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- Written by: Dr Themba Bulle, ZAPU Deputy Secretary for Health and Welfare
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ZAPU Bemoans Zimbabwe’s Ailing Health Sector
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The recent death of uGogo Rose Nyathi, “a Bulawayo celebrity, human rights activist, and informal comedian”, who was laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery highlighted some of the anomalies in our health system. While uGogo Rose advocated for the rights of vulnerable communities, she was rendered critically vulnerable in her time of need. With her pitiful demise, the notion that our health system is free has been battered and proven untrue. UGogo Rose, a vendor at 5th Street, Bulawayo had to fork out more than $1,400 for medical treatment before her death. She needed financial and material assistance from local and Zimbabweans in the diaspora. It is not uncommon for our people in Zimbabwe to seek, not only general assistance but particularly health assistance from relatives or international donors.
On the contrary, our high-ranking government officials along with their connected elites, have access to medical aid packages and can afford private health which is quite expensive. Our rich and powerful government officials can afford to travel to foreign lands to seek medical attention. They travel to the USA, the UK, India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Africa and many such countries for their treatment while ordinary citizens die in the squalor of public referral hospitals such as Mpilo, UBH, Ingutsheni, Parirenyatwa, Sally Mugabe and Chitungwiza. These six major public hospitals in Zimbabwe are noted for shortages of medicines and ageing facilities as well as shortages of healthcare staff. Yet many ordinary citizens actually never make it to these central hospitals, dying instead in their homes because of abject poverty and lack of ambulances.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” It can therefore be argued that by this definition many citizens in Zimbabwe are not healthy. Under the principles of universality, we demand a public health system that is free of charge and paid for by the state at the point of delivery. Citizens deserve a high quality and effective healthcare system which is fair to all and is available when needed regardless of one’s financial or social status.
We demand a functional public health system.
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- Written by: Richard Gandari, ZAPU National Spokesperson
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PRESS STATEMENT: 2nd March 2025
ZAPU roundly condemns the arrest and subsequent pretrial detention of Blessed Mhlanga. The outlandish claim that releasing the eminent journalist on bail will disrupt peace and security in Zimbabwe would be laughable if it were not so tragic. On the contrary, it is actually Mhlanga's continued detention that is causing unrest among all peace loving and law abiding citizens in Zimbabwe.
As ZAPU we have noted with concern state-sponsored attacks on media practitioners and in some cases independent media houses themselves. The bombing of a gallery next to the Daily News editorial office in June 2000 and the predawn bombing of the newspaper's printing press on 28 January 2001 remain as stark reminders of Zimbabwe's media-suppressing environment.
Over the years we have witnessed the persecution of media practitioners for simply doing their work. In 1999, Mark Chavhunduka and Ray Choto, both journalists with The Standard newspaper were arrested and tortured in detention after they published a story claiming that 23 army officers had been arrested for attempting to stage a coup against the late dictator Robert Mugabe. Government agents reportedly beat the journalists, applied electric shocks to their hands, feet, and genitals, and submerged their heads in drums of water.
Ironically, the two journalists were charged under the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA) of 1960, a widely discredited piece of legislation that Zimbabwe's pre-independence colonial government used to suppress black nationalism. The use of Rhodesian inspired scare tactics has remained the bedrock of state-sponsored lawfare against media freedoms in Zimbabwe. Besides weaponizing the law against dissenting voices, the rogue regime in Harare has employed barbarian methods to silence media practitioners and pro-democracy activists.
The brazen abduction of eminent journalist Itai Dzamara comes to mind. Dzamara was abducted on 9 March 2015 by five men while he was at a barber shop in Harare’s Glen View suburb. His abductors are said to have accused him of stealing cattle before handcuffing him, forcing him into a white truck with concealed number plates, and driving off. He has not been seen since then.
Itai Dzamara was senselessly eliminated, yet the calls he made for President Robert Mugabe to step down were implemented by members of the dictator’s own political party and security establishment. After the dramatic coup that ended Robert Mugabe's autocratic rule in November 2017, the so-called new dispensation that emerged, pinned every form of repression on the despotism of Robert Mugabe’s First Republic. Claiming to be as soft as wool, the recycled leadership of the Second Republic made lofty promises of a new dawn of freedom in Zimbabwe. The lie barely lasted a year before default settings kicked back in.
Repression reared its ugly head as early as 2020 when an independent investigative journalist began to unmask the wolves in sheep’s clothing. The harassment, arbitrary arrests and pretrial detention of prominent journalist, Mr Hopewell Chin'ono reincarnated the horrors of former President Mugabe's iron fist attitudes towards critics, real or perceived. To his sole credit, Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe was said to be anything but a common thief.
Today, as Blessed Mhlanga sits alone in remand prison, our spirits are shackled with him. Our central guiding philosophy is based on the belief that an injury to one is an injury to all of us. We appeal to the church in Zimbabwe to lead in prayers for Blessed Mhlanga. He has broken no laws and remains an upright citizen in good standing. We stand with Blessed Mhlanga knowing that the light he emits will never be conquered by the forces of darkness surrounding him.
To Chris Mhike, Doug Coltart and everyone assisting with Blessed's legal counsel, we stand in solidarity with your efforts to secure his freedom. May God grant you the wisdom and strength to wage a spirited legal battle to extricate Blessed from the punishment wrongly apportioned to him.
To the rest of the media fraternity in Zimbabwe we say do not lose heart. Remain firm in your normative watchdog role and continue to hold public officials accountable. The ZANU PF-led government's frivolous case against Blessed Mhlanga is not an attack on just one journalist but an attempt to muzzle your entire fourth estate as a whole. There should be resistance and contempt for such backward attacks on media practice.
To the state actors involved in these image-denting blunders, we encourage you to be guided by the constitution of Zimbabwe which clearly defines the legal limits within which journalists do their work. You should not expend all your energy crucifying the messenger instead of grappling with the clear message delivered to you and your principals. Free Blessed Mhlanga unconditionally to salvage our country's battered image.
Issued by:
Richard Gandari, ZAPU National Spokesperson
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- Written by: Ruth Memeza Ncube, ZAPU Deputy Secretary General
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ZAPU applauds Botswana’s Social Welfare Model
As we witness the government of Botswana rolling out innovative social welfare measures, it is hard not to feel a sense of admiration and hope. The initiatives, which include a monthly allowance for newborn babies, free sanitary pads for female students, and a significant increase in the Old Age Pension, demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting the most vulnerable members of society.
As ZAPU, this is a perfect opportunity to applaud Botswana's efforts and show that, with the right leadership and good governance, Zimbabwe too can achieve similar successes. By highlighting Botswana's achievements, we can motivate and inspire young people in Zimbabwe to start thinking about the meaning of true leadership and good governance practices, how it needs to start long before one is in a leadership position.
It's essential to emphasize that good governance is not just about implementing policies, but also about demonstrating humility and integrity. By embracing these qualities, we can shape the characters and mindsets of our young people and create a better future for everyone.
So, let us take a page from Botswana's book and work towards creating a Zimbabwe where every citizen has access to quality education, healthcare, and social protection. A Zimbabwe where every member of society feels valued and supported. With the right leadership and good governance, we can make this vision a reality.
Some key takeaways from Botswana's social welfare measures that we can learn from include the following:
- Targeted support: Botswana's initiatives are designed to support specific vulnerable groups, such as newborn babies, female students, and the elderly.
- Comprehensive approach: The measures address multiple aspects of social welfare, including education, healthcare, and financial support. This support should extend to cover mothers who are struggling to make
ends meet in the home. Many can benefit from government subsidized childcare facilities. - Commitment to good governance: Botswana's government has demonstrated a commitment to transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in implementing these measures.
By adopting a similar approach, we can create a brighter future for Zimbabwe and ensure that every citizen has access to the support and resources they need to thrive.
