Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu-Bulawayo Bureau
GOVERNMENT has warned that corruption and indiscipline among health workers are undermining efforts to build a world-class health system, with Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora castigating a poor work ethic that he said is facilitating dishonesty in the sector.
Dr Mombeshora said Zimbabwe cannot build a world-class health system on a culture that tolerates indiscipline, stressing that corruption has no place in a sector whose foremost responsibility is to protect life.
He was speaking yesterday during the official opening of the 2026 Ministry of Health and Child Care Review and Strategic Planning Meeting underway in Bulawayo.
“I also want to speak frankly about something that is sometimes uncomfortable to discuss — our working culture. We cannot build a world-class health system with a culture that tolerates indiscipline.
“There are some reports and concerns about failure to report for duty, inappropriate conduct towards patients, diversion of patients, unauthorised private work, misuse of public infrastructure and equipment for private benefit, and, in some cases, withholding or delaying services in ways that facilitate corruption,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He said these practices by some rogue elements within the health sector must be nipped in the bud.
“The walls have ears and trees have eyes; don’t think that you are doing things and we are not seeing it. Let this be a warning. I do not like to see people suffering. At times, we give you warnings so that you correct yourselves and we move together,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“If we still have those practices of lying to patients that the hospitals do not have paracetamol, yet it is there, so that you direct people to your pharmacies, stop it forthwith. We always say our patients come first, and let that be; we cannot make life hard for our patients only to enrich ourselves”.
Dr Mombeshora said the ministry is aware of the fact that health professionals may undertake legitimate private practice where this is permitted, properly authorised and regulated.
“But there must be a clear separation between public service and private interest. Public facilities are public assets. Public equipment is public equipment. Public medicines are public resources, and a patient who comes to a public health institution must never be treated as an opportunity for personal enrichment,” he said.
“Our principle is: ‘Duty before personal interest. Patient before profit. Public resources for public service’. We must restore a culture where professionalism, accountability and service are the norm, not the exception”.
The Minister said President Mnangagwa recently raised serious concerns about the existence of cartels within the health sector.
“We must take that message seriously. We know that the cartels exist, from the reception where a person starts off, throughout the consultation process, diagnostics, we know people are being referred to private laboratories and private diagnostics centres and radiology services, that is a cartel,” he said.
“We cannot have a system like that, where there is manipulation of procurement, referrals, supplies, patients, services or opportunities for private benefit that is unacceptable.”
Dr Mombeshora said when new entrants into the sector face unrealistic and largely unachievable requirements while Health Worker Density is low, the public suffers.
He said the Government is there to protect the public, so regulations should be responsive.
“We must strengthen our internal controls, procurement systems, referral mechanisms, asset management and accountability structures. Where credible allegations arise, they must be investigated and where wrongdoing is established, appropriate action must follow.
“There must be no sacred cows. We should not allow the actions of a few individuals to undermine the reputation of thousands of health workers who serve the public with commitment and integrity”.
Dr Mombeshora also addressed the issue of flexible working arrangements, commonly referred to as flexing.
“We recognise that, in certain circumstances, staff may make arrangements to re-organise their working pattern. For example, by working longer hours per shift, over fewer working days, while maintaining the required number of working hours per week.
“The last approved “flexing” was during the COVID era. Such arrangements may have practical benefits, particularly where they help institutions manage staffing constraints and maintain continuity of services. However, these arrangements must be properly structured, authorised and consistently applied,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said flexing must not result in reduced service availability, unsafe staffing levels or fatigue that compromises patient care.
“We, therefore, need one clear framework across the Ministry. If there is any change to the current arrangements, the Permanent Secretary will issue a clear policy and operational guideline so that everyone understands what is permitted and what is not,” he said.
