Bikita Rural Hospital finds itself at the center of yet another scandal, as a tragic case of neglect and alleged abandonment has emerged, echoing a similar incident involving a nurse at the same facility.
The latest victim is Mary Mutingwende, a 65-year-old widow and former hospital cook, who has been left in a desperate state, struggling to survive almost a year after being terminated from her job.
Mutingwende, who retired on medical grounds in September 2024, is now battling for her life. Despite her long service, she has not received a single cent in her retirement benefits, leaving her unable to afford vital medication for her high blood pressure and painful back. She cannot even pay for food or school fees for her child.
She now lives in fear that if she moves from the hospital premises, where she has been told to leave, she will not get her dues. The gogo believes that staying put is her only hope of getting help.
Mutingwende’s attempts to get her dues have been met with endless bureaucracy. She has been told by district and provincial offices that her case is being handled at the head office in Harare. However, with no money for transport, she is trapped in a state of limbo, unable to travel to the capital to follow up on her case.
“I am sick and have no money to travel up and down,” she said. “I am now losing hope and I appeal to the relevant departments to look into my issue.”
Her situation mirrors that of another former employee, nurse Progress Muzuva, who was severely injured in 2018 after being assaulted by a violent patient. Muzuva has also been allegedly abandoned by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which has placed her on ordinary sick leave instead of compensatory sick leave, causing her condition to deteriorate due to lack of proper medical attention and financial support.
These two cases highlight a disturbing pattern of neglect and a lack of compassion for employees who have served the public. The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s handling of Mutingwende’s and Muzuva’s plights has been heavily criticized, with many calling for urgent action to address these systemic issues.