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Harare Bureau
Police have opened investigations into permanent secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Gerald Gwinji and 493 other ministry officials who allegedly looted a huge chunk of the $1,5 million released by Treasury for health workers’ on-call and night duty allowances. Police sources yesterday said the matter was being handled by detectives from the CID Serious Frauds Squad.
It emerged yesterday that the case is being treated so seriously that Chief Superintendent Nekodimo Rukwanda and four others viewed as dragging their feet in the investigations have been transferred from CID Serious Frauds Squad to other sections in different parts of the country.
The transfers were with immediate effect yesterday.
According to the police sources, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will conduct an audit to ascertain the amount of money which the suspects abused and the results will help the police come up with proper charges.
“The police will start recording evidence from Dr Gwinji and his subordinates once this audit, which is expected to last a few days, is completed,” said the source.
It could not be immediately established how much Dr Gwinji was receiving for on-call allowances, but his other senior officials were drawing up to $403 per month.
What has raised eyebrows is that Dr Gwinji and his colleagues do not work at night and were not entitled to the money.
This is in sharp contrast with nurses who carry out the actual night duty, but are getting a paltry $3 per month as allowances for the work.
Nurses have been on strike since Monday last week demanding that their night duty allowances be increased and their demands helped expose Dr Gwinji and his directors.
On-call duty is an emergency call for health personnel to report for duty when the need arises at night.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo