By Dickson Bandera
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s unannounced visit to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, and the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) complex has been met with widespread public approval, rekindling hope for the revitalisation of Zimbabwe’s strained healthcare system.
The visit, which caught many by surprise, is being seen as a potentially transformative gesture that could usher in meaningful rehabilitation of central hospitals to guarantee quality service delivery to the nation.
The President’s tour comes in response to a wave of public outcries and widespread reports highlighting the worsening conditions in the country’s health institutions. Notably, in May, Youth Minister Hon. Tino Machakaire visited a relative admitted to one such facility and subsequently took to social media to express his deep concern over the deplorable state of the public hospital, urging the President to see the situation firsthand.
While the minister’s unconventional approach stirred mixed reactions—receiving backlash particularly from some political quarters who felt a Cabinet minister should have used internal communication channels—there was no official comment from the Office of the President. That silence ended in action, as the nation awoke on June 16 to news that the President had personally toured the country’s two largest referral hospitals and the state pharmaceutical supplier.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, named after Zimbabwe’s first black medical doctor, Dr Tichafa Parirenyatwa, has stood as a critical pillar of the national healthcare system since the 1950s. It encompasses specialist facilities such as Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Centre, the Psychiatric Unit, and several surgical and medical wards.
As a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences, it plays a central role in training the country’s medical professionals—including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and radiographers.
Similarly, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, formerly known as Harare Central Hospital, was established in 1958 and provides essential tertiary services to patients from Harare and surrounding provinces. It is also a vital training hub and houses departments such as paediatrics, renal care, neonatal intensive care, and emergency medicine.
Despite their institutional importance, both hospitals have struggled under the weight of systemic challenges, with underfunding being one of the challenges. According to the 2024 Third Quarter Health Sector Report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), only 10.6% of the national budget was allocated to health—falling short of the 15% commitment under the Abuja Declaration.
Against this backdrop, the President’s visit signals a renewed focus on strengthening public health institutions. His inspection of NatPharm underscores the government’s recognition of the importance of efficient pharmaceutical supply chains and the role of local manufacturing in reducing medicine shortages.
It is hoped that his firsthand view of conditions on the ground will inform immediate and strategic interventions that align with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
Vision 2030, the government’s blueprint for transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy, includes healthcare as a core component under the Social Services and Human Capital Development Cluster.
Key goals under this pillar include upgrading hospital infrastructure, improving access to quality care, expanding training institutions, and ensuring availability of essential medicines and equipment.
Citizens have welcomed the President’s visit as a show of leadership and responsiveness and are showing cautious optimism that the visit could mark the beginning of a more accountable and people-centred healthcare agenda.
As the government pushes forward with its development agenda, the condition of public health institutions will remain a key barometer of progress.
For now, the President’s walk through the corridors of Harare’s busiest hospitals has reignited national conversation about healthcare delivery—and with it, the hope that dignity and quality can once again define Zimbabwe’s public health system.
