By Michael Gwarisa
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has warned against the growing threat of cartels and corruption in Zimbabwe’s health sector, saying there must be no “sacred cows” when credible allegations of wrongdoing emerge.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s 2026 Review and Strategic Planning Meeting in Bulawayo on Monday, Dr Mombeshora said manipulation of procurement, referrals, supplies, patients and other opportunities for private benefit was unacceptable.
The minister said the health sector could not afford practices that put personal interests ahead of patients and the public good.
“Public facilities are public assets. Public equipment is public equipment. Public medicines are public resources,” Dr Mombeshora said.
“And a patient who comes to a public health institution must never be treated as an opportunity for personal enrichment.”
He said the guiding principle should be: “Duty before personal interest. Patient before profit. Public resources for public service.”
Dr Mombeshora’s remarks come as concerns over governance, accountability and access to health services remain central to efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s public health system.
He said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had recently raised serious concerns about the existence of cartels within the health sector, and called on ministry officials to take the issue seriously.
“We must take that message seriously,” he said.
The minister warned that where procurement, referrals, supplies, patients, services or opportunities were manipulated for private benefit, decisive action was required.
He also raised concerns about regulatory requirements that could make it difficult for new players to enter the health sector.
“When new entrants into the sector face unrealistic and largely unachievable requirements while our Health Worker Density is low, then the public suffers,” Dr Mombeshora said.
He said Government had a responsibility to protect the public and ensure that regulations remained responsive to the needs of the health sector.
The minister called for stronger internal controls, procurement systems, referral mechanisms, asset management and accountability structures.
“Where credible allegations arise, they must be investigated. And where wrongdoing is established, appropriate action must follow,” he said.
“There must be no sacred cows.”
Dr Mombeshora also cautioned against allowing the actions of a few individuals to undermine the reputation of thousands of health workers serving the public.
His concerns extended beyond cartels to a broader working culture within the health system.
He said the country could not build a world-class health system while tolerating indiscipline, citing reports and concerns over failure to report for duty, inappropriate conduct towards patients, diversion of patients, unauthorised private work and misuse of public infrastructure and equipment for private benefit.
He also pointed to cases where services were allegedly withheld or delayed in ways that could facilitate corruption.
“These practices must stop,” he said.
The minister, however, acknowledged that legitimate private practice could be undertaken by health professionals where it was permitted, properly authorised and regulated.
He stressed that there needed to be a clear separation between public service and private interests.
The minister’s warning forms part of a broader push by the Health Ministry to improve accountability, service delivery and the use of public resources.
He said investments in health infrastructure and specialised services would only have their intended impact if equipment remained functional, medicines and essential commodities were available, skilled personnel were in place and health facilities were effectively managed.
Ultimately, he said, the success of the health system should be measured by the quality, accessibility and responsiveness of services received by patients.
“A patient is not asking us for a favour. They are exercising their right to health services,” Dr Mombeshora said.
He urged ministry officials to put patients first, protect public resources, strengthen institutions and confront corruption and cartels as Zimbabwe works towards the goals of the National Health Strategy 2026–2030 and Vision 2030.
