By Simbarashe Muparaganda
Bulawayo, (New Ziana) — Parliament should seek the dismissal of hospital management that fail to stop pilferage of medicines at public health facilities while the relevant Portfolio Committee should use its oversight powers more forcefully to stop the rot, an official has said.
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said this on Wednesday while addressing lawmarkers attending the 2027 National Pre-Budget Seminar at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City in Bulawayo (ZICES).
The seminar brought together Ministries and Parliamentary Portfolio Committees to make presentations and deliberate on proposed policy measures, sectoral priorities and programmes for consideration in the 2027 National Budget.
The retreat forms part of Parliament’s budget oversight and consultation processes, providing an opportunity for informed discussion on the allocation of public resources in line with the country’s development priorities.
“NatPharm distributes medicines to provincial hospitals. After two weeks, the medicines have disappeared. If the chief executive of that provincial hospital still remains in place, it is high time Parliament must ask for dismissal of such chief executive,” he said.
Mudenda said the loss of medicines leave patients blaming the government, despite the drugs having been purchased and distributed, adding Health Committee “must have teeth” to correct the situation.
He also criticised some Parliamentary Portfolio Committees that fail to produce results, saying they should be reshuffled through the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.
“We have not yet reshuffled the Committees. I think it is high time now, those Committees that don’t give us results, they will need to be reshuffled,” he warned.
Mudenda also called for sufficient funding for Health and Education, pointing to Zimbabwe’s commitments under the Abuja Declaration, which targets 15 percent of public expenditure for Health, and the Education 2030 Framework for Action, which sets a 15-20 percent benchmark for education.
He said the removal of Zimbabwe from the World Bank list of fragile and conflict-affected situations had vindicated the country’s reform path.
“The 2027 budget should build on renewed international confidence by advancing debt resolution and arrears clearance, and ensuring that reforms deliver development outcomes,” he said.
Mudenda also called for outstanding commitments discussed at previous budget seminars to appear in the 2027 budget as clear allocations, implementation plans and measurable targets.
“Among those commitments was the constitutional requirement to allocate at least 5 percent of national revenue to provinces and local authorities for devolution,” he said.
He said the funds should be disbursed in full and on time, with results reflected in functioning water systems, accessible social services and stronger local economies.
New Ziana
