PRESIDENT HICHILEMA HAS FAILED TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS AT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
“The dismissal of Dr. Magwende is a mere scapegoat to the deep crisis at the Ministry”
LUSAKA- Monday 8th August, 2022
We have learnt with interest about the action taken by President Hakainde Hichilema to terminate the contract of the Permanent Secretary ( Administration) of Ministry of Health.
We must state from the onset that President Hakainde Hichilema has failed to handle the crisis at the Ministry that has brewing for almost one year now.
The Ministry has failed to resolve the issue of lack of medicines and medical supplies. Hospitals, Clinics and Health centres are operating at a crisis level with no medicines, and no reagents for laboratories and suffer regular stock-out.
In many cases health workers have no requisite safety supplies such as gloves, cotton wool, and masks to do their job in a safe environment.
To compound this problem, as reports have emerged, is the poor management of the Ministry practiced by Hon. Silvia Masebo.
She regularly interferes with the administrative and professional work of Permanent Secretaries and Directors.
Despite being arrested for similar practices in 2012 when she held the role of Minister of Tourism, Hon. Masebo has continued to run the Ministry outside the guidance and provisions of the Cabinet Handbook.
The dismissal of Dr. George Magwende, is therefore a mere scapegoat to the deep crisis prevalent at the Ministry.
We attribute this failure to President Hichilema who has failed to resolve this deep crisis at the Ministry where itbis established that the Minister is an integral part of the problem.
Zambians should hold President Hichilema accountable for the loss of lives that have continued to occur needlessly as a result of this gross inefficiency and negligence at the Ministry of Health.
Issued by;
Hon. Raphael Nakacinda
Member of the Central Committee
Chairperson- Information and Publicity