BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care has raised serious concern over illegal gold mining activities taking place directly beneath Inyathi District Hospital in Bubi District, Matabeleland North — warning that the facility’s infrastructure could collapse if the practice continues unchecked.

The revelation came during the committee’s ongoing verification visits to rural health centres across Zimbabwe, aimed at assessing the state of medical infrastructure, equipment, and essential drug availability. The visits, led by Hon. Daniel Molokele, are being conducted on behalf of the committee chairperson, Hon. Dr. Thokozani Khupe.

Speaking to VicFallsLive, Molokele said the team was shocked to discover that artisanal miners (amakorokoza) had extended their illegal mining tunnels under the hospital grounds.

“One of the things that we found at Inyathi District Hospital is that amakorokoza are now doing their gold mining right under the hospital,” said Molokele. “They used to do it outside, but now they have gone beneath the facility. There is a real risk that the infrastructure might collapse because of the underground pressure. This is lawlessness that the government urgently needs to address.”

Molokele added that the situation reflects broader governance and enforcement challenges in mining communities, where unregulated artisanal mining continues to threaten both public safety and environmental health.

“Most of the cases that patients come with are physical wounds — largely injuries from violent clashes among the amakorokoza,” he said. “There’s a lot of violence happening there, and it is putting a heavy burden on an already under-resourced hospital.”

The committee, which began its tour on Monday in Inyathi before proceeding to Avoca in Insiza District (Matabeleland South), Gundura in Masvingo, and Mutiusinazita in Buhera (Manicaland), is compiling findings that will inform parliamentary recommendations.

“We will produce a report that will have clear recommendations,” Molokele said. “The National Assembly will debate it, and the Minister of Health will use it to engage the Minister of Finance, especially in the upcoming budget process. We are hoping for a renewed focus on rural healthcare centres, which have been neglected and underfunded for many years.”

Molokele said the verification exercise — though limited by time and financial constraints — seeks to highlight conditions in at least one rural health facility per province.

The committee’s findings come at a time when Zimbabwe’s rural health infrastructure is under severe strain, with many facilities struggling with drug shortages, outdated equipment, and deteriorating buildings. The situation in Inyathi now adds a new dimension of danger — where illegal mining is not only threatening livelihoods but also public infrastructure meant to save lives.

BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has expressed concern over the government’s continued delays in disbursing funds from the Sugar Tax meant for the procurement of cancer treatment equipment.

In a statement released yesterday , ZADHR said it was deeply worried by the slow pace of progress, two years after the introduction of the levy that was expected to finance the purchase of essential medical equipment for cancer patients across the country.

According to the association, by November last year, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had confirmed collecting US$30.8 million through the sugar tax — a surcharge imposed on sugary drinks and beverages. However, no disbursement had yet been made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the intended purpose.

“This delay undermines the purpose of the Sugar Tax, which was intended to improve public health outcomes through targeted investment in non-communicable disease management, including cancer prevention and treatment,” ZADHR said.

Zimbabwe currently bears one of the highest cancer burdens in Southern Africa, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 208 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 144 per 100,000, according to Globocan 2022 data. These figures surpass those of neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana.

The association warned that the government’s inaction continues to worsen the plight of thousands of patients who face long waiting lists and limited access to treatment.

“The country records over 17,700 new cases and nearly 12,000 deaths annually, largely due to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment capacity,” read the statement. “This growing burden strains Zimbabwe’s fragile health system, escalates household health expenditures, and undermines productivity.”

ZADHR called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the collected funds and for the Health Ministry to ensure transparent procurement and installation processes once funds are received.

The association also urged the Ministry of Health to build technical capacity among staff to maintain and effectively utilise the new equipment once installed.

“Equitable access must be at the centre of this rollout. Beyond the main Central Hospitals, provincial and district centres should also benefit to ensure no patient is left behind,” ZADHR added.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Concerns are mounting in Victoria Falls over a reported rise in sudden deaths, with local legislator Vusumuzi Moyo, Member of Parliament for Hwange West, calling for an official probe into what he described as an “alarming trend” of people collapsing and dying unexpectedly.

During a Parliamentary session on 1 October, Moyo asked the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, whether the ministry had conducted any research into the increase in such cases. In his response, the Minister said no study had been carried out and that the government had no statistical evidence supporting the reports.

However, speaking to VicFallsLive, Moyo said he raised the issue in Parliament after witnessing and hearing of multiple sudden deaths within the resort city.

“We’ve seen several people who were perfectly fine suddenly collapse and die,” said Moyo. “Two of them were in the tourism industry, and another was a council worker who had just come from night duty. She swept her yard, suddenly felt unwell, and passed away soon after. These are just some of the cases we’ve encountered.”

Moyo expressed disappointment that the Ministry did not show intent to investigate further, saying he had hoped the Minister would direct provincial or district offices to look into the issue.

“Unfortunately, when the question came up, I was not in the House to follow up,” he said. “But I believe this needs to be pursued. The media and health authorities must take it up so that the executive can act. We cannot be silent when people are dying in such an unusual fashion.”

Moyo also revealed that he had spoken with a local private medical officer, who expressed willingness to support any research effort aimed at uncovering the causes behind the deaths.

“He told me this might not just be confined to Victoria Falls—it could be a national issue. We’re hearing of similar incidents across the country,” Moyo said.

Local health practitioners and residents have echoed similar concerns, citing an apparent rise in cases of people collapsing at workplaces or at home. While no conclusive evidence has linked the deaths to any particular health condition or environmental factor, the trend has prompted renewed calls for community health surveillance and public awareness on preventive care and early health checkups.

As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with strained health infrastructure and limited diagnostic capacity, Moyo says the issue underscores the need for stronger public health data collection.

“Without statistics, we cannot know what’s really happening,” he said. “This is a matter of life and death, and the Ministry should be proactive.”