ZWACT Executive Director, Sandra Matendere
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust (ZWACT), whose mandate is to campaign against corruption with a focus on its devastating impact on women and girls in Zimbabwean communities; last Tuesday petitioned Parliament demanding an inquiry into the critical gaps in health care governance.
In the petition which was submitted by Executive Director Sandra Matendere; ZWACT reported that the critical gaps were highlighted in the Auditor General’s (AG) report on Appropriation Accounts, Finance and Revenue Statements and Fund Accounts for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
It was revealed that the AG’s report highlighted critical health governance issues in Zimbabwe including procurement gaps, non-implementation of critical health programs to improve access to health by citizens.
“Now concerned by the deteriorating state of the health system in Zimbabwe.
“Further concerned by the persistent shortage of essential medical supplies including life-saving medicines, which continues to undermine health care services and ultimately impact women’s health rights,” read part of the petition, which this reporter is in possession of.
The petition seeks to have the Parliament, “utilise its oversight role to institute an inquiry regarding progress made by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in implementing the recommendations proposed by the Auditor General in 2022 and 2023 which include establishing robust mechanisms for transparency and accountability in procurement processes within the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“Health is a critical variable for measuring human development and human well-being. Improved health is linked to economic development.
“Quality healthcare provision is dependent on effectively merging financial and human resources and providing health services in a timely fashion when needed throughout the country.
“Zimbabwe has a progressive Constitution that guarantees access to basic health services in Section 76.
“Health in the National Development Strategy 2021-2025 (NDS) is also identified as central to human happiness, making it an important contributor to economic progress as healthy people live longer and are more productive. Additionally, the vision of the National Development Strategy is to ensure the highest possible level of health and quality of life for all citizens of Zimbabwe by 2030.
“Zimbabwe has a diversified health-care facility system that has seen the participation of various actors such as the government, rural and urban councils, and the private sector delivering health-care services such as primary health, reproductive health and specialised treatments,” further read the petition.
It added that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s health sector caused by several factors including alleged procurement malpractices and poor supply chain management.
“This has led to shortages of critical medical consumables and other supplies which severely impact maternal health services, prenatal and post-natal care, cancer screenings, and other key health services for women.
“The public health system remains the largest provider of healthcare services, complemented by mission hospitals and services delivered by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). “However, it continues to face numerous challenges such as a shortage of skilled professionals and healthcare staff, unavailability of essential medicines and commodities, obsolete or unavailable equipment, and lack of specialized medical services as highlighted in recent reports surrounding the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway bus accident on 13 February 2025.
“A statement from the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the death toll at 25 fatalities and 29 passengers who were injured are reportedly receiving treatment at Beitbridge District Hospital, two passengers are at Gwanda Provincial Hospital and thirteen critically injured passengers have been transferred to United Bulawayo Group of Hospitals.
“Pictures circulating on social media show the injured in makeshift cardboard box ‘splints’ and in rundown hospital facilities.
“Neshuro District Hospital that is one of the closest hospitals to the accident scene was previously reported to be facing serious challenges including not having a functional mortuary.
“This tragedy has exposed the dire state of the Zimbabwean health system and the need for an urgent need to address the challenges being faced in the sector,” added the petition.
It was also revealed that there is persistent shortage of medical supplies in the country and this has severely impacted women’s access to health care particularly in maternal health, reproductive health services and chronic disease treatment.
The petition further revealed that many State hospitals lack essential medicines, contraceptives and maternity care resources, forcing women to seek expensive private care and go without treatment.
“These shortages ultimately worsen Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality rates. “Consequently, this has resulted in an increase in the health system’s vulnerability to corruption
“In terms of the Report of the Auditor General’s Appropriation Accounts, Finance And Revenue Statements and Fund Accounts for the year ended December 31, 2023, presented before the Parliament of Zimbabwe in 2024, several issues of concern were raised regarding the health sector in Zimbabwe to be addressed. “The Auditor General highlighted that there was no evidence that the Ministry applied for the 2023 procurement authority from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ).
“As a result, the Ministry operated without a valid procurement authority and an approved procurement plan for the year under review contrary to Section 20 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) Act [Chapter 22:23].
“This is a significant gap in terms of procurement processes implemented in 2023 especially considering that shortages of essential equipment remain in issue in Zimbabwe.
“These findings suggest significant lapses in procurement processes within the Ministry of Health and Child Care thus raising concerns about potential corruption and inefficiencies affecting service delivery within the sector.
“As highlighted earlier the health sector is in a state of crisis and there is an urgent need to address critical gaps in health governance to improve the quality of health care in Zimbabwe. State Hospitals and clinics continue to lack adequate medical supplies as seen in the Beitbridge case which inadvertently affects those who need critical care.
“The report has highlighted gaps that ultimately compromise health outcomes in Zimbabwe. “The Auditor General’s findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced transparency and accountability in the management to ensure equitable health care access for all Zimbabweans,” added the petition.
