Bodies decompose at Mnene

An official at the Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe-run hospital said they were now taking decomposing bodies to Zvishavane District Hospital following the power disconnection about two weeks ago.
The official, who declined to be named, said the hospital authorities were desperate to raise the required money and were now asking for $20 from each household at the mission compound.
“The situation is very bad with nurses accompanying patients to other referral hospitals like United Bulawayo Hospitals or Zvishavane District Hospital no longer getting their travel and subsistence allowances as the bulk of the revenue is now being directed towards settling the Zesa bill,” said the official.
The official said there were fears of a disease outbreak at the 100-bed hospital as the water pumping system at the institution also relies on electricity.
“The bodies are decomposing in the mortuary and there are serious water challenges as the water pumping system at the hospital relies on electricity,” he said.
The official said the majority of the hospital patients were now being referred to either Bulawayo or Zvishavane.
Efforts to get a comment from the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Kenneth Rowona, were fruitless as he was said to be out on hospital outreach programmes.
An official in his office referred this reporter to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe general secretary, Mr Munatsi Dube, for comment.
Mr Dube, whose office is based in Bulawayo, said he was yet to receive the information when he was contacted.
“I am yet to receive that information of bodies decomposing at Mnene. However, as you might be aware, Mnene District Hospital is a community hospital serving the poor who do not pay much for services.
“It is therefore not surprising that the hospital at times fails to pay electricity and other such services considering that the tariffs are charged on a commercial basis despite the fact that the hospital is a non-profit making institution meant for the poor,” he said.
Zesa spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira, said he was in a meeting when he was contacted for comment.
The power utility, which is owed about $500 million by electricity consumers, has threatened to embark on a massive disconnection of power to defaulters.
Mr Gwasira is, however, on record as saying strategic institutions like hospitals and border posts were exempt from power disconnections.