The SA's lofty statements do not match the on ground reality

August 23, 2012: Press Release: "The Salvation Army remains Committed to Howard Hospital":  Commissioner Brian Peddle, Territorial Commander, Canada & Bermuda: "We consider the health of its patients and the well-being of the staff at Howard Hospital to be of paramount importance." 

If the health of the patients had been of "paramount" importance, reasons to move Dr. Thistle would have been "secondary" and would have been delayed and coordinated with the on site arrival replacement surgeon, and is not yet resolved 11 months later. And was any logical thought or consideration given to how Dr. Thistle, given just 24 hours to vacate the hospital and another 24 hours to leave the country? Seventeen years of accumulated files, research, medical records to sort through- patients needing their medical charts updated and shared with those taking over Thistle’s typical 18-hour daily rounds. And what about all the patients scheduled for surgery at the hands of this exceptionally skilled physician? And children in a boarding school…  The expulsion was rushed and negligent of any patient safety or concern with reprehensible consequences: many patients died.  In Canada (Dr. Thistle’s home country), such a situation would have led to charges of criminal negligence leading to death.

Many staff members spoke out against Thistle’s dismissal, fully aware that retaliation, including bodily harm might follow. As far as Commissioner Peddle’s assurance for the well-being of the staff, at the time of the above statement, eight nurses from the hospital had been beaten, arrested, tortured and denied food.  It was reported that the Hospital Administrator gave the police names of nurses who opposed Dr. Thistle's move.  No Salvationists (HQ) visited these nurses in prison except Dr. Thistle, who refused orders from IHQ to abandon them. It’s logical to assume that THQ Toronto was simply echoing the hollow assurances being sent out from IHQ.

Officers from Zimbabwe THQ witnessed against them at their trial.  However, their witness (THQ officer?)  was "contradictory" and "unreliable" according to the judge, who set seven free for "lack of evidence".  When asked about the nurses' plight by Stephen Lewis, Lewis reported that the General replied, "They were inciting violence."  The nurses presence must not have been of sufficient threat as all but one returned to work at Howard Hospital, Martin Zindoga, still charged but under appeal.  He has been dismissed from the hospital.


26 October, 2012: "Statement Regarding the Salvation Army's Howard Hospital, Zimbabwe": "The Salvation Army is able to report that:

▪                there is no sign that donated funds have been diverted from their original purpose

▪                donated goods, falsely reported to have gone missing, are all accounted for"

Donors in Peterborough, Ontario have requested some $10,000 donated to the hospital and receipted, for construction of a duplex residence, be returned, as the residence has not been built. They have received no answers to these requests. The money remains missing to this date, obviously diverted from its original purpose.


Donated goods, including building materials for the above structure and medical instruments owned by SHUMBA Medical were not ‘falsely reported to be missing’;  they are indeed missing and unaccounted for, and remain so. It has been reported by the SA Zim that some of the building materials are at the hospital (door and window frames) and that photographs have been taken and are available, but no photos have ever been provided. When asked about bricks, sand, lumber (roof beams) and roofing sheets, the Salvation Army Zim would not respond. They did acknowledge that that the cement, a highly valued black market commodity, which had already been purchased, had not yet been delivered. 

November 7, 2012: Online press release, reported in Peterborough Examiner, November 13: "The hospital continues to operate with qualified medical personnel serving thousands of people each month and reports the hospital is functioning at 10% are false, the church said.  Spokesman Andrew Burditt said the hospital served 7,623 patients in September, down from 9,571 in June, meaning it was running at about 80% capacity, he said.  Patients continue to be treated at Howard and more difficult cases are being referred to other facilities, Burditt added."


Maternity services at the hospital are popular and highly valued, thanks to an excellent midwife and staff, however, the quality has lessened since Thistle’s departure. Doctors do perform Caesarian sections, though maternal mortality is up.  In contrast, the main hospital wards, usually operating at 100% capacity, were at a disturbingly low10% of capacity at the time Burditt’s statement was written, and remains between 10% and 20% of capacity to this date, August 5, 2013. 

Even if one were to include the Maternity wing, no one visiting the hospital in recent weeks has ever witnessed it 80% full.  The near-empty main wards contradict official statements to such a degree that visiting donors are not allowed to enter them.  Two recently entered secretly under dark, and another had his driver perform a count, a newspaper reporter managed to get in, and nearby residents keep count, all agreeing on the low numbers.

Patients who are referred to Harare hospitals, Zimbabwe’s capital, are treated only if they are able to pay the high costs demanded there.  Most are unable to do so, and have been left unattended.  Many have died.


11 July 2013: John Murray, IHQ: "IHQ Official Response to all Enquiries re: Howard Hospital": "However, for the record, the Salvation Army is pleased to advise that three doctors are in place at the hospital and staff morale is improving as confidence increases. The Salvation Army International Headquarters recently appointed Dr. Per-Gote Lindgren, a Swedish surgeon, and his wife Birgitta to Howard Hospital."

Today, almost one month later this third doctor is still not in place at the hospital, confirmed by telephone. Dr. Lindgren, a Salvationist and son of SA officers, is a retired surgeon, however, he will not be registered in Zimbabwe to practice medicine. His appointment is not as a surgeon, as implied above, but as Hospital Administrator.


These are only a part of the allegations. Only an independent audit conducted by a credible outside agency, with no restrictions placed on it as to the reporting of the outcome, is needed to restore confidence in the face of the false SA press releases.


In seeking credible verifiable information in researching our investigative report E-mails have been sent to the Army’s International Headquarters requesting clarification on Dr. Thistle’s removal. No direct responses have been received. All requests are automatically re-directed to the Army’s Canadian Territorial Headquarters. 


Comments posted by visitors to the SA Canadian website confirm unwavering support for Dr. Thistle and condemnation for the Army’s reprehensible handling of this matter.


All active and retired officers in the Canada & Bermuda territory have been told not to comment on-line or off-line about the Howard Hospital debacle. Secrecy and gag orders are how many militaristic organizations function: keep those on the front lines ignorant of the decisions being made by those in the war room.

Official reports continue to provide glowing reports of the restoration of the hospital, while visitors are not allowed to visit the wards and see first what the true conditions are. The count of patients in the wards remains at less than 10% of the 144-bed capacity. The two Zimbabwean doctors at HH reportedly keep busy with private practice patients in addition to the employment at the hospital. Medicines and supplies have run out or are in short supply.

And yet the Salvation Army continues to provide an exaggerated picture of hope and wellbeing, the opposite of the reality that we know to be is the Howard Hospital.

Many are suffering. Many are dying.

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Dr. Paul Thistle shared the following in a message received today:

We have often been asked on furlough for an update on the situation at Howard Hospital.  In response we have had little news to report. Unfortunately, the first-hand reports from the hospital staff, family members, and Chiweshe patients who are seeking medical care at Karanda continue to contrast sharply with the official Salvation Army communications. We request your prayers for: Peace in Zimbabwe after the elections.        The people of Chiweshe.  For reconciliation at Howard. Nurse Milton Zindoga who is out on bail over the Howard Hospital protest. His High Court appeal starts next week. Accessible and affordable health care for the people of Zimbabwe.  Karanda has a vital role to play here. Education assistance for our orphans and vulnerable children in Chiweshe and Mount Darwin.   The Thistle family.  For our health, and our safety on the roads as the boys go back and forth to school. James (Grade 7) and Alexander (Grade 3) will be starting their new year of school in August.