The MDC Women’s Assembly notes with great concern the deterioration of our country’s health delivery system due to the strike by the doctors and nurses in Zimbabwe.

The doctors, nurses and other health professionals went on strike about two months ago citing incapacitation due to the economy that is collapsing on a daily basis.

The food basket for a family of five was pegged by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) at 4000 RTGS; yet most workers including doctors are earning less than 2000 RTGS.

The situation is so dire with many workers and the general populace such that they are failing to make ends meet. Most people are failing to access national services as they are either closed or dilapidated due to the uncaring illegitimate regime and its misplaced priorities.

The recently announced budget by Mthuli Ncube falls far short of the people’s expectations. The budget is not pro-poor thereby leaving about 75% of the Zimbabweans’ needs unaddressed. It is a budget for the few and not for the many.

Indeed, the budget is clearly a continuation of ZANU PF legacy of plunder and blunder for the past 40 years.

Whilst we applaud the Mbare woman Mrs Gwena, who has taken upon herself the duty of being a midwife in her community, we blame the illegitimate regime for having failed to take good care of the expecting mothers as it is its responsibility to so.

The illegitimate regime cannot surrender its responsibility of health maternity delivery to a rum shack practice of the 15th century. This is a reversal of the UN SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing; to which Zimbabwe has affixed its signature.

Auxillia Munangagwa was supposed to convince her husband to pay the doctors and nurses well than go and donate foodstaffs to the old woman.

We do not expect our mothers, sisters and children to give birth in such unhealthy conditions where they are exposed to so many risks related to child bearing.

This practice is uncalled for and we condemn it in the most strongest terms.

We are not living in the stone age era where women used to give birth in their homes exposing them to so many health risks.

The illegitimate regime has now fully backtracked on its commitment of health for all.

Auxillia Munangagwa really needs to reflect on whether her daughter would use such facilities in the same manner desperate women are using Mrs Gwena.

Indeed, what Auxillia did is not only deplorable but a desperate bid to cover up for the failings of her husband’s illegitimate regime.

Zimbabweans deserve a better government that cares for its citizens’ health and wellbeing.

The self-imposed “health ambassador” of Zimbabwe has failed dismally in executing her duties and this is a classic case of a PR exercise that has gone dismally wrong.

This is why in the MDC we have made it clear in our SMART policy document on how we intend to address fundamental issues that safeguard citizens’ rights to world-class health facilities.

The MDC in its SMART policy document offers an alternative to all this chaos that has been created by the illegitimate regime.

Indeed, a good and sound health delivery system is key priority area in every developmental state.

We demand that the Ministry of Health and Childcare take this issue of Mbare very seriously by providing the expecting mothers with a clean and proper facility for delivery as per WHO standards.

Zimbabweans deserves a better government that will put its priority on citizens’ health and not on superfluous leadership life style.

In an MDC led government, the citizen rights and health priorities will be supreme.

The MDC led government will pursue social liberation policies aimed at completing the unfinished business of national liberation struggle and shall strive for democratic structural economic liberation, rehabilitation and transformation of Zimbabwe.

The MDC is a people mandate driven party that seeks to work for the establishment of a dynamic and participatory democracy in which the Government is accountable and subordinate to the its citizens; guaranteeing provision of first class health and all essential services.

Indeed, under an MDC led government, never again shall our top leaders seek health services abroad while destroying our national health services.

MDC: Change that Delivers

BARBRA TANYANYIWA
MDC WOMEN ASSEMBLY SPOKESPERSON