HARARE – A recently concluded agreement between Zimbabwe and Belarus to revamp Zimbabwe’s health sector, starting with the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, has drawn scrutiny and allegations of potential corruption.
Concerns have been raised regarding the transparency of the procurement process and the potential for inflated costs. Critics are calling for public disclosure of the pricing details to ensure accountability and prevent the misappropriation of public funds.
Commenting on the issue, award-winning investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has mentioned a social media post from Youth Empowerment Minister Tino Machakaire.
The post, which highlighted the dire state of Zimbabwe’s healthcare system, came before the Belarus deal was announced. Chin’ono argues that the timing suggests a plan to trick the public. He said it looked like a ‘well-choreographed plan to fool people’.
The deal, announced following a state visit by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, includes a “letter of intent” for the reconstruction of Parirenyatwa Hospitals and strengthening healthcare partnerships.
The announcement, which detailed eight signed agreements covering various sectors, including visa exemptions, tourism, and waste management, has been met with skepticism by Chin’ono.
Chin’ono, in a social media post, alleged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a history of using such deals to siphon public funds.
Chin’ono cited a previous procurement of fire trucks from Belarus, claiming that the Zimbabwean government paid inflated prices, resulting in significant financial losses for taxpayers.
He argued that similar patterns could emerge in the health sector deal, with inflated prices and corrupt practices benefiting Mnangagwa and his associates.
“The problem with Emmerson Mnangagwa is that he uses these deals to steal public funds,” Chin’ono stated.
“He has signed the same deals with the same country, Belarus. For instance, he got our government to pay US$474,296 per fire engine truck when the real cost was US$193,732 per truck.
“This means that while he asked us to celebrate the purchase of fire engines, he was actually the big winner, pocketing US$280,564 per truck.
“Pure daylight robbery that YOU, the taxpayer, will have to shoulder, thanks to Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF !
“Let this procurement be transparent as required by law. If Mnangagwa produces the prices, I bet my bottom dollar they will be ridiculously inflated to factor in his kickbacks.
“But I can tell you this now, you will not get the real documents today. You will have to wait for investigative journalists to find them for you. That, we will!”
He further questioned the necessity of sourcing medical equipment from Belarus, suggesting that similar, potentially cheaper, alternatives are available from other countries.
Chin’ono pointed to a prior social media post by Youth Empowerment Minister Tino Machakaire, which appeared to precede the announcement of the health deal, suggesting a pre-planned effort to manipulate public perception. He asserted that the timing indicated a “well-choreographed plan to hoodwink the public.”
“I can also bet that all the companies involved in these deals are owned by Mnangagwa through his chosen corrupt proxies. I wouldn’t mind if they delivered goods at market prices, but they won’t.
“Public procurement tenders are Mnangagwa’s number one methodology for stealing public funds.
“There is nothing he will bring from Belarus that you cannot find in South Africa, China or Europe, where the goods are actually cheaper than Belarus. The only difference is that it is harder to steal as much as he wants from those other countries!
“As predicted by many on this and many other timelines, the tweet by Tino Machakaire was part of a well-choreographed plan to hoodwink the public into believing that Mnangagwa listens, when in fact it was preparation for a big loot by Mnangagwa and his corrupt cronies.
“You would have to be thoroughly stupid to believe that both Machakaire and Mnangagwa did not know the terrible state of hospitals in Zimbabwe, something Mnangagwa sent me to jail for reporting on!
“We await the details of the prices of the medical goods that will be procured, we will find out soon,” Chin’ono stated.
The agreements signed between the two nations encompass a broad range of sectors, including:
Visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders, roadmap for Strategic Cooperation 2026-2030, National Disasters and Technological Hazards, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Tourism, MoU on Small to Medium Development and MoU on Cooperation on Information and Press and MoU on Partnership in Waste Management.
