Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) has paid homage to President Mnangagwa and the Government for conferring national hero status on revered anaesthesiologist Professor Hebert Mapfumo Chinyanga, who died in South Africa on July 2.
He was 87.
ZiMA joins other organisations in the health sector and beyond in expressing gratitude to President Mnangagwa for bestowing national hero status on a man the organisation described as a trailblazer, pioneer, luminary and doyen of Zimbabwean medicine.
The organisation’s president Dr Kudzai Masinire thanked President Mnangagwa for recognising the contribution of health workers in building a prosperous Zimbabwe by honouring Prof Chinyanga.
Dr Masinire said the honour bestowed on Prof Chinyanga by President Mnangagwa and his Government will serve as an inspiration to the current generation of health workers to continue giving their all to build a great Zimbabwe firmly balanced on a pedestal of a solid health system.
“Thank you your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr E.D Mnangagwa, for recognising the contribution of health workers to the development of our nation,” said Dr Masinire.
“We pledge to honour Prof Chinyanga’s legacy by upholding the standards he set, by mentoring the next generation, and by continuing to serve the people of Zimbabwe with the same dedication he demonstrated.”
According to Dr Masinire, Prof Chinyanga exemplified service, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the development of the health sector in post-independent Zimbabwe.
Prof Chinyanga was also commended by ZiMA for laying the foundation of modern health care in independent Zimbabwe.
Dr Masinire paid tribute to Prof Chinyanga for being a pioneer in clinical medicine in Zimbabwe, noting that the national hero also provided mentorship to generations of doctors and nurses scattered in all corners of Zimbabwe.
The medical doyen received the highest ZiMA award for medical excellence in 2003.
