Politics stops donation of wheelchairs to Mvuma hospital
A road accident victim has failed to donate two wheelchairs to cash strapped Mvuma District Hospital due to political bureaucracy where the District Medical Officer (DMO), District Development Co-ordinator (DDC), MP and the Minister of State must all approve the transaction before the equipment is received.
Mvuma Hospital which serves Chirumanzu District has tattered and broken-down wheelchairs which are probably more than 20 years old. The wheelchairs have no rubber linings on the wheels and they are only four.
Asherboy Mafukidze, a Forestry Commission pensioner has been trying to donate wheelchairs to the hospital since May this year but he has failed up to now because approval by senior politicians is required.
Politics has seriously curtailed develoment in Zimbabwe with donations done outside Zanu PF banned. Construction of schools where pupils are learning in thatch and dagga huts has been stopped by Government in many areas for fear that the projects could be used to further the interests of opposition parties.
Efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Health and Childcare, Dr Douglas Mombeshora were futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Mafukidze saw the need to donate new wheelchairs to Mvuma Hospital after he broke his leg in a road accident and was carried around in those wheelchairs.
“I experienced excruciating pain in those wheelchairs. They have no armrests, they are all rusty steel, they have no leg rests and the wheels are tied to the wheelchairs with pieces of wire and strings. I have never sat on something so uncomfortable,” said Mafukidze.
He vowed to appeal for wheelchair donations to the hospital once he was well again. Seven months ago in May he got two brand new wheel chairs and intended to deliver them to the hospital.
He told Dr Simbarashe Maunga, the DMO about the wheelchairs in May and he was referred to Joram Chimedza the DDC. Chimedza in turn told Mafukidze that he needed the Minister’s consent first and to discuss the matter with the MP for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe, Jacob Chokururama.
He also approached Councilor Tremendous Musara in early May who in turn referred the matter to the DDC.
Asked for a comment, Maunga confirmed that the wheelchairs were too old but he said that Mafukidze must see the DDC since the hospital is owned by Government.
“We asked him to go through the DDC’s office since this is a Government institution and the DDC is the one who coordinates and notifies stakeholders,” said Dr Maunga.
Chimedza asked The Mirror to advise Mafukidze to make a follow-up with his offices. He conceded that the donation had taken too long to be approved.
Councilor Musara said the protocol procedures were unnecessary. He said Mafukidze should simply have taken the wheelchairs to the hospital.
“I was run over by a car at Chicken Inn in Mvuma on my way from Harare in March this year. I was taken to Mvuma hospital and while there I felt that the wheelchairs made my pain a lot worse because of their bad state
“I took it as an emergency that I should source wheelchairs for the hospital. I am surprised that there is no urgency at all from the bureaucrats,” said Mafukidze. Masvingo Mirror
