Health Chief Manangazira Up For COVID-19 Funds Abuse
The director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Portia Manangazira, has appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fraud charges.
The Herald reports that Manangagazira is being accused of misappropriating funds and fuel meant for training 800 community health workers who were to raise awareness on Covid-19 in the country.
Manangazira appeared before deputy chief magistrate Mrs. Bianca Makwande charged with four counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The funds and fuel were part of the US$796 675 disbursed by the Health Ministry to train 800 health workers across the country, who were to raise Covid-19 awareness in various communities.
Mr. Lancelot Mutsokoti and Mr. Ephraim Zinyandu appeared for the State while Mr. Harrison Nkomo represented Manangazira.
Manangazira is expected to apply for bail.
This comes when health caregivers have for long been lamenting over the lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs), a scenario that exposes them to the deadly coronavirus.
Health caregivers’ awareness and safety are of much vitality considering that Zimbabwe has begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine in some parts of the country.
There have been reports of the abuse of COVID-19 funds since last year and Dr. Obadiah Moyo, the former Health Minister, was relieved of his duties after reports which implicated him in a fraud that prejudiced the state of about US$60 million.
More: The Herald
