Instead, an occasional security guard prances about the casualty section whistling softly, as his baton stick hangs from his belt and swings with each step he takes.

A few patients make enquiries at the open small window and, after a few minutes, walk away in dejection. This scenario is replicated at most public health facilities scattered across the country.

Over the years, the public health system has slowly disintegrated largely due to lack of funding to sustain the growing base of patients.

Earlier this year, officials from the Health ministry, including minister Obadiah Moyo, witnessed a rare and sad moment when the head of the paediatric unit, Azza Mashumba, broke down in tears as she recounted how they were losing babies due to avoidable reasons.

She said patients were dying from treatable diseases at government hospitals, owing to the shortage of basic medical equipment, medicines and other accessories.

“A pregnant mother comes here at Mbuya Nehanda. I can hear the foetal heart. The baby is in distress. We come here to the main theatre, but the foetal heart is dwindling, it’s going. We get into theatre and I am ready to receive the baby, but I am given a stillbirth,” she said. “I come to work to certify dead bodies, that’s not why I am here … We are not working, we are not helping patients.”

Her shocking revelation was one of the first big signs that the heartbeat of the medical system was slowly fading away in the country’s public health facilities.

The video trended for months and helped bring into perspective just how badly the healthcare system had deteriorated.

When the junior doctors announced that they were incapacitated and could no longer come to work, the situation took a nastier turn.

Patients were turned away and those already admitted discharged and sent home.

The misery has been growing ever since and now the private health facilities are bulking under the huge influx of patients who are coming from the public hospitals. They, too, are struggling.

There is now a stampede for mission hospitals like Karanda, which are still offering better services.

Over the years, Karanda has remained resolute in providing quality and affordable healthcare.

The dedicated staff continue to prioritise patients, striving to give the best of care to restore health and preserve life.

But the numbers are now becoming too much for them and slowly, the staff is getting overwhelmed.

This is the last line of defence and if it crumbles, disaster will strike again, harder this time.

There are reports that student doctors are now tending to patients at major hospitals and although officials at Parirenyatwa have refuted these allegations, it is only a matter of time before the hospitals completely shut their doors.

But how did the country get here?

One of the main thrusts of the new government at independence in 1980 was to increase access to quality healthcare to citizens who had been kept at bay by the colonial regime, which provided the barest of health services to the black population.

It is no wonder the then President Robert Mugabe’s government made great strides to improve health delivery and with determination, solidified the grassroots healthcare facilities, which mostly serviced the poor.

Throughout the 1980s, the government worked hard to ensure that pregnant women received the best care along with their babies.

The country’s immunisation programme was ranked among the best in southern Africa.

The health personnel then were well equipped as well as remunerated.

Nurses and doctors were highly revered in their respective communities and their parents could openly brag, with almost every child in school desiring to become a doctor.

Patients were given first class treatment and indeed hospitals were healing homes.

The malaise

But the beginning of the 1990s witnessed an abrupt change. The economic challenges that besieged the country did not spare the hospitals, which bore the worst brunt.

Suddenly, there were reports of drug shortages and nurses and doctors leaving for greener pastures.

Many relocated to the United Kingdom, where they have remained to date.

As the political situation played out, the situation in the hospitals further deteriorated.

Consistently, the national budget failed to honour the Abuja Declaration, which urges governments to commit at least 15% of the national cake to health. Without adequate funding except from the international donors, the healthcare system took a further nosedive.

This was worsened by corrupt practices of senior government officials, who dipped their fingers in the funding pools from the donors, resulting in reduction of financial support.

Stakeholders and activists made repeated calls to government to seriously re-consider its funding mechanism for health, with domestic funding becoming a critical topic.

While the healthcare collapsed, the government officials and their families became medical
tourists, shunning the local facilities which have become death traps for many people of no means.

India is one of the countries that have been besieged by well-to-do patients from Zimbabwe.

With state-of-the-art hospitals and dedicated teams of well-motivated health personnel, it remains a lure for those who can afford, or those who publicly ask for donations.

The broken promises

The Zanu PF election manifesto makes wide-ranging promises on health and President Emmerson Mnangagwa towards the 2018 elections pledged that the health infrastructure would be improved, that he would create more posts for health personnel as well as accessible affordable medicines.

The manifesto also promised free medical care for cancer patients; at least one hospital per district, improved health services in resettlement areas, reduction of hospital fees by 50% and pursuing the health for all policy, among others.

Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike once wrote an open letter to the President, reminding him of the promises he made.

“Zimbabwe needs sustained investments in primary healthcare to revitalise the health system to close gaps in access to services and to address the causes of ill health,” he said.

The new Health minister, Moyo, also promised world-class facilities soon after he was appointed to head the ministry, but this, too, is proving to be an elusive dream.

The empty wards and empty drug shelves all testify to the failure by government to prioritise this fundamental human right.

There are no painkillers and people living with HIV and Aids are still struggling to get their drugs on time.

by MOSES MATENGA

FORMER top banker, James Mushore, struck gold when he landed the coveted Harare town clerk job in March 2016, but in just 24 hours, he had been booted out.

Mushore, believed to be an ally of the late former MDC leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, received a hostile reception at Town House, where he was rejected by former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and immediately fired.

He had been hired by the MDC-dominated council to replace purged town clerk Tendai Mahachi, who had been a thorn in the flesh of the councillors for many years.

A protracted fight ensued, leading to then mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, being suspended from office.

The political wars of Mushore represents the fights between the ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition MDC since the beginning of the new millennium.

MDC has won a majority of local urban seats since its inception and has taken control of major cities, including Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Gweru, and Kwekwe, ending Zanu PF dominance since independence.

However, observers said the problem with the town clerk’s position, equivalent to a chief executive officer in a company, was more political as Zanu PF and the MDC fight for turf.

Local Government expert Precious Shumba said the conflicts were as a result of “structural conflict” between policymakers and technocrats.

“There has always been structural conflict between policymakers and technocrats in local authorities and there is a history to that,” Shumba said.

“Town clerks have for a long time been viewed as saboteurs, incompetent and corrupt such that they deliberately did not facilitate the implementation of the resolutions by councillors.

“There is a historical relationship between the senior council management and elected councillors. Councillors, especially from the opposition have always held the view that the bureaucrats they found in office served Zanu PF and central government interests.

“As a result of this long-held mistrust, a majority of the decisions and resolutions at local authorities’ level have not been implemented, and the bureaucrats have always cited lack of financial resources, yet in practice they are the ones who should provide the technical guidance to the elected policymakers.”

Shumba, however, said the situation may have changed now, thanks to Minister July Moyo’s more liberal approach.

“A lot of the town clerks and town secretaries used to enjoy the shield of the Local Government minister, but this is changing with July Moyo’s more liberal approach. Now the councillors are finding it easier to reprimand and even suspend errant officials,” he said.

He said due to political pressure in most cases, technocrats were not implementing council resolutions and most of them were used to the chief executive mentality of doing things as they please.

MDC shadow deputy minister for Local Government Clifford Hlatshwayo, said friction was rife but not in all local authorities and bemoaned the involvement of some of the town clerks in local government issues.

Hlatshwayo said some of the town clerks were conflicted and unable to serve the people.

“We have a problem with those who take political party jackets to work,” he said.

“MDC councils are clear in terms of delivering, but their efforts are sometimes frustrated by political interferences with town clerks brought in by Zanu PF to frustrate their efforts.”

He, however, said though rife, it was not happening in all local authorities.

“They shouldn’t involve themselves with politics. Residents want basics, including potable water, good roads among other things and we don’t need politics to have all that,” he said.

Former Harare mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, who was thrown under the bus several times by former Local Government ministers Ignatius Chombo and Kasukuwere over the town clerk issue, said the problem at most town houses was always political.

“We don’t know who is ultimately responsible for the workers and the chief worker at Town House. From a political point of view, you have never seen a town clerk having problems with his councillors rushing to the MDC. They don’t lobby or seek protection from the MDC, who are their employers,” Manyenyeni said.

In 2016, Manyenyeni was at one time suspended and subsequently arrested over his actions against Mahachi and hiring of the town clerk.

Mushore was regarded as sympathetic to the MDC and Kasukuwere did not want him anywhere near the council headquarters.

The protracted fight saw Mahachi being retired and Mushore unemployed, not before he was paid an astronomical severance package.

Mahachi was perceived as Chombo’s blue-eyed boy and allegedly immersed in most scandalous deals involving the former Zanu PF secretary for administration.

The former town clerk was fingered in several reports by councillors as having been an accomplice to Chombo’s shoddy deals.

Mahachi was named in a report by councillors as having illegally dished out land to Chombo and businessman Philip Chiyangwa among others, but he survived attempts by the MDC councillors to push him out.

In Chitungwiza, council is locked up in a fierce clash with town clerk George Makunde, who was recently suspended on allegations of gross incompetence.

Ironically, Makunde is Zanu PF secretary for administration in Mashonaland Central, while the MDC is in charge of the council.

Chitungwiza mayor, Lovemore Maiko, in September suspended Makunde on the grounds of absentism from work, gross insubordination and disobeying instructions.

Makunde had allegedly refused to produce his personal profile to councillors as well as contracts of employment and conditions of service for all senior managers.

In Bulawayo, MDC councillors are also embroiled in nasty clashes with town clerk Christopher Dube, who at some point was almost involved in fisticuffs with deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami.

Kambarami and another councillor, Silas Chigora, forcibly removed Dube from office, arguing he was suspended over various charges including abuse of office.

But Dube could have none of that as he blasted the duo using unprintable words, describing his employers as nonentities.

Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni later lifted the town clerk’s suspension.

In Gweru, town clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza is on suspension over several allegations, another indication of frosty relations between elected officials and technocrats.

In former Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda’s book, an ideal town clerk should be: “…an individual of unquestionable integrity and should not pander to the whims of either the mayor, councillors, government ministers or political parties.”

Under the circumstances, such a town clerk remains elusive.

BY RUTENDO MATANHIKE / MOSES MATENGA

ZANU PF legislators yesterday walked out of a Tendai Biti-chaired Public Accounts Committee sitting, where Sakunda Holdings was expected to give oral evidence regarding about US$3 billion advanced to the company for Command Agriculture without parliamentary approval.

The boycott was in retaliation to the refusal by the MDC MPs to recognise President Emmerson Mnangagwa and occasionally walking out of Parliament each time the Zanu PF leader attends Parliament.

After the boycott, the meeting, which was supposed to clear the air on the abuse of money under the government’s ambitious Command Agriculture programme, was aborted for lack of a quorum.

The MDC has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate leader, accusing the Zanu PF leader of stealing last year’s elections.

MDC MPs walked out on Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) last month, following a similar incident in September last year.

Earlier this year, they snubbed Mnangagwa again when he graced Parliament for the mid-term budget presentation by Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube.

The boycotts forced Mudenda to withdraw their allowances for five months and ban them from asking questions during the question-and-answer sessions.

But on Thursday, the opposition MPs were at it again, snubbing Ncube’s budget presentation which was graced by Mnangagwa, insisting that they would continue to snub Mnangagwa because he was an illegitimate leader.

But Zanu PF yesterday hit back, walking out on Biti and forcing the abandonment of the much-awaited questioning of Sakunda executives, claiming there was no justification to attend a meeting addressed by someone who does not recognise Mnangagwa.

Sakunda Holdings chief executive Chitambo Mberikwazvo said he only found out the meeting had been cancelled soon after arriving.

“I arrived here at Parliament at precisely 11:29am and was told to wait in the sitting lounge.
About 10 minutes later, I was told that the meeting had been cancelled. I was told that I will be notified on when I should come back. I was told I should expect to come back on November 25,” Mberikwazvo told journalists.

Speaking to journalists after the snub, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (independent) said Zanu PF MPs were justified to walk out of the meeting as long as the opposition MPs refused to recognise Mnangagwa.

“They asked why they were supposed to be compelled to sit for the meeting when their counterparts could not recognise the President of the country. They concluded to wait for the resolution to be made by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders,” he said.

Mliswa said Parliament should not be used for political agendas, but ought to be used as a space where discussions on development of the country were topical.

“My position on this issue is very clear: Parliament should not be used as a war zone between politicians. Even Americans and the European Union recognised President Emmerson Mnangagwa and, therefore, this continued rift should stop,” he said.

“Even the much-needed dialogue in the country cannot happen under these circumstances. Legitimately, Zanu PF has got a strong reason for what they did today, but the strategy being used by MDC is not working.”

Meanwhile, the MDC has come under immense criticism for boycotting the budget presentation by
Ncube after participating in the pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls, earning huge amounts in allowances.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said due process would be followed on the matter, but refused to shed more light on the kind of action he was going to take.

“There is a process that has to be followed and we are following that process and that is all I can say for now,” he said.

Zanu PF said the action by the MDC was self-defeating and an embarrassment to those who voted them into Parliament.

“Such action is immaturity of the highest political order. One wishes to advice MDC-A that Zimbabwe is not a charity nation. We must all focus on productivity, growth and job creation. The time for political Lilliputians is over. Zimbabwe is, indeed, not for sale,” Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo said.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said the MDC parliamentarians would regret their antics at some stage, describing their action as shameful.

But analyst Ibbo Mandaza said the boycott by the MDC was successful in irritating Mnangagwa as well as hyping the legitimacy issue.

He said it was best to highlight the legitimacy issue because Mnangagwa “lost” in last year’s polls.