Mnangagwa urged to witness Zim public hospitals' conditions

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The Zimbabwean youth empowerment minister has expressed his shock at what he saw when he visited his country’s public hospital.

Minister Tinoda Machakaire has pleaded with his President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to visit the hospitals. He warned that “in our desire to present progress, we may unintentionally overlook important realities on the ground.”

Minister shocked by the state of public hospitals

Machakaire witnessed the collapsing state of the healthcare system as he visited a relative at a public hospital. The minister took to social media to express his shock.

“What I saw was deeply moving—a clear indication that many of our people are facing serious challenges,” Machakaire wrote on X.

“The growing public outcry over our healthcare system is not an exaggeration; it reflects the difficult experiences of many citizens.”

Pleading with the president

The minister directly addressed the president, urging him to go and see for himself.

“Your Excellency, you have earned the admiration of this nation for your compassion, humility and tireless dedication to the welfare of ordinary citizens,” he said.

“Under your leadership, many have found renewed hope. It is because of this trust in your care for the people that I respectfully plead with you: please find time from your busy schedule to visit these institutions yourself. There is no substitute for seeing, listening and understanding firsthand what our citizens are going through.”

Is the Zimbabwean healthcare system deteriorating?

Last month, a South African patient allegedly struggled to get the critical medical attention he needed while in Zimbabwe. As a result, South African authorities dispatched a helicopter to retrieve him. This suggests how challenging it is to get proper healthcare in Zimbabwe.

Some Zimbabweans have taken to social media to vent their frustration about the ongoing health crisis in public hospitals. Here is how they have reacted after minister Machakaire urged the president to pay attention to the public hospitals:

@lilomatic: “A Healthy Nation is a Progressive Nation We commend Minister @HonMachakaire for his bold honesty and compassion. His recent statement highlights what many Zimbabweans already know: our public healthcare system is in crisis, and urgent action is needed…”

@waltermzembi:“A rare official acknowledgement of the dire situation in our Health Sector , this kind of public honesty is what solves our challenges.”

Hon Tino Machakaire

@eddiemahembe: “@HonMachakaire has earned my respect. The state of our public healthcare system is deplorable. Raising such a matter in the middle of the #ED2030 craziness takes boldness. This call should go beyond health to education, infrastructure, unemployment, etc.“