Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s unannounced visit to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Sally Mugabe Hospital allowed unfiltered interaction which gave the Head of State an opportunity to assess the operations at the health institutions.
The President made the unannounced visit this Monday to have a first-hand appreciation of the situation at two of the country’s major referral hospitals.
Video footage captured by ZBC News shows President Mnangagwa conducting a thorough inspection of both institutions, beginning with Parirenyatwa Hospital. Early impressions revealed deteriorating conditions, with poorly maintained floors and visibly dilapidated infrastructure.
During his walkthrough, President Mnangagwa engaged with medical personnel across various departments, including the Orthopaedic Unit, where staff highlighted the urgent need for additional theatres, modern machinery, and surgical implants.
“Our field of practice is orthopaedic surgery, so we use consumables like plasters. If a patient comes in needing a plaster, especially adults with broken thigh bones or fractured hips, we require metal implants, which are very expensive and cannot be reused,” explained a representative from the Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Unit.
The staff member added, “We need the hospital capacitated. As the population increases, so does the demand. Currently, we are forced to share operating space.”
At Sally Mugabe Hospital, the President also interacted with patients in the Paediatric Unit, taking time to observe their condition and speak to healthcare workers about their needs.
President Mnangagwa later visited the National Pharmaceutical Company (NATPHARM), where officials briefed him on the dire need for medicines and supplies to meet national demand. The shortage of drugs remains a major concern for public hospitals, where the majority of Zimbabweans seek treatment.
The President’s impromptu tour is seen as a strategic move to obtain first-hand insight into the health system’s challenges, rather than relying solely on official reports. The visit is expected to guide responsive policymaking and targeted intervention in Zimbabwe’s public health sector.
