Managers cleared in drugs case

George Maponga Masvingo Bureau

Government has reinstated Masvingo Provincial Hospital medical superintendent Dr Julius Chirengwa and some members of the hospital’s management committee who were suspended early this month on allegations of selling critical drugs to private pharmacies.

The hospital’s general surgeon, Dr Noel Zulu, Ms Helga Mpande, a former matron at the institution and acting tutor-in-charge at the School of Nursing, Ms Rosemary Machuwaire were also suspended.

The axe also fell on the hospital pharmacist Mr Zivanai Zibhenge and pharmacy technicians Messrs William Mamombe and Munyaradzi Thomu.

A general hand in the pharmacy department Mr Shepherd Hwaire and another attached to the equipment stores and workshop department were also not spared.

The suspension was to enable authorities to investigate the allegations which proved to be untrue, leading to the officials’ reinstatement.

Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva yesterday confirmed that Dr Chirengwa and his colleagues were now back at work.

She said her ministry had carried full investigations and established that the allegations were rumours.

“We carried out investigations against the allegations that had been raised against the persons in question,” she said.

“There were allegations that the officials in question were running a cartel and stealing drugs, but our investigations found all that to be untrue, they were just rumours.

“We prepared a report with annexures proving that every allegation raised against them were not true, so it is true that they are now back at work because all the allegations levelled against them did not stick.

“In fact, I shall be soon visiting Masvingo province as part of my ongoing support and working visit to all provinces to have an appreciation of the situation on the ground.

“I saw it fit to come to Masvingo and hear the concerns of health personnel there, their challenges, especially those who were suspended, they might have something to say after getting demoralised by the suspension from work. I need to hear from them.”