Harare Correspondent
Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday visited Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Hospital, and the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) warehouse in what he described as an effort to “gain a clearer understanding” of Zimbabwe’s deteriorating public health sector.
The visits follow growing public anger over the dire state of public healthcare, where crumbling infrastructure, severe drug shortages, and underpaid workers have left hospitals struggling to function.
A Crisis Long Ignored
Mnangagwa’s tour comes weeks after Youth Empowerment Minister Tinoda Machakaire publicly challenged him to witness the crisis firsthand, posting on social media about the appalling conditions in public hospitals.
“I visited Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals, as well as the NatPharm warehouse, to gain a clearer understanding of the current state of our public health services,” Mnangagwa wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“Strengthening healthcare delivery remains a central focus of the Second Republic.”
However, critics have dismissed the visit as a public relations exercise, arguing that the government has long ignored repeated warnings from healthcare workers.
Hospitals on the Brink
Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have faced years of neglect, with doctors and nurses staging strikes over poor salaries and working conditions.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) last week issued an urgent plea for government intervention, warning that preventable deaths are increasing due to the crisis.
“Our hospitals have become death traps,” said a senior nurse at Parirenyatwa who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We lack basic medicines, equipment is broken, and morale is at an all-time low. The President’s visit won’t change anything unless real action follows.”
Public Backlash Over “Propaganda” Praise
While state media praised Mnangagwa for his “hands-on approach,” many Zimbabweans expressed frustration, arguing that the President should not be applauded for acknowledging a crisis his government failed to address for years.
In a scathing open letter circulating online, a citizen identified as Taffy wrote:
“Sir, you did a good thing by visiting our central hospitals yesterday. I am, however, disappointed by how your visit has been turned into a propaganda campaign. Must we thank you for simply witnessing the incompetence of your government?”
The letter continued:
“I refuse to congratulate you for finally ‘discovering’ what ordinary people endure daily. This is how low the bar has been set—you’re now being celebrated for discovering your own failures.”
Calls for Immediate Action
Health experts and activists say Mnangagwa’s visit must be followed by tangible reforms, including increased funding, better salaries for medical staff, and urgent infrastructure repairs.
“A tour is not enough,” said Dr. Norman Matara of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights.
“We need a clear, funded plan to revive our healthcare system. Without that, these visits are just optics.”
As pressure mounts, the government has yet to announce concrete steps to address the crisis. For now, patients and healthcare workers remain skeptical, waiting to see if the President’s “discovery” will translate into real change.
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