Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Willard Manungo
By Dickson Bandera
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed seven commissioners to the Health Service Commission (HSC) in terms of the Health Service Amendment Act of 2022.
The mandate of the HSC, which is replacing the Health Services Board, is to administer the conditions of service of government health workers.
In a statement, the Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Willard Manungo said the Health Service Commission will be chaired by Civil Service Commission chair Dr Vincent Hungwe, deputised by medical practitioner Dr Abigail Rugare Kangwende.
Former Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care Major-General (Rtd) Gerald Gwinji, Dr Edward Makondo, Mr Engelbert Mbengwa, Mrs Josephine Mwakutuya and Mrs Mercy Sibongile Gwaunza are the other fcommissioners of the Board.
Dr Manungo gave some brief profiles of the new commissioners, who all have glowing curriculum vitaes.
“Dr Hungwe has been appointed in terms of Section 5 (1 )(a) of the Health Service Act, which provides that the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission will be the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission. He brings a wealth of experience gained from chairing service commissions.”
Dr Rugare Kangwende is a seasoned medical doctor with over 40 years of experience in the medical field, a multi-talented and multi-skilled public health specialist who has worked in the Ministry of Health and Child Care as a Government medical officer and then director of monitoring and evaluation.
During her tenure with the Ministry of Health and Child Care she had an opportunity to act as chief director of policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation and health informatics, as well as Secretary for Health and Child Care.
Apart from spearheading the whole Government performance management system in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, she coordinated the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the Ministry as well as working with the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare in inter-ministerial SDG coordination.
“She served as a medical officer in the cities of Harare and Mutare. She has a wealth of experience in research having worked as a director at Africa University’s Clinical Research Centre,” said Mr Manungo.
“Through Africa University she contributed to health workforce production for eight years. She also served on committees as a member and president of the Zimbabwe Medical Association, as well as a member of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe.
“She has vast experience in health workforce production, regulation, legislation and policy. She is a fellow of the College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe and received an IPM award for best community engagement.”
Dr Gwinji is a qualified medical doctor and senior administrator with over 35 years of experience in administration and leadership at several levels in public health.
He served in the medical field as a clinical and administrative officer rising to become director general, of health services, in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Secretary for Health and Child Care.
Dr Gwinji also served as Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
“He has vast knowledge and experience in health workforce policy and strategy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation,” said Mr Manungo.
“Over the course of his career, he has had exposure in managing operational activities in complex and large entities in Government. He has served in key international portfolios and headed the Secretariat for the High-Level Task Force.”
Dr Makondo is a registered general and mental health nurse who has a wealth of experience in nursing, clinical, teaching and administrative areas where he rose through the ranks to become a deputy director of nurse training and administration in the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Mr Mbengwa is a seasoned human Resources practitioner and worked in Government for over 30 years.
He worked for the then Health Services Board now HSC as general manager responsible for monitoring and evaluation focusing on human resources and general health service delivery.
Mrs Mwakutuya has over 30 years of experience in health workforce regulation obtained in several portfolios. She served as Registrar at the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe.
Mrs Gwaunza is a seasoned Legal Practitioner with over 20 years experience in labour law, civil litigation, commercial law, arbitration and conveyancing. She has experience in the drafting, and interpretation of agreements and statutes.
