WHEN the acting auditor-general released shocking details exposing a severe lack of governance at Mpilo Hospital last week, it appeared to be one of the most glaring examples of corruption in public administration.
At this critical public referral hospital, which carries the hopes of a nation beleaguered by graft and greed, administrative lapses deteriorated to mind-boggling levels in 2022, as revealed by the State auditor's report.
Former executives, who once signed the cheques, remained signatories. This means that if they decided to act dishonestly, they could raid Mpilo's accounts whenever they wished, instructing fund transfers to support whatever lifestyle they desired.
According to the auditor's assessment of governance, such theft would likely go unpunished. Authorities have long shown that delinquency is often rewarded in Zimbabwe. Honesty and hard work are privately disdained.
However, my intuition suggests that this might not merely be a lapse in governance. It may be a carefully orchestrated scheme to loot. I cannot rule out a large-scale conspiracy designed to fund lavish styles through a disgraceful spoils system.
Many of the State auditor's reports before this one have demonstrated how our hard-earned taxes have been misused to support the desires of high-flying senior public servants, their cronies, and politicians.
Given the resources, acting auditor-general Rheah Kujinga must be given the mandate to dig deeper and uncover more secrets and crimes happening behind the scenes.
In the wake of the disturbing Mpilo report, we felt it our duty to investigate what Zimbabweans experience when they visit public hospitals and what it is like to work in these facilities.
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At Parirenyatwa Hospital, the situation is dire. Zimbabwe’s largest hospital is in disarray, and officials acknowledge that the situation is deteriorating.
A crippling shortage of essential drugs — a long-standing problem — is intensifying, and medical equipment is also in short supply.
If Parirenyatwa is in the intensive care, one shudders to imagine the state of affairs elsewhere. Many patients wait in agony in winding queues, only to be directed to buy medicine from private pharmacies.
Doctors say they have been forced to pay for patients’ medicines after being gripped by the gravity of the crisis.
But the hospital blames its problems on ‘erratic supplies due to shortages from our suppliers’.
If they cannot deliver why keep them? Are these under performers being protected?
Why are they being left to inflict pain on Zimbabweans?
A grand looting scheme must be underway. The Minister of Health and his team are sleeping behind the wheel.
They must wake up and smell the coffee. It is time for accountability and action to end this disgraceful mismanagement of public resources.
