Zimbabwe VP promises church leaders houses, farms
MASVINGO - Vice President Joice Mujuru has
promised church leaders farms and houses if they ensure Zanu PF wins the
forthcoming vote. Mujuru told church and cooperatives leaders at the Civic
Centre last week that her party would allocate farms to leaders of indigenous
churches, saying they were left out during the land reform programme.
“We know that church leaders, who are important
to the nation and our party, did not get land when others were given,” Mujuru
said. “So we want you to come and get it from us. “We will give you land
because you are just like everyone else who should benefit from our programmes
since we also rely on you.” She instructed Masvingo governor, Titus
Maluleke, politiburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire and provincial administrator,
Felix Chikovo to immediately allocate farms to the church leaders ahead of the
polls. “I instruct our party leaders here who form the Lands Committee,
Maluleke, Mavhaire and Chikovo the PA to immediately see to it that the men of
cloth get land,” she said. Mujuru also promised church leaders houses. “We
have read so many stories of church leaders refusing to leave church houses when their mission to lead the
people is over,” Mujuru said. “This is because they do not have proper
houses for their families as they spend most of their time preaching the word
of God.
“Our party will see to it that they get nice
houses for their families because it is because of them that President Robert
Mugabe continues to rule this country.”
Mujuru later paraded Zanu PF candidates at the
meeting and asked the people to vote for them and Mugabe.
________________________________________
Integrity in Zimbabwean politics isn’t talked about often, probably because it’s such a rare treasure, unlike the diamonds and gold reserves that prop up most of the wealth held by the country’s elite, including Mujuru. In that the current political maneuverings include the country’s Vice President, a Salvationist with the title of Senior Captain, one wonders if her desire for victory and control, no doubt fueled in part by her desire for the greatest good, doesn’t mirror an equally well meant end, but equally lacking true integrity that caused a SA travesty and tragedy.
Many of the hundreds commenting on our many HH articles suggest that the HC are circling their wagons, bringing to mind the scenes in USA films featuring the fearless pioneers seeking a better life in the 'west'!
The films' conclusions often result in a typical last ditch maneuver before the inevitable scalping!
We live in a world where “the end justifies the means”, an all too common compromise that’s become an acceptable school of thought for far too many, including some in our beloved Army. Their actions, or lack of, has sullied our standard. Unfortunately, that momentary lack of integrity has come at an incredibly high price with far reaching consequences, including avoidable suffering and death.
That compromising person looses their ability to
be trusted as a person of integrity. Profit in policy or power is temporary,
and word of one’s character generally surfaces in time and the value of the
trust others have in you is far beyond anything that can be measured or ever
regained. A person’s lack of integrity – lack of credibility- will
eventually catch up to them. It may not be today, and it may not be for several
years, but you can rest assured that at some point there will always be a
reckoning.
In the Army it means having a loyal group of
fellow officers, a soldiership of more than a million, loyal to the core
(corps) because they could never fathom that a SA leader could bring damage to
their own or the SA’s reputation of sustained integrity.
Warren Buffet, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire
Hathaway said it best when speaking to graduates at the Harvard
Business School:, “In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities:
integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first
one, the other two will kill you.”
A word of advice to those who are striving for
a reputation of integrity: Do not make excuses for your colleagues.
Inevitably we become more and more like the people we surround ourselves with
day to day. Do we want to follow a pattern of first enduring their failed
behavior, then accepting their behavior, and finally adopting their behavior?
Do what is
right, and the desired consequence will follow. Army leaders will be elected, they will come, lead and go,
but integrity is forever.
Sven Ljungholm
Former Officer
Liverpool
Former Officer
Liverpool
50 comments:
Where did Mujuru get the title "senior captain" from. If its as I suspect its a misnomer by the press (and public) it should not be used on these pages. If its worse and she's giving it to herself - she should be reported to the local TSa leaders (or International ones if the local ones don't listen). But again she should not be referred to as such by those who should know better. There is no way she is currently a captain - she's not a full time "officer", from what I can see she has had no opportunity to have ever trained and commissioned as an officer.
Please Sven (and FSAOF blog) stop using it in your own articles. (Obviously quoting other peoples articles is different - but even there annotation can be given to show its a direct quote, albeit factually incorrect.)
Even if the title is one obtained from her para-military past, it should not be used on this pages in connection with her TSA involvement.
It's a title we believe was bestowed upon her by her good friend, the Zim TC, now stationed in Kenya. From what we've observed, she uses the title regularly and with comfort.
And for the record, we don't make this stuff up - there's no need to - it's all there in black and white. We report- you decide and critique if that's your bent,
By the way, what do you think of the Senior Captain's antics? Or is that of less concern that a possible error on our part?
The title 'senior captain' is not only quoted on these pages - it is referred to on many internet pages, so I don't think you should address any criticism for that here.
The lady is a law unto herself, and a very influential figure to date on the Zimbabwean political stage. It looks to me as if TSA has become embroiled in this hotbed of political putridity and the result is the HH debacle. It is cited in internet reports that she used her influence to see to it that HH activity ceased, because it was situated in the constituency of her political rival, and TSA just rolled over, with catastrophic humanitarian casualties.
However, it looks as if all this may change. The lady is being targeted, it seems, because she is not miss popularity within her own party. I came across this:
Vice President Joice Mujuru is under political siege as her Zanu PF foes and some elements in the military have partnered to elbow her out of the party’s presidium, while effectively laying the ground to push her away from becoming President Robert Mugabe’s successor, Nehanda Radio can reveal.
The article is illuminating. She promised houses and lands ahead of the elections to church leaders. (Did she promise TSA something? Intriguing).
http://nehandaradio.com/2013/07/09/vice-president-joice-mujuru-under-siege/
http://zimbabweelection.com/2013/07/15/zimbabwe-vp-promises-church-leaders-
We are told not to judge people, but it's difficult to imagine how this intelligent woman can reconcile her political actions with those of Christianity.
UK
As an aside - why does the 'live feed' keep disappearing?
'she should be reported to the local TSa leaders (or International ones if the local ones don't listen)'
That's rich - what is the point of reporting ANYTHING to IHQ? It would disappear without trace, if their reaction to correspondence on this issue alone is anything to go by.
I am no fan of IHQ or TSA at the moment - but that's a very ambitious suggestion, or a naive one, given the sensitivity of the political situation in Zimbabwe.
Rumour has it that not only did the Senior Captain promise rewards to the SA, they have 100,000 soldiers of voting age, but that she's already forked over a far, to the former TC, a Zimbabwean.
It's not unusual that private persons/soldiers seek to provide support to officers, especially as they near retirement. The officers should, of course, report all such major gifts to THQ. But then again, if you're the TC, are you obligated to inform IHQ? Nah, just write an addendum to the R&R.
she's already forked over a farm, to the former TC, a Zimbabwean.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse......
I remember reading about her (and her husband's) seizure of a farm belonging to Guy Watson-Smith - a very large, successful farm employing many Zimbabwean people. They were summarily evicted and could not take anything with them, not even the family pets. They lost their whole livelihood because of this theft. the Mujurus lived there in the luxury that others had created, with scant regard for their devastation and loss.
Her husband was killed there in mysterious circumstances - the farmhouse construction contained a lot of asbestos, but Mr Mujuru died in a fire there - curious or what? The Watson-Smiths said it was implausible for fire to take hold of the building in such a way. Justice takes many forms.
How can anyone professing to be a Christian live by these sort of rules? Her adopted political name means 'spill blood' and she claims to have shot down a helicopter in which the pilots were killed.
I can understand if TSA was/is afraid of upsetting the applecart here, but surely there is a limit on what is acceptable?
I'm not sure whether to believe the blog about the farm being given to the former TC given the tone of some of the threads - in spite of my grief over the HH issue, I would still like to think that the leaders had some sort of integrity.
Of course not, none have any integrity whatsoever, from grassroots corps officer to highest office are all corrupt and on the take. God help our army
I beg to differ with Anonymous who said that none, from the grassroots CO to the highest offer, have any integrity.
I believe there are many, many officers with great integrity, who are fair, just, honest, moral and who conduct themselves in the ways that Christ calls us to act.
They struggle daily with serving the Lord as they have been called, yet seeing the leadership of the church crumbling. Like good shepherds, they care for their flocks and do what they can when they can to try to stem the tide of corrupt leadership.
Yes, there are corrupt officers at the corps level. And there are leaders of integrity at high levels.
If I thought that the Army was a wasteland of corruption, then I would not be joined up with other Salvationists trying to excise the evil from within the ranks. If there was no hope, I would consign it all to the devil and wash my hands of it.
But there is hope. I believe that.
I agree with Jolinda's comment. We must not forget either that there are soldiers who leave a lot to be desired in their conduct as well. We all sin, and fall short of God's glory.
Many officers are treated badly by their own leaders, and I really believe TSA needs to be purged at this moment in time.
The thought did come to me that TSA's stance in Zimbabwe over the HH situation could be politic. In view of the VP's behaviour, would they have accepted relatively small humanitarian losses in Cheweshe to save TSA's existence in the rest of Zimbabwe?
I don't think I'm putting this very well, but I would think that if TSA didn't do as she said in running down the HH, the repercussions for TSA's continuation of ministry in the rest of Zimbabwe could be under threat, considering the power that this woman wields.
I just wondered.
Referring to the suggestion that each of us who is concerned about this subject should write to the new general expressing our views, would the FSAOF have a template that we could use? Not all of us are good with words, and it might help if we all sent the same message.
There are officers in Zimbabwe with integrity. Last year some of them risked probably their lives to go on social media to expose the corruption in their THQ and begged the rest of TSA world (IHQ in particular) to do something about the corruption.
Nothing happened.
Oh and in Zimbabwe news last year a photo appeared of a burned down house with a charred corpse lying in the VP Mujuru.
Another point of interest, at least part of her education was at the school which operated at the Howard. How do I know this? A retired missionay officer teacher had her in her class.
Another interesting thing is that when the African congress was held in Zimbabwe during the generalship of Shaw Clifton, the choice of Zimbabwe was protested by many for one reason in particular - Mujuru's track record on human rights. However protest fell on deaf ears at IHQ and the congress went ahead.
Reportedly the Clifton's were invited for tea to the home of VP Mujuru. I suppose this could be considered Christ-like - you know Jesus going to Zaccheus's house for tea. The outcome however was quite different. The motivation of VP Mujuru giving these farms to clergy is not like Zaccheus's restitution - her motivation is political gain period.
Correction - missing words now added - sorry.
Should read, "Oh and in Zimbabwe news last year a photo appeared of a burned down house with a charred corpse lying in the ashes, the article said the arson was ordered by VP Mujuru."
Obviously could be said by a political opponent, but just for yourself research this woman's human right's record - most likely the article attributing the arson to her is true.
The photo of the charred body was in fact her husband.
You have to ask yourself why this woman is still allowed to wear SA uniform! The answer has to be political, with TSA cowering with the weight of repercussions if they expel her.
You'd only have to drink a pint of beer elsewhere to have your soldiership rescinded. (not that that is excusable when you've promised not to). Sin is sin, whether in Zimbabwe or elsewhere. But the effects of confronting and dealing with sin there would obviously be bigger than the pint of beer scenario.
Unless, of course, you trusted in God.......now there's a thought!
All signs of God have disappeared from a lot of Army documents. the Big Collection has no reference to Him, neither has the new headed stationery.
Very few corps go out for 'open air' services these days. Full size bands are few and far between. We are no longer a 'marching' Army seen on the streets - we are retreating into our citadels and hiding away. The public very rarely see a Salvation Army uniform - most soldiers travel in cars to worship.
I digress - I can confirm the above writer's post about Joice Mujuru's human rights record - it's not good. And I would think to have a soldier in the corps whose political name translates as 'spill blood' is less than encouraging.
The announcement of the new General is apparently immanent on the webcast.
Did anyone in the UK contact the BBC or other media about the HH debacle? How good it would be if the new General could be peppered immediately with questions about it.
Oh the hand rubbing glee, just the thought of seeing the General squirm eh?
Nothing to stop you contacting the BBC yourself though, absolutely nothing!
It certainly is unworthy low 'bah humbug' stuff.....
I don't understand - why do you think people are rubbing their hands with glee to see the general squirm? This situation is much more serious than that, and will last long past a brief moment of satisfaction for a very few. I certainly am not 'rubbing my hands' - I am filled with trepidation as to how this matter will/may unfold once the new general has been announced. It is a tragedy - can't you understand that? People have died - there but for the grace of God they could have belonged to your family or mine. How would you feel about TSA then? I'd be surprised if you did not want answers. Please show a little compassion for the vulnerable.
UK
Sorry, I am late to the game here and trying to catch up on the Howard Hospital situation.
Is it possible to summarize this?
Also, is the assumption that what ever happened at HH was directly linked to why Linda Bond left office?
Why all this bleating. Perhaps all we do as before is to pontificate and do nothing. So the status quo stands. We just need to get use to the fact we are "army barmy" and loyalty to our movement prevents action. Therefore this whole blog on HH is just simply salving our conscience while upholding the regime in charge. If anyone disagrees they need to step up to the mark and speak out now.
Former UkT
To 'Sorry, I am late to the game here and trying to catch up on the Howard Hospital situation' - you would do best to access the 'older post' tab at the bottom right of this page and read from the bottom up. It will make you weep.
Well its General Andre Cox ... so status quo resumed
To 'why all this bleating'.
Having read all the blogs on this subject from the beginning, and watched where the live feeds come from, it seems to me that almost the whole world is watching this, and waiting to see if TSA will address this emotive issue.
Personally, although I am loyal to the movement, I am not blindly loyal, and such disgraceful pontificating by IHQ over this issue has left me shocked.
I don't think such a 'gung-ho' attitude is helpful at this time. Wait to see who the new general is - then decide what action to take.
Best choice!
the whole world watching it? nah.....a few thousand salvo's only
'crucify him, crucify him' comes immediately to mind.. ?
I did mean the salvation army followers around the world. I wouldn't imagine that this secular world would be interested.
To 'crucify him, crucify him' - it may come to your mind, but I doubt if it will come to the minds of many others.
As a grassroots Corps Officer I am appalled at the person hiding behind the 'Anonymous' tag calling me totally corrupt. Suggest he or she gets off his or her high horse and grows up. Internet trolls are the worst sort of bully in my opinion. Why not e-mail me direct and explain where I am corrupt rather than calling out a whole group of people on the internet.
My e-mail address is easy! It's the name I've used on this comment with a dot between them followed by @salvationarmy.org.uk.
Come on I dare you to call me corrupt to my face!
A complete report and response is forthcoming.
For the record, since we began posting our research on this tragedy 5 weeks ago we've had some 11-12,000 blog visitors. Approximately 3,000 of those are unique and 1st time visitors to our blog and have NO SA connection. For that reason we are especially careful in presenting a factual and transparent picture of what took place. For those of you who claim to be in the know, simply click on the 'visitors' button; read, lear, and begin speaking from facts!
We now know the name of the newly elected General. He does play a part in this saga, albeit an insignificant one as far as we can see this minute. However, our advance research team believes that will change within the next 24 hours as more information comes to light.
For those seeking to catch up on this sordid story, we'll retell the entire series of events supported by printed/published pieces. They will provide all the necessary information to refute the SA's statements as rubbish. I decided to revert to this much kinder term.
Idiom Definitions for 'Over-egg the pudding'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you over-egg the pudding, you spoil something by trying to improve it excessively. It is also used nowadays with the meaning of making something look bigger or more important than it really is. ('Over-egg' alone is often used in this sense.)
I don't get those who post on here thinking that people are out to get the new general or even bring down The Salvation Army. Yes, maybe some on here have a grudge. But I dont' think there is any church or company that doesn't have their own set of people holding grudges. What I do see is a lot of people who love the Army and who are so very sad that this Army they love has allowed itself to become something sad and broken. That is not hand-rubbing glee.
I would hate to see TSA brought down. Despite this gross mishandling of the HH situation, I do believe TSA still has the capacity for restoring lost souls and rescuing them from a Christless eternity.
BUT - we need to change. We have to become more relevant than we are, and we need once again to show that the whole organisation, from the top to the bottom, has a heart of compassion for Gods people everywhere.
Some of the comments above are simply despicable and show no love, care, compassion or integrity - the very same qualities that you are criticising so many others for lacking!! Hang your heads in collective shame! I am reminded of the comment I heard some years back, "Salvationists don't smoke and don't drink but many of them could eat and gossip at the Olympics". I realise that, by it's simple definition (as a forum for EX-officers) these posts attract some people with grudges and long-standing gripes, but the potential value of bringing issues out into the open (as endorsed by the comment from IHQ previously) is rapidly dissipating by very ill-judged, bitter, inflammatory and often exaggerated nonsense.
Unfortunately, a lot of the nastier news on these threads are actual events - they are in the public forum and can be read by anyone.
What has happened here is that many 'foot soldiers' in TSA have had their trust in TSA leadership destroyed by what has happened at HH and subsequently.
I may agree with the comment about gossip - but that isn't exclusive to Salvationists, is it? And my understanding of the word 'gossip' is that of idle talk or groundless rumours.
Personally, I do wish they were just that, but they do have their foundation in fact.
So, no - people on this site are not gossiping - they are discussing a very real humanitarian crisis that they never thought could have happened within this Christian movement, and they/we are expressing our real concerns that the international leadership could have done this in our name.
To destroy the reputation of a fine man and a skilled doctor, and then to issue factually incorrect statements to try to conceal the reality is bewildering, and people need to vent their frustration in some way. There are some who do it more enthusiastically than others, but I do believe they are sincere.
In all aspects of "news feed" we are just puppets of whoever is pulling the strings! So, in the same way that we don't know all the ins and outs of governmental decisions, police investigations, sensationalised celebrity stories, we do not and probably will never know all the facts regarding the chaos that unfolded HH. Undoubtedly there are things that could and should have been done better - with faults on all sides of the debate. But forgive me for being so simplistic but, if I have read the various blogs and news stories correctly:
1) Dr Thistle is still in Zimbabwe serving and caring for the local people (albeit under a different organisation) so he is fulfilling his calling and showing that same compassion. I'm not sure how that relates to "destroying his reputation"??
2) HH is operational (maybe not to the same levels as before but it is serving the local community)?
3) TSA's mission and care for the Zimbabwe community in around HH goes on and we should all be saying God Bless those who serve and work hard to deliver Christlike compassion.
Are there questions unanswered - Yes? Both TSA hierarchy AND Dr Thistle have remained very tight-lipped throughout this whole process - Why - I'm not sure? Do I like that lack of transparency? No certainly not? Are there lessons that should be learned? Yes!! BUT is vitriolic blogging and character assassination on this kind of forum going to change any of that? No! I doubt whether any of the brass at THQ ever read this blog and, even if they did, they have already been presented with their internal view of the picture so it is unlikely to drive any real change.
On the day of judgement we will ALL be held accountable for our own actions ..... The people that have played an active role on various sides of the HH dilemma will answer for their actions or non-actions, but equally all of us will be held accountable for our thoughts, actions, words blogged etc... In all the campaigning for justice on this issue via this forum I wonder how much of it is coupled with prayer? I urge each one of you to:
Pray for HH
Pray for Dr Thistle in his new role at his new hospital
Pray for VP Mujuru - that the Holy Spirit will help her to use her political influence for the extension of HIS kingdom and HIS kingdom alone
Pray for IHQ and the officers charged with responsibility in making the decisions
Pray for our new General that he will have wisdom to make the right God-inspired decisions
Pray for the people of Zimbabwe who, after a week like the past week, need our prayers more than ever!
Pray ... Pray ... Pray ... It might not give that short term satisfaction of writing a critical blog and pointing out the perceived failures of others but it is certainly a more Christ-like approach!
Dr Thistle is serving a different community - 150 miles away from Chiweshe.
The people of Chiweshe remain without a surgeon and the HIV and TB programs have virtually ground to a halt.
1. 'Pray..pray..pray' - do you not think that people aren't praying as well?
2.There is no satisfaction in writing a critical blog at all on this subject.
3. People have died because of the TSA's actions in sacking Dr Thistle and not replacing him after a year - despite stating that his move had been planned for a whole 2 years before all this happened. If this was true, where is the replacement surgeon 3 years on?
4. I do not understand your protests. Many of us have lived for years with the song, 'Except I am moved with compassion, how dwelleth Thy spirit in me?'
What is compassionate about withdrawing the HIV and TB programmes?
I do believe that we should speak out against injustice in whatever form it takes. that does not make us blameless - as you say, we are all accountable for our actions. Personally I believe that a gross injustice has been done to the Chiweshe people, and I feel moved to enter a critique that is driven by conscience.
I'm sure many people are praying but some of the comments and boiled-over passion on this forum seriously call into question some motives? Wanting to see the new General "squirm" ..... "Crucify him..." Seriously???
I guess the ultimate question here is "Where is this debate going"? What would be considered a good "result"? Numerous senior officers sacked/disciplined?? Dr Thistle re-instated at HH? VP Mujuru formally kicked out of TSA?
I'm not advocating sweeping this matter under the carpet but equally so I'm just not sure where people contributing to this debate actually want to see it end??
1. Honesty from our 'anointed' leaders
2.Acknowledgment for mistakes made
3. Apology to the Thistles and the people of Chiweshe
4. Transparency, not obfuscation.
5. Contrition
6. Restoration of surgery and the volunteer programs at HH.
I don't think it's the intention of anyone writing here to be vengeful in any way, but when simple people like myself can see the gaping holes in the statements that emanate from IHQ, it's time for a re-examination by the leadership to accept some responsibility for this dreadful episode and to return to core Christian values. They expect it from the soldiery - I believe it's time they did so too.
I do not know whether a petition has ever been presented to SA hierarchy, but the modern media now makes it a fairly simple procedure for someone with the technical know-how. Would a very powerful act on the part of those interested be take petition to our new leader requesting the setting up of an independent enquiry into the HH situation. Would not a petition of many thousands be possible? We would not be accusing anyone nor establishing foregone conclusions, simply insisting upon a procedure that a leader would be unable to ignore. Let such be the VOICE of the real Army. I would have no qualms in signing such.
I wouldn't either.
You can set up a petition on the No 10 website at gov.org. and at Anonymous sent deta to overseas devl secretariat.
I'll have to go back and find the press article, but mujuru in late spring had a photo/press op at HH. she was supposedly the driving force behind getting a textile company to donate $35,000 worth of blankets to HH. At a generous $50 cost per blanket, that still 700 blankets. a 144-bed hospital which is running at 10% capacity... i wonder how many of those blankets will still be there in 3 months. or maybe she'll hand out a few blankets with each farm.
Jolinda - was this the article?(Not printed in its entirety but contains website link)
Thursday, 30 May 2013 18:30
Two mission hospitals, Howard and Karanda in Mashonaland Central province are set to benefit from a gift of bedding material that was donated to the Acting President Joice Mujuru by a local businessman.
http://www.zbc.co.zw/news-categories/top-stories/32493-acting-president-mujuru-donates-to-mission-hospitals.html
The owner of a local company, Waverley Blankets Mr Victor Cohen, has once again remembered the plight of underprivileged people in society, especially during the winter season.
The consignment consists of 200 bed comforters, 600 pairs of ladies canvas shoes and 400 pairs of kids clothes worth US$25 000.
Presenting the consignment to Acting President Mujuru at her Munhumutapa offices, Mr Patrick Chiremba, who is legal advisor to Waverley Blankets owner, said the company decided to give Cde Mujuru the donation in appreciation of the good work she is doing for the country.
Receiving the donation, Cde Mujuru said instead of taking the whole consignment to people in her constituency, she will forward the goods to two mission hospitals Howard and Karanda so that people from all over the country who come to the hospitals for treatment can benefit.
“I have requests from two hospitals, hospitals that have done us wonders. They treat people from all over the country. I am going to take them (the consignment) there. So the benefit will no longer be for my constituency alone, but for everyone,” said Cde Mujuru.
thank you. i appreciate appreciate you posting it. i stand corrected in my statement as to amount and contents.
i truly hope these articles that end up at HH get used by those in need. I have no qualms about Karanda.
It is curious that she chose those two hospitals... both are facilities where dr thistle served/serves.
I believe another article quoted the total cost of the donated goods as US$35,000.
Not quite sure why she quoted the Howard Hospital, either. I found another article which speaks of her role in the HH demise:
Howard Hospital facing closure after eviction of only doctor
Posted by Alex Bell on Friday, August 17, 2012 in health, Zimbabwe politics |
By Alex Bell 17 August 2012
The Salvation Army run Howard Hospital in Chiweshe is now facing closure, after the top doctor there was forced out of his position this week.
- See more at:
http://www.swradioafrica.com/2012/08/17/howard-hospital-facing-closure-after-eviction-of-only-doctor/#sthash.1eEiuddV.dpuf
Tensions in Chiweshe were running high on Friday after protests by Chiweshe residents turned violent on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of 12 people. Residents have been up in arms over the eviction of Dr. Paul Thistle, who has now taken annual leave before his ‘transfer’ away from the Howard mission next month.
This ‘transfer’ is the official position being taken by the Salvation Army and hospital administrators, despite the forced nature of Dr. Thistle’s dismissal. Earlier this month, Chiweshe residents told SW Radio Africa that armed police had been called in to evict the doctor, apparently on orders from Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Mujuru is a senior Salvation Army official and it is understood that her clampdown on Howard Hospital is part of the worsening infighting in ZANU PF over the future leadership of the party. Chiweshe is said to be a stronghold of Mujuru’s rival Emmerson Mnangagwa and her attempts to control the respected hospital are allegedly linked to her attempts to control the area.
This fight may now result in the closure of a hospital that is highly regarded and trusted, because Dr. Thistle was the only doctor at the facility. His ‘transfer’ means the facility is only relying on its nursing staff, who have not even been paid since July.
How can this person be an official TSA and VP. Very murky ...
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