Howard audit clean

Army International Headquarters under-secretary for programme resources international health services co-coordinator Major Dean Pallant said the audit had revealed nothing was amiss.
“The team comprising three qualified officers, two from International Headquarters, London, and one from Canada have presented their findings,” said Maj Pallant addressing a press conference. “The Salvation Army is able to report that there is no sign that donated funds have been diverted from their original purpose and donated goods falsely reported to have gone missing are all accounted for.”
The church also dismissed as false allegations against Territorial Commander for Zimbabwe Mrs Vinece Chigariro that she abused her office and converted donor funds to her personal use.
“. . . International Headquarters Commissioner Amos Makina, himself a Zimbabwean, states that any allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Territorial Commander Vinece Chigariro are proven to be unfounded,” said Major Pallant. “The Commissioner has not used donated funds for personal use or for the day-to-day running of Zimbabwe Territorial Headquarters.”
The church, said Maj Pallant, was pleased to appoint Comm Chigariro as leader in Kenya East Territory. He said the decision to transfer her was made months before any concerns about Howard Mission Hospital were raised.
“These matters are not related,” said Maj Pallant.
Comm Chigariro would be replaced by Commissioner Colonel Henry Nyagah, an officer of the Kenya East Territory serving as a territorial leader in Malawi.
Major Pallant said former chief medical officer at Howard Hospital Dr Paul Thistle was in the process of finalising his transfer to Canada.
“The former chief medical officer at the hospital, Captain (Dr) Paul Thistle is in the process of receiving a new appointment in his home territory of Canada,” he said.
He said another officer would replace Dr Thistle, but in the meantime Dr Aaron Museka will be acting chief medical officer.
Major Pallant also said Dr Thistle’s transfer was not political, but a regular move made by the church.
“His transfer was discussed for two years at International Headquarters and there  is no political interference. We regret speculation, we have done investigations,” he said.
Problems at the mission hospital started after the Salvation Army ordered Dr Thistle to relocate to Canada.
This saw hundreds of villagers in Chiweshe demonstrating against the reassignment of Dr Thistle, saying he was dedicated to serving the Chiweshe community.
Maj Pallant said the Salvation Army highly valued the Howard Hospital and it remains committed to the development of health services in Chiweshe.
He also said the transfer of senior officers was not only in Zimbabwe, but also in 25 other countries, including Uganda, Malawi and Kenya.
Leaders have also been changed in UK, New York, Norway and Sweden.